Pillow Talk is about viewing intimate relationships as a playful game. “To me, being in a relationship is like being part of a game. Fuelled by hormones, the individuals involved create unique sets of actions and rules based on their mutual understanding. As we play, we keep adding new rules and exciting elements, all in the quest to define our relationship and meet each other’s expectations,” states Chahe.

Parts of the relationship that might seem illogical, silly, or even cliché to outsiders often become beautified within this game. It’s a complex interplay involving imagination, novelty, superstition and a nearly addictive pleasure. Growing up in China, where connections between people are close but expressions of love are often reserved and subtle – as the photographer mentions – and being part of the queer community, expressing love outwardly has always been a vague yet intense experience for Chahe. In his view, if a relationship is a game, it must be engaging. However, it also requires one to navigate the underlying anxieties, imperfections, and the rough edges that gradually come to light. This leads to the critical question of whether to timely update the game’s rules or to consider stepping out.

Through visual storytelling through photography, he aims to capture and convey the intricate, often indescribable emotions that arise in intimate relationships. By presenting these fragmented yet personal records of his feelings, Chahe embrace the playful spirit of a true participant in the game.

Chahe is a Chinese multidisciplinary artist based in Shanghai and London. He holds a MA in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography from the London College of Communication. He works across a range of media including painting, photography and video. His work explores how images and videos can be scaffolded and reconstructed to represent the hidden, deeper layers of people’s lifestyles and mindsets. In his work, he seeks the tension between playfulness and seriousness, and for things that are inexplicable and obvious.