Man Zhu thesis exhibition: 'UnFrame | Relationship'

In her thesis exhibition, UnFrame | Relationship, SCAD M.F.A. photography student Man Zhu presents a body of work that explores the artist’s subconscious behavior in her close, personal relationships. Through a creative process that draws on the principles of semiotics — the philosophy of signs and symbols — Zhu harnesses the representative elements of her subjects’ identities and integrates them into self-portraiture. Each work incorporates expired film from a specific year, with the birth years of her parents, lovers, and the artist herself becoming symbols that bear an indelible trace on the negatives. Due to the unpredictable nature of processing expired film, the initial concepts and the final images are often dissimilar, reflecting the differences between the expectations and realities of human relationships.

Reception: Friday, Oct. 1, 6–9 p.m.

Gallery hours: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public.