Taking advantage of a unique opportunity, 29artists is a photographic look at many of the most innovative and exciting artists living in China today. This book shares a glimpse into what is normally their private world. A longtime friendship with art dealer Jeremy Kasler was instrumental in gaining full access to all the artists and with a little persuasion, I was gifted an unedited admission to the Beijing art scene. Free of any rigid brief and without the normally relied upon shared language with my subjects, these soon became the ingredients for setting the tone for 29 Artists. Already a fan of Chinese art, traditional and contemporary, I was intrigued by the mystery of not only the art scene but also the rapidly changing face of China. I was convinced it would be a rich subject matter and I was by no means disappointed. Working in Beijing, I had no idea what to expect. I was soon put at ease walking into the first studio.

Aside from being very friendly and entertaining hosts, I was transfixed by the artists' unique, expressive and inspiring paintings, sculptures and studio space. I was also fortunate enough to experience the artists' creations at a deeper level too, through candid glimpses into their personal worlds. As I was surrounded by many objects and possessions that had clearly dictated their art, it became clear how their studios reflected their personalities and lifestyles. This inspired me to not only photograph the artist but to search into the corners of each room, the bookshelves, paint pots and anywhere I would find the images to complete my story. Taking a controlling step back, I surrendering my typical urge to dictate the images but instead opted to capture the immediate energy in which I was immersed.