Zeng Yi - A witness to China's modern history

At the beginning of July, famous Chinese photographer Zeng Yi opened an exhibition of his work at "De Galerij" in Brussels. Radio86 had the pleasure of meeting this recipient of the UNESCO Asian Culture Award.

Zeng, 58, is the director of the "Art & Design" gallery of the University of Shandong and of the contemporary art gallery "Oriental." In addition, he is the chairman of the Jinan Photographers' Association.

But what really fascinates this man is not the administrative, but the realistic side of photography... The instant when a camera captures a scene from everyday life, and the impression that this seemingly meaningless photograph may leave on the course of history.

"For me, the task of a photographer is to capture events on film and record things that happen in the present time, as these events may end up leaving an indelible mark on history. For this reason, every photographer shoulders a certain amount of responsibility. This responsibility is something that I personally take very seriously," Zeng says, standing in front of his color photographs in Brussels.

Photographer Zeng Yi. (Image: Radio86)Zeng's color photographs offer an unparalleled illustration of the rich color palette of China. The black-and-whites, on the other hand, are speak loudly of the efforts of the photographer to seize a moment in the life of ordinary people.

"I am most interested in the lives of the masses -- of the ordinary people. These photographs were taken over twenty years ago. They show what the daily life of people was like back then. They are also testimony of the period of time when China was just beginning to open up to the outside world, which is now regarded as a significant point in history. These pictures are a souvenir of this period of time... of this part of history."

A touring exhibition

Zeng Yi's exhibition in Brussels on July 1. (Image: Radio86) Zeng Yi's exhibition had already been seen by audiences in Italy and Germany before stopping in Brussels. From the Belgian capital Zeng and his photographs continued the journey across Europe with two missions in mind:

First of all, Zeng wants to present an authentic image of the Chinese people to the exhibition-goers -- to bring a glimpse of another, yet a very real, lifestyle. Secondly, he wants to instill in his European colleagues the desire to come to China, so that they too could be there to witness history in the making.

"Through my pictures I hope to convey a mindset which will help my fellow photographers understand my personal way of thinking, my mentality towards creation, and the content of my photographs," Zeng explains.

This is not the first time that Zeng has undertaken this type of a promotional project. In 2005, he invited fifty foreign photographers to Tibet. Next year, he will again invite colleagues from all over the world to China for the Second International Photography Biennale, which the country will host in September 2008.

From left to right: Zeng's interpreter, Culture Secretary Mr. Xia, Zeng Yi and First Secretary Mrs. Zhu. (Image: Radio86)The promotion of cultural and artistic exchange between China and Belgium was underscored by the Culture Secretary of the Chinese Embassy Mr. Xia in his speech at the opening of Zeng's exhibition. He was accompanied at the event by First Secretary, Mrs. Zhu Yueqin.

"Following the implementation of China's reform policies, the next step is to promote our nation's cultural activities around the world. Our main priority is to offer support to cultural production so that, subsequently, our foreign friends might develop a deeper understanding of China," says Mrs. Zhu.

Visiting Zeng's exhibition is highly recommended for those who want to get a glimpse into the lives of ordinary Chinese.