Exhibition Summary

Photography entered China 171 years ago, when the French photographer Jules Itier took “A Portrait of Qiying, the Governor-general of Guangdong and Guangxi” in 1844. Since its colonial introduction, the medium of photography has flourished in the country, developing into a lively field of contemporary art in recent years. Yet the lack of institutional collections of photography has made public access to vintage prints and archival materials very difficult. Such materials are often held privately, and as such, public exhibitions are rare. This has hindered the development of Chinese photography: students lack exposure to historical techniques, researchers lack experience and training, and collectors and institutions lack a concept of the historical value of vintage prints and archives of photography, leading to the loss of even more material. Our exhibition aims to address the situation by providing an unprecedented overview of the history of Chinese photography through vintage prints and archival materials sourced from private collections around the country. The exhibition includes works from Chinese photographers of every era since 1900, and is separated into the following sections: “Republican Eraand Wartime Photography”, “Seventeen Years of New China and Ten Years of the Cultural Revolution”, and “Chinese Photography Since the Opening Up and Reform. Accompanying the exhibition will be a related publication and conference, which will reconsider the history of Chinese photography in light of these materials. Through this exhibition, they hope to inspire more interest in and understanding of the value of vintage prints and archival materials for the development of Chinese photography.

The exhibition is dedicated to the 33rd Oracle Conference. The Three Shadows Photography Art Centre and Social Archive of Chinese Photography (China Academy of Art) introduce the Oracle Conference to China for the first time. During the conference, photography curators, scholars and experts will gather in Beijing and seminars will be set up to discuss Chinese photography and other important photography topics.

Acknowledgements

Numerous institutions, collectors and artists have supported the exhibition. Special thanks are given to: Huang Jianpeng Gallery, 798 Photo Gallery, China Image Gallery, Inter Gallery, Chambers Fine Art, See+ Gallery, Chen Shen, Juan I-Jong, Zhao Junyi, Zhuang Wenjun, Jin Youming, Jin Hua, Shi Zhimin, Wu Wei, Gao Chu, Yu Deshui, Li Mei, Tong Bingxue, and He Ming.

Artists:

Lao Yanruo, Guo Xuequn, Wang Mengshu, Wu Yuzhou, Shu Xincheng, Chen Wanli, Luo Bonian, Lang Jingshan, Zhuang Xueben, Wu Zhongxing, Fang Dazeng, Jin Shisheng, Liu Bannong, Lin Zecang, Shi Shaohua, Wu Yinxian, Zhang Yinquan, Zheng Jingkang, Cai Junsan, Liang Zude, Huang Xiang, Xue Zijiang, Lan Zhigui, Gao Fan, Niu Weiyu,Xu Xiaobing, Hou Bo, Yuan Yiping, Chen Fuli, Zhang Qijun, Liu Xucang, Wu Yinbo,Yao Jingcai, Jian Qingfu, Zeng Xiangmin, Chen Baosheng, Shi Zhimin, RenShulin, Wang Zhiping, Li Xiaobin, Peng Xiangjie, Wang Yaodong, Chen Yongpeng, Xiao Quan, Shi Baoxiu, Yu Xiaoyang, Lv Nan, Xie Hailong, Wu Jialin, Hou Dengke, Liu Heungshing, Jiang Jian, Xing Danwen, Zeng Huang, An Ge, Yu Deshui, Wang Wenlan,Wang Fuchun, Wang Wusheng, Hu Wugong, Huang Rui, Ai Weiwei, RongRong, Hong Lei,Han Lei, Gao Bo, Liu Zheng, Zhang Hai’er, Mo Yi, Xu Yong, Lu Yuanmin, Zuoxiao Zuzhou, Miao Xiaochun, Hong Hao, Wang Qingsong, Zhang Dali,RongRong&inri, Wang Ningde, Zhao Liang, Fu Yu, Yu Quanxing, He Chongyue,FengYan,Qiu, A Dou, Cai Dongdong, Lu Yanpeng, Jiang Pengyi, Li Jun, Sun Yanchu, TacaSui, Chen Zhe, Zhang Xiao, Zhang Kechun, Ren Hang, Zhang Jin, Zhu Lanqing, Chen Xiaoyi.

Courtesy of the artists and Three Shadows Photography Art Centre, for further information please visit www.threeshadows.cn.