Humanism in China – A Contemporary Record of Photography":

Guangdong Museum of Art

Product Details

• Format: Hardcover

• Pages: 628 pages

• Publisher: Fotoe (2009)

• Language: English

• Dimensions: 787 x 1092 mm

• Photography: Black and White

• Photographers: 270

• Photographs Featured: 601

• Exhibition Tour: Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, Germany (5 museums, 3-year tour)

Overview

"Humanism in China – A Contemporary Record of Photography" is a landmark documentation of modern China through the lens of 270 photographers, featuring 601 black-and-white images. Originally curated for a groundbreaking exhibition organized by the Guangdong Museum of Art and Guangzhou Integrated Image Co., Ltd., this monumental project explores China’s evolving society through the deeply humanistic perspective of candid photography.

The exhibition, and this accompanying volume, offers a rare and powerful visual narrative of everyday Chinese life from diverse regions and time periods. It toured extensively, with exhibitions held in Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, and a major 3-year tour across five museums in Germany, making it the most extensive Chinese photography exhibition ever held in the country.

Themes of the Exhibition

The collection is thoughtfully divided into four conceptual chapters that encapsulate the lived experiences of Chinese individuals:

1. Existence – The visual record of daily survival and dignity in contemporary Chinese life.

2. Relationship – The dynamic interplay between humanity, nature, and society.

3. Desire – A deep dive into self-awareness, emotional longing, and internal tensions.

4. Time – Reflections on tradition, cultural evolution, and changing social customs.

These themes convey the transformation of China from a collective society toward a more humanized and individualized experience.

Curators & Contributors

• Wang Huangsheng – Director of Guangdong Museum of Art

• Hu Wugong – Photographer and Curator

• An Ge – Photographer and Curator

Editorial Praise

"Visitors will be grateful, for nowhere in any other contemporary exhibition has it been possible to get closer to the ordinary life of the nation that makes up a quarter of the world's population."
— Tilman Spengler, Die Zeit (German nationwide weekly newspaper)

Features

• High-resolution black and white documentary photography

• An unparalleled visual record of China's modernization through individual lives

• A significant cultural and historical archive for art, photography, and sociology enthusiasts

• Ideal for collectors, researchers, libraries, and institutions engaged in contemporary Chinese studies

Interesting Fact

This book not only catalogs one of the largest exhibitions of Chinese photography ever held abroad but also functions as a vital cultural bridge, allowing global audiences to engage directly with the private and public dimensions of modern Chinese identity.

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#ChinesePhotography #DocumentaryArt #HumanismInChina #ContemporaryChina #PhotoExhibition #BlackAndWhitePhotography #GuangdongMuseumOfArt #CandidPhotography #CulturalDocumentation #ChineseSociety