The PHOTO OP series — to which SEMIOVOX has invited our semiotician colleagues from around the world to contribute — analyzes photos that we’ve snapped while “off the job.”

The oxymoron, where BAD becomes GOOD. ABA, A Bad Artist with Good Whisky. I first discovered this hidden gem years ago in Shanghai — a whisky bar that defies convention. In China’s still-developing spirits market, ABA crafts a compelling narrative through intentional contrasts: mass consumerism versus curated niche selections, ordinary indulgences versus the artistry of refined whisky appreciation.

The Rebellious Swan Song of Surf. I went surfing in Wanning, a city in China’s southern Hainan province. On my way to the beach, I spotted two swans running freely along the road — no fences, no restraints. What really caught me off-guard were the punk-style stud rings around their necks. In that moment, I felt the true essence of surfing: that raw, rebellious freedom — defying rules and order, chasing waves with nothing but pure passion. But surf culture in China is fighting an uphill battle. It’s being drowned out by mindless coastal commercialization, one-off tourist attractions, and shallow posture photos.

The Mind as a Luxury. Prada spent six years restoring Rong Zhai, a century-old Shanghai garden mansion blending Chinese and Western heritage. In 2023, they reimagined this cultural landmark as a neurodegenerative diseases exhibition — defying boundaries between fashion, art, social and science. Interestingly, style-driven fashion crowds fumbled with the content. Brain science felt alien to their curated world. Perhaps intentionally: Prada seems to argue that true culture isn’t about pandering to trends — it should be the minds challenging, provoking, and serving ideas first, winning applause second.

PHOTO OP: Mariane Cara (Brazil) on LA LUCHA CONTINUA | Aiyana Gunjan (India) on YAMRAJ | Greg Rowland (England) on I ❤️ FOOD | Gabriela Pedranti (Spain) on NOT SO TRIVIAL | Biba Allarakia (Saudi Arabia) on ALL THAT GLITTERS | Brian Khumalo (South Africa) on A LOST MEMORY | Becks Collins (England) on A MILLENNIAL ON THE BRINK | Samuel Grange (France) on SLOW DOWN | Rachel Lawes (England) on DESKTOP COLLECTIONS | Marie Lena Tupot (USA) on BOX OFFICE | Sónia Marques (Portugal) on SWISS-NESS | Serdar Paktin (Turkey / England) on BOTTLE SERVICE | Stefania Gogna (Italy) on OPEN-AIR MUSEUM | Charles Leech (Canada) on IS IT IRONIC? | Kishore Budha (England) on DOWN THE TUBE | Josh Glenn (USA) on JOINED AT THE DIP | Mark Lemon (England) on SHOP LOCAL | William Liu (China) on SWAN SONG | Malcolm Evans (Wales) on CHOCOCRACK | Paulina Goch-Kenawy (Poland) on POLAND’S NEW (HI)STORY | Adelina Vaca (Mexico) on WHAT’S YOUR POISON? | Natasha Delliston (England) on NATURE BATHING | Ramona Lyons (USA) on DEATH TO TECH | Victoria Gerstman (England) on TBD | Ximena Tobi (Argentina) on TBD.

Also see these global semio series: MAKING SENSE (Q&As) | SEMIOFEST SESSIONS (monthly mini-conferences) | COVID CODES | SEMIO OBJECTS | COLOR CODEX | DECODER (fictional semioticians) | CASE FILE | PHOTO OP | MEDIA DIET.