Maleonn's mobile photo studio - in pictures

Shanghai-based artist Maleonn (aka Ma Liang) has travelled around 25 Chinese provinces, photographing 200,000 people in a mobile photo studio and posting the images on his Weibo account Photograph: Maleonn

It took seven months to prepare for the project including painting the sets and backgrounds, preparing costumes, producing the props, purchasing a truck and arranging locations Photograph: Maleonn

Over 10 months, in a battered truck and a minivan, he visited 35 cities in China, taking 1,600 portraits of people in fancy/fantasy dress Photograph: Maleonn

He established a set of guidelines, such as a minimum of eight people per city who would provide him and his team with food, somewhere to stay and a space to work Photograph: Maleonn

The subjects dressed either in clothes from Maleonn’s van or brought their own outfits Photograph: Maleonn

Subjects ranged from tank drivers and police officers to Tang dynasty scholars Photograph: Maleonn

Maleonn launched the project after losing his studio in Shanghai’s Weihai Road 696 arts community, following a government eviction of artists, and getting divorced Photograph: Maleonn

Having completed the huge project in China, Maleonn suggested he might next be taking the roadshow to the UK. 'I have friends in Swansea,' he said Photograph: Maleonn

People from all walks of life turned up to be photographed Photograph: Maleonn

Maleonn collects old photographs, papers including posters, certificates, letters, receipts and notebooks Photograph: Maleonn

Maleonn's studio mobile (75) Photograph: Maleonn

Maleonn's studio mobile (69) Photograph: Maleonn

Maleonn's studio mobile (39) Photograph: Maleonn

Maleonn's studio mobile (18) Photograph: Maleonn