# The Forbidden City Canonical: https://hefa.p4theater.cn/en/work/gugong The Forbidden City, 2009–2012. Photography, archival pigment print. He Fa’s role: Artist: He Fa. 2009–2012 / Photography, archival pigment print An architectural outline remains recognizable as details disperse through overlapping images. The Forbidden City, 2009–2012. Portfolio image 1 of 1. Artist He Fa Date March 2009–March 2012 Recorded dimensions 520 × 520 mm Recorded medium Archival pigment print ## Work record The Forbidden City, 2009–2012. Photography, archival pigment print. He Fa’s role: Artist: He Fa. Work / series The Forbidden City Date 2009–2012 Medium Photography, archival pigment print He Fa’s role Artist: He Fa Catalogue section Early explorations Cite this record: The Forbidden City · 2009–2012 · Artist: He Fa · [https://hefa.p4theater.cn/en/work/gugong](https://hefa.p4theater.cn/en/work/gugong) ## Images and presentation The Forbidden City appears in the portfolio as a single square image. A roof and the outline of a building occupy the centre, while colour, vertical lines and figure-like traces disperse around them. Instead of a sharply bounded architectural view, slightly displaced images remain visible together. Their overlaps darken; their edges become diffuse. From a distance, the building coalesces into a broad form. Closer attention finds lines and areas of colour that cannot easily be assigned to one stable instant. The effect of superimposition is visible, but the source does not specify the number of exposures, the compositing procedure or an exact camera position. It records an archival pigment print, 520 × 520 mm, dated March 2009–March 2012. ## Archive note Based on pages 10–11 of the 38-page portfolio 何发-作品小汇. Title, date, dimensions and medium follow the original title page. Images were extracted independently from the PDF and retain their full compositions. The English title is a translation or transliteration for this website, not a verified historical English title. ## Continue exploring ### Shanshui From a distance, a landscape. Up close, photographs made at different times and positions. ### Large Portraits / Portraits Four portraits unfold alongside three enlarged details of each. TAKE A PATH ACROSS ## Other paths from this work. Keeping and losing Overlap does more than add information [The Forbidden City](https://hefa.p4theater.cn/en/work/gugong) ↔ [Human Surrender / Shoot Self with You](https://hefa.p4theater.cn/en/work/human-surrender) The displaced overlays of The Forbidden City resist one stable instant; Human Surrender organizes collective filming into a film. Both hold multiple acts of looking, but planar overlap and editing sequence are not interchangeable. 2009–2012 / Photography, archival pigment print 2023–2024 / Film, rehearsal, live performance Read the source materials Work image [Images and presentation ↗](https://hefa.p4theater.cn/en/work/gugong#chapter-1) Displaced superimpositions form the architectural outlines; the original portfolio does not specify the number of exposures or processing algorithm. Period document [From a borrowed camera to shifting production roles ↗](https://hefa.p4theater.cn/en/work/human-surrender#chapter-10) The production account of 18 August 2023 specifically records shifts among photography, performance, directing and documentation in collective creation. [Continue from this work ↗](https://hefa.p4theater.cn/en/crossings#work=human-surrender) Keeping and losing ### Overlap does more than add information [The Forbidden City](https://hefa.p4theater.cn/en/work/gugong) ↔ [Human Surrender / Shoot Self with You](https://hefa.p4theater.cn/en/work/human-surrender) The displaced overlays of The Forbidden City resist one stable instant; Human Surrender organizes collective filming into a film. Both hold multiple acts of looking, but planar overlap and editing sequence are not interchangeable. 2009–2012 / Photography, archival pigment print 2023–2024 / Film, rehearsal, live performance Work image [Images and presentation ↗](https://hefa.p4theater.cn/en/work/gugong#chapter-1) Displaced superimpositions form the architectural outlines; the original portfolio does not specify the number of exposures or processing algorithm. Displaced superimpositions form the architectural outlines; the original portfolio does not specify the number of exposures or processing algorithm. Period document [From a borrowed camera to shifting production roles ↗](https://hefa.p4theater.cn/en/work/human-surrender#chapter-10) The production account of 18 August 2023 specifically records shifts among photography, performance, directing and documentation in collective creation. The production account of 18 August 2023 specifically records shifts among photography, performance, directing and documentation in collective creation. FROM HERE, ELSEWHERE ## Passages between works ### Related records in the archive [Shanshui ↗](https://hefa.p4theater.cn/en/work/shanshui) 2012 [Large Portraits / Portraits ↗](https://hefa.p4theater.cn/en/work/large-portraits) 2010