Photographer behind Dior image 'smearing' Chinese women apologises for 'ignorance'

Following the backlash french fashion house Dior received last week for its image of a Chinese model that sparked outrage in China, Chinese fashion photographer, Chen Man has stepped up and apologised for the image. She said on her Weibo account, "I blame myself for my immaturity and ignorance." 

The photo, which went viral in China, features a Chinese model with dark skin dressed in traditional attire holding a Dior bag. While some claimed the brand was "smearing" the image Chinese women, others have said the photo depicts an image that is different from what a typical standard of beauty in China is - fair skin and large eyes. The photo that was displayed at a Shanghai exhibition, has since been removed. 

After taking a hard look at what netizens had to say about the photo, Man said she reflected deeply and blamed herself for her "childish ignorance". "I deeply love our motherland. I also know that as an artistic worker, I should shoulder the mission of recording and transmitting Chinese culture with their own works to show Chinese beauty. This is what I have been adhering to, and aiming for my goal," she said on Weibo. Man also took to address the comments circulating around her "Young Pioneers" photoshoot that she shot for i-D Magazine in 2012. She said she accepts the criticism and "will educate herself on Chinese history by attending more relevant events, improving her ideologies". 

Some Chinese social media users have called out on Chen's photo and called it an "insulting" portrayal of what those in the West believed how Chinese women looked like. "This is how Western people think we look," said a user from Weibo. Some users have also responded that they would boycott the brand. 

Not all users had harsh comments to give for Man. In fact, some users have stood up for the Chinese photographer. "Why can't a Chinese woman with small eyes also be considered beautiful?" said a user on Weibo. Similarly, another user stood up for Man, and said: "She does not have to apologise, since the police did not arrest her and she did not break the law". 

Meanwhile, according to several media reports, Dior also said it removed the work as soon as there was criticism from the internet. It added on Weibo that it highly valued people’s opinions, and respected Chinese people’s feelings while strictly following Chinese laws and regulations. Dior added the photo was in fact an artwork and not a commercial advertisement. 

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