Maleonn, who hails from Shanghai, has dabbled in everything from graphic design and painting to advertising and, now, photography. His latest exhibition is inspired by what was once his favorite toy, marbles. See +art this page.

Can something as small as marbles inspire creative work?

Yes! It’s often like this. One interesting little detail triggers my inspiration. There’s a large market in Shanghai, selling lots of interesting stuff—clothes and toys, etc.—like the big markets in Bangkok. I go there to buy stuff every month and sometimes, just to find some inspiration.

Why photography?

I chose photography because it’s more convenient than painting. Four years ago, I wasn’t taking photos seriously; I didn’t even have a camera. I started photography only because I happened to buy a camera, and subconsciously wanted to tell something using photos.

What do you like to shoot most and why?

Most of what I shoot is about life—my life as well as the experiences of other people. However, I don’t think my work is just simple documentation. I consider the picture as a medium used to express emotion: happiness, sadness and everything sweet and sour in our lives. I think that’s the most romantic thing about being an artist: being able to get through to all the people in the world who will understand your work.

Is photography a skill you can learn or should you naturally have the knack for it?

I’ve never actually studied photography. I’d like to say that skill has almost no importance. But then again, to say that photography is a naturally given gift—I don’t think so. I feel like photography is a way to see the world and that can be established slowly.

If you weren’t taking pictures, what could you see yourself doing?

If I wasn’t taking pictures, I could still be a commercial advertisement director—it’s a piece of cake for me to make a living that way. But if I were looking for joy, I would still paint and make sculptures. I enjoy that very much.