From 2004 to 2023, No. 223 has crafted a unique artistic world through his photographic vision. This 20th-anniversary photobook is more than a retrospective—it is an exploration of artistic freedom and the timeless vitality of youth. It invites readers to reflect on the past while embracing the enduring creative spirit that defines No. 223’s work.
The number “223” becomes a symbolic thread, subtly woven through the book’s structure. The 223 carefully curated images are divided into ten small booklets, each themed around key phrases and ideas, creating a reading rhythm that feels fresh and engaging. This approach avoids the traditional catalog-style presentation, empowering readers to interpret and reorganize the content in their own way.
Revisiting two decades of work has been an act of rediscovery for No. 223. He deliberately bypassed widely recognized pieces, focusing instead on previously unseen works. The photobook features a blend of new and old, iconic and obscure, showcasing the depth of his creativity while leaving room for interpretation. This process of selection is as much about the act of curation as it is about revealing the evolution of his artistic language.
No. 223’s photography is deeply rooted in capturing subtle, everyday emotions, yet it consistently transcends the mundane to evoke something extraordinary. His seemingly casual yet deliberate creative logic runs through both his images and the photobook’s structure. Though light and unassuming, the ten booklets bring a “poetry of order” to the reading experience. They invite readers to flip, dismantle, and reassemble—rediscovering the purity and vibrancy of youth in their own way.
This eternal youth forms the core of No. 223’s art and philosophy. In a constantly changing world, he remains steadfast in capturing life’s vivid moments, making photography the ideal medium to preserve freedom and vitality. His images defy the constraints of technological shifts and the relentless noise of modern life, offering viewers a breath of clarity and renewal amidst the chaos.
Lin Zhipeng, also known as No.223, was born in 1979 in Shantou, Guangdong, and is currently based in Beijing. He is a photographer, writer, and independent publisher. As a calm observer of multiple identities and life transitions, Lin captures the people, places, and experiences around him—documenting everything from fleeting moments to the complexities of life, form, and growth.
His work has been exhibited at numerous art fairs and museums worldwide, including Unseen Amsterdam, Paris Photo Fair, Photo Basel, and Copenhagen Photo Festival, as well as at prestigious venues such as the ICP New York, MEP Paris, Art Gallery of Western Australia, and Staatsgalerie Stuttgart. Recent solo exhibitions have been held at The Delaware Contemporary (USA), Canton-Sardine Gallery (Vancouver), Akio Nagasawa Gallery (Tokyo), The Walther Collection (Ulm), In Between (Paris), Galerie Kitsuné (New York), M97 Gallery (Shanghai), de Sarthe Gallery (Beijing), Stieglitz19 (Antwerp), Migrant Bird Gallery (Berlin), and Glenda Cinquegrana (Milan).
Lin Zhipeng has also been featured in documentaries by ARTE France (La Chine dans l’objectif) and NHK Japan (China Through the Lens of Youth).
He has published photography books in China, France, Canada, Japan, and Italy. His book No.223 was named one of the best photography books of 2012 by PHOTOEYE, and Sour Strawberries was listed among the best photography books of 2018 by El País (Spain).
Kinakaal is an art publication project run by Northing - Centre for East Asian Art and Culture in Bergen, Norway. With Kinakaal, Northing wishes to open up new opportunities for conversations and collaborations between East Asia and North Europe to explore various cultural dimensions in the physical form of a book. Kinakaal wishes to facilitate direct contact and cooperation between East-Asian and Nordic artists and designers through art publication and design projects. Up to now (May 2025) Kinakaal has won four times in the Most Beautiful Norwegian Books for the Year competition and received multiple international design awards.