Though he photographs working factories too, Jang is always on the lookout for abandoned sites. Using the internet and books to source new locations, Jang then researches and plans thoroughly before each shoot, and has so far photographed somewhere in the realm of 450-500 sites. Because many of the places are not even recognized on today’s maps, detailed planning is necessary. Even more so, as Jang shoots with long exposures up to eight hours and is often limited to 1 or 3 sheets of film per shoot. “I often come across wild animals too, and all kinds of guards.” He adds, “I guess it’s only natural for both animals and people to be suspicious about a person roaming around at night.”
In the ghostly outlines of factories, mills, and power plants which make up Jang’s ongoing series Stained Ground, we imagine the sounds and activity of past years. Using the medium of photography, Jang urges us to absorb the intricate details of each scene, while at the same time reflect on the passage of time and the relentless cycle of construction, abandonment and demolition.