Cao Xun is a photographic artist and fashion photographer based in Tāmaki Makaurau. In Cao’s work, which explores emotional discomfort and shame arising from childhood experiences, bodies — often without faces — are a recurring subject. By embracing these feelings, the obverse is evident: desire and beauty, as well as a playful and improvisatory quality express an overt and ecstatic queerness in Cao’s images. Cao’s work has been extensively exhibited throughout Aotearoa and his commercial work has been published internationally.

Command & Conquer: The Covert Sculpture by Cao Xun was the sixth exhibition of Parasite, opening on Friday 26 March 2021, 6pm.


All photographs are courtesy of James Dobson.