Newman Huo

QIANG JIN, a Shenzhen-based commercial photographer, believes his photographs representing Bible stories provide audiences with a new way to look at what Christianity is in China today.

Titled "Holy Icon from Liuhe Village," his eight photographs are on display at the Art Loft Gallery in the OCT-LOFT, Overseas Chinese Town (OCT) through Jan. 12.

Based on New Testament stories, the eight photographs include the "Adoration of the Shepherds," "Madonna of the Meadow," "The Lord's Supper," and "The Lamentation of Christ."

The scenes in Qiang's photographs are all posed by volunteer models who were selected from Catholic believers in Liuhe Village close to Taiyuan in Shanxi Province.

In subject and composition, the photographs replicate classic paintings from the European Renaissance between the 14th to 17th centuries.

"The Lord's Supper," is a reinterpretation of Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece, "The Last Supper," which portrays the reactions of Jesus' 12 disciples when he said one of them would betray him.