NEW YORK, NY.- These photographs were taken in Shanxi Province in northwest China. They document old customs originating from pagan ritual practices. They are, in effect, a voodoo-esque form of totem worship. A number of these ancient customs still survive and remain some of the most important cultural practices during the Lunar New Year throughout most of Shanxi. It appears that the participants have created a dramatic and otherworldly stage—dressing in stunning costumes and exquisitely painting their faces to represent the identities of Gods otherwise long forgotten.

"When I first witnessed the participants line up and then parade around the village, I repeatedly kept asking myself whether I had literally stepped into some sort of wonderland. The scenes I gazed at were far too bizarre and illusionary to be connected to events in the real world. Compared with the monotony of their usual rural lives, everyone involved into these celebrations transformed into something quite extraordinary—appearing no longer as mere peasants, but as powerful Gods from ancient mythology. With every glimpse of the unfolding events, I saw an overwhelming sense of joy and happiness that saturated the atmosphere and I tried not to disturb this beautiful dream state I found myself in. I truly hoped that I would never wake up." ---Zhang Xiao

Zhang Xiao was born in Yantai, Shandong Province, China in 1981. After graduating from the art, design and architecture program at Yantai University, he joined the Chongquing Morning Post as a staff photographer. Zhang Xiao is currently a freelance photographer based in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. He was awarded the Houdengke Documentary Photography Prize, the HSBC Photography Prize in France, and the MIO Photo Award in Japan, to name only a few. His work has been exhibited widely in China, France, UK and the USA.

•Hardback 1st edition
•Price: $75.00
•Published by Little Big Man
•Limited edition of 300
•Publication date: December 2013