RongRong & inri "The Beginning and Now of Chinese Photo Books."

Chinese photographic art pioneer RongRong (born in 1968) and Japanese photographer inri (born in 1973) teamed up in Beijing in 2000 as “RongRong&inri,” and have since played a leading role in photographic expression in China. In 2007, the pair established China's first contemporary photography center, “Three Shadows Photography Art Centre,” in Caochangdi in Beijing. With the aim of becoming a platform for the discovery, dissemination, and development of contemporary photographic art in China, the center holds a variety of exhibitions and programs throughout the year.
RongRong&inri say that since the creation of “Tsumari Monogatari” (Tsumari Story) in 2012–2014, which was influenced by the overwhelming water cycle in the primeval nature of Niigata, the existence of “life-giving water” has flowed at the foundation of their work.
In 2015 they moved to Kyoto. Their new work was born from the idea that the water cycle has strongly influenced the basic cultural landscape of Kyoto, which has produced in Japan’s millennial capital multi-layered scenery that combines history, culture, and topography.

Founder and Director of AKAAKA Art Publishing Inc.
Founded Akaakasha in 2006. They have published over 200 books, mainly photography and art books including winner of the 33rd Ihei Kimura Award; "CANARY" by Rieko Shiga, "I am" by Atsushi Okada, winner of the 34th Ihei Kimura Award; "The Asada Family" by Masashi Asada, winner of the 35th Kimura Award; "MID" and "GROUND" by Kozue Takagi, winner of the 38th Kimura Award; "The Other Shore" by Shin Momoshi, winner of the 40th Kimura Award; "Zekkei no Polyphony" and "okinawan portraits 2010-2012”. Himeno been a professor at Osaka University of Arts since 2018.