“From History to the Reality — Hebei Red Photography Exhibition” Opens at the School of Arts, Hebei University

To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and to focus on the theme and objectives of the “My Contribution to the Dual Wars · Picturing Hebei” mass photography activities, on September 16 the “From History to the Present — Hebei Red Photography Exhibition” opened at the School of Arts of Hebei University. The exhibition was hosted by the Hebei Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the Hebei Photographers Association, and organized by the China Photography Documentation Research Institute of the China Academy of Art, the Publicity Department of the Hebei University Party Committee, the University Youth League Committee, the School of Arts, and the Baoding Federation of Literary and Art Circles and Photographers Association.

Liu Bing, Party Secretary of Hebei University; Fang Zhuxue, member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Chairman of the Hebei Federation of Literary and Art Circles; Yang Yueluan, Vice Chairman of the China Photographers Association, Vice Chairman of the Hebei Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and Chairman of the Hebei Photographers Association; Gao Chu, Director of the China Photography Documentation Research Institute of the China Academy of Art and Director of the Photography Department of the China Academy of Art Museum; Wang Su, Executive Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the Hebei Photographers Association; Jin Jun, member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Chairman of the Baoding Federation of Literary and Art Circles; and others attended the opening ceremony. The ceremony was hosted by Liu Zongchao, Party Secretary of the School of Arts at Hebei University.

At the opening ceremony, Liu Bing presented Hebei University’s century-long history of education and its achievements in development. He stated that the university integrates the great spirit of the War of Resistance into the entire process of fostering virtue and educating people, and earnestly strengthens ideological and political education. This photography exhibition, through visual dialogue between history and the present, is both a tribute to the spirit of revolutionary predecessors and a means of inheriting and promoting the red legacy. He expressed the hope that the broad body of teachers and students will draw spiritual strength from the exhibition and firmly establish the foundation of their ideals and convictions.

Yang Yueluan pointed out that red photography is not only a record of history but also a transmission of spirit. He encouraged photographers and young students to continue using their lenses to tell the stories of Hebei and China, to promote the main themes, and to spread positive energy.

Wang Su and Jin Jun also affirmed Hebei University’s active efforts in inheriting red culture in their speeches, and expressed the hope that this film exhibition will serve as an opportunity to further promote the excavation, research, and dissemination of Hebei’s red culture.

At the opening ceremony, the unveiling ceremony for the “Hebei University Red Image Research Center” was also held; Liu Bing and Fang Zhuxue unveiled the research center. Fang Zhuxue announced the opening of the exhibition.

After the opening ceremony, a themed academic forum was held, chaired by Gao Chu and Wang Su, with experts and scholars, descendants of Liu Feng, participating authors, village representatives, and others jointly participating in the discussion.

Through excavating Hebei’s red visual cultural resources and mobilizing the public to record real life through photography, this exhibition adheres to a combination of academic rigor and popular engagement, continues the red legacy, supports rural revitalization, and consolidates the national spirit. The exhibition focuses on Hebei’s abundant resources as the “cradle of China’s red photography,” centrally displaying precious historical photographs created by elder revolutionary photographers such as Sha Fei, Shi Shaohua, and Liu Feng during the revolutionary war period, including classic works recorded in history such as “The Five Heroes of Langya Mountain” and “Save the Children.” The exhibition also features documentary-themed works created by photographers from the “Image Three Villages” public photography workshop who worked in old revolutionary base areas, as well as vivid images of contemporary rural life shot by villagers under the “Rural Mobile Photography Project.”

Exhibition Period: September 16 to September 30

Exhibition Venue: School of Art, Hebei University  

Faculty and students are cordially invited to visit the exhibition.