Fotofest 2008 - Houston
Politically and culturally, photography has been a key element in creating the public face of China since the late 19th century. From 1870 to 1920, photography helped explain and justify European economic exploitation and occupation of China. From 1938 - 1980, photography became a major tool in Communist Party campaigns to win internal public support for its philosophy and programs - and the message it wanted to send to the outside world. From 1980 - 2008, photography has become one of the major mediums of communication, public and private, about contemporary Chinese society.
Departing from most contemporary art programs on China, the FOTOFEST2008 exhibitions and programs will presesnt both historical and contemporary work. The historical component features three exhibitions showing works from 1934 - 1975 that have never been shown outside of China before. Seven contemporary programs and exhibitions present work from the late 1980's to 2008 - classical and mixed media work by Chinese artists addressing religion, ethnicity, gender, urban transformation, identity, globalization, and the inter-relationship of current art to classical Chinese art and history. All the exhibitions are by Chinese artists working in mainland China. Much of the work to be presented by FotoFest will be seen outside of China for the first time.
Accompanying the CHINA exhibitions, there is a presentation on the evolution of 20th century Chinese photography at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston with two leading Chinese scholar-curators, March 12, 2008.
Western China, 1934 - 1939 LOCATION: One Allen Center - 500 Dallas, 713-223-5522 OPENING RECEPTION: Monday, March 10, 6-8PM. Public is invited. The Northern Front, The Anti-Japanese War, 1937 - 1946 LOCATION: Two Allen Center - 1200 Smith, 713-223-5522 OPENING RECEPTION: TBA The Cultural Revolution, 1965 - 1975 LOCATION: Three Allen Center - 333 Clay Street, 713-223-5522 OPENING RECEPTION: TBA
Independent Documentary Photography: 1985-2008 Contemporary Chinese photo-based work shown outside China has tended to focus on flashy color conceptual, mixed-media work. But the tradition of black and white documentary photography continues to be a highly respected and ubiquitous part of Chinese photographic practice. The emergence of independent documentary photography done by individual photographers is a recent phenomenon. These three photographers are considered among the best independent documentary photographers working in China today. They span two generations from the mid 1980's to 2008.
LI Lang: the younger generation (1997 - 2008), taking a conceptual or personally interpretive apporach to documentary work with both black and white and color photography. His intimate black and white photographs focus on the Yi People, a once isolated ethnic community in China. His color work reflects transformation of land and the countryside in contemporary China. Contemporary Photography - China LOCATION: Winter Street Studios - 2101 Winter Street, 713-223-5522 OPENING RECEPTION: Monday, March 17, 2008, 7-9PM. Public is invited.
Conceptual and Staged Work: 1993-2008 New Photo 1993 - 1996
Current Perspectives 1999-2008 These conceptual, mixed-media works are organized as a series of 11 one-person presentations of leading contemporary Chinese artists. Their photo-based works relate to and reflect major aesthetic and social issues in Chinese art and society today: memory, interpretation/appropriation of Chinese art history, conception of self and culture; urbanization and transformation of space; and questions of gender; religion; the public voice and private life. The works are predominantly color, large-scale, staged, constructed, and digitally produced. They include sculpture, installation, and video.
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FOTOFEST2008 Symposium on Chinese Photography: | |
Artist Talk: Location: DiverseWorks Artspace - 1117 East Freeway 713-223-5522 (FF) or 713-223-8346 (DW) Limited Seating. Reservations Required | |
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