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The image of Chongqing 100 years ago through the lens of Australians

2018-09-14 10:40:17

CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- What happened to Chongqing and even southwest China a hundred years ago? "ODYSSEY -- Australian Photographers in China" recently opened at the Changjiang Museum of Contemporary Art in Chongqing. The photographic works on display are from generation to generation of Australian photographers who came to Southwest China in the past 125 years. They were filmed from the perspectives of adventure explorers and created a unique historical archive to visually record the development and changes of China during the 20th century.

Map of Australia explorer George Morrison’s journey in southwest China

It’s learned that the photographic works on display are divided into two sectors, including black and white historical photographs of more than one hundred years and new works by contemporary Australian photographers, which together show the interesting perspectives of Australian photographers.

Photographic gifts from 125 years ago

One of the most important part of the exhibition comes from Australia explorer George Morrison. As the chief reporter of the Times of England in China, he was a traveler and politician close to Modern China. In 1894, Morrison left Shanghai for Myanmar by land. He filmed many videos when passing through Yunnan. The photographs reproduced the culture and sceneries along the way as well as the tough journey and had now reach the audience.

A photo took by Morrison

In 1889, the Australian R. Lockhart Jack and his geological team traveled through the Yangtze River to Chongqing and Chengdu. After a few months of stay, they passed through Sichuan to Yunnan and crossed the border into Myanmar. They left many old images of the Southwest China during this experience. Several of his works in this exhibition are also on display in the form of exhibitions for the first time.

Works on display for the first time

There is also a photographer in the exhibition, Harry Glathe, an Australian born in southern China. During his time as a dye and cloth dealer in Guangxi and Yunnan from 1933 to 1936, he photographed hundreds of landscapes, temples and other buildings as well as various aspects of social life. He also wrote a comprehensive diary containing samples of fabrics he had collected while traveling and some photos that were from a distant past.

Harry’s personal diaries

New exploration of contemporary Australians

The exhibition also collaborated on works by contemporary Australian photographers and filmmakers, including the early diplomats Shelley Warner and Jeffrey Mugginson, and the men who walked the Long March route again in 1984, including Leo Meyer, Harold Weldon and Ken Duncan.

Photographs during tracing the journey of Long March 

Zouma Town’s pictures captured by contemporary Australian photographers

These vibrant and energetic photographs record the Chinese style during the 20th century and form the epitome of time and space contrast.

The exhibition will last until October 12 for free at the Changjiang Museum of Contemporary Art in Chongqing. (Translated by Mao Qiao, Fathom Language Limited)

Editor:Jiang Yiwei