"The New Lei Feng Stories No. 08" (2007) is spectacular photo from rising Contemporary Chinese artist Dai Xiang. (Chinese, b. 1978) This work is part of a series 12 photos of the New Lei Feng Stories, which depict the young soldier of the People's Liberation Army who died in an accident at the age of 22 in 1962. In Dai's series, the artist tells the story of Lei's rise from common soldier to cultural icon, inserting him into modern times. Still in his green military uniform and classic cap, Lei is seen standing poised with his back to a audience, as he prepares to give a public address. Here the artist merges reality and fantasy through a virtual lens, utilizing digital manipulation to juxtapose the blurred crowd in the background with the synthetic figure standing poised to give a speech in the foreground. In this way the artist establishes scenes of history encountering 'illusion' and 'truth' by depicting Lei Feng as more symbolic, emphasizing the moment to create a new sense of reality. This work is an edition of 10 measuring 23.60 x 47.25 inches (60 x 90cm), and is unframed in excellent condition.

Dai Xiang has been making composite photographic art using dummies and puppets since 2004. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Nankai University with the major in Oriental Art in 2001, and Masters in Photography and Digital Studio at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in 2004. The artist has participated in galleries and museum exhibitions in China including the French Culture Center, Huitai Art Center, and The 19th Annual International Los Angeles Photographic Art Exposition（Photo LA）. Dai Xiang has garnered renown attention with several awards such as Gold Award & Award for the Best Original production, the 6th China Advertising Photography Competition in 2004, Bronze Award, the 14th Hasselblad Austrian Super Circuit, Austria in 2005, and Excellent photo catalogue award, Pingyao International Photography Festival, China in 2010.