“Lens of Xinhua, Light of the Century” — Xinhua News Agency’s Photo Exhibition Opened Hunan Branch at Hunan Museum
On the morning of October 22, the Hunan branch of the “Lens of Xinhua, Light of the Century” photo exhibition by Xinhua News Agency opened ceremoniously at the Hunan Museum.
Photo by Dai Bin, Xinhua News Agency
Launched by Xinhua News Agency, the “Lens of Xinhua, Light of the Century” photo exhibition opened in Beijing on September 26 and is now being held successively in various parts of the country. On November 7, 1931, the Chinese Soviet Radio, the forerunner of Xinhua News Agency, was founded in Ruijin, Jiangxi. As the essential responsibility of documenting the vicissitudes of the times for the Party and the people, Xinhua News Agency has captured history through photos from Ruijin, Yan’an, Xibaipo, and Beijing.
Photo by Xue Yuge, Xinhua News Agency
For this branch exhibition, 256 classic historical photos have been carefully selected from Xinhua News Agency, including eleven units such as “New Life Born in Bloodshed”, “Abundant Food and Clothing”, “Contentment and Security”, “Tremendous Changes”, “Enriching the Lives of the People”, “Rural Revitalization”, “Core Competence”, “Numerous Distinct Endeavors Flourish”, “Lucid Waters and Lush Mountains”, “A Prosperous Country and a Peaceful People”, and “The Elegance of China”. It presents the signs of the times, the lyrical nature of photography, and the strength of emotion in an effort to explain significant developments from the perspectives of individuals, society, and the nation.
Photo by Xue Yuge, Xinhua News Agency
At the exhibition venue, reporters noted that “Hunan elements” are also present in several of these vintage photos. Seventy-two years ago, Xinhua News Agency reporter Sheng Jirun documented farmers in Liling County (the former name of Hunan) pumping water in the fields, demonstrating their joy and enthusiasm after receiving land; forty-four years ago, Xinhua News Agency reporter Ning Guangqian captured unemployed youth who had been resettled in Jinshi, Hunan, working in a new factory building, vividly portraying the workers’ earnest and dedicated work attitude; in May 2020, Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Sihan captured a scene of a poverty alleviation team leader and returning college students live-streaming the promotion of local specialties, documenting the wonderful blossoming of happy life in picturesque villages.
Photo by Xue Yuge, Xinhua News Agency
A photographic component with a “Great Road of Xiaoxiang” theme has also been included to this branch exhibition. It features 46 vintage photos from the Hunan Expressway Group and the Hunan Branch of Xinhua News Agency. It chronicles the magnificent history of Hunan’s expressway development over more than 20 years and thoroughly showcases Hunan's exceptional contributions on the path to becoming a strong transportation nation through the three sections of “Smooth Roads”, “Smooth Traffic”, and “Smooth Enjoyment”.
The Hunan branch exhibition is hosted by Xinhua News Agency and organized by Xinhua News Agency’s Hunan Branch, Xinhua News Agency China Photo, Xinhua News Agency Brand Work Office, and Hunan Expressway Group Co., Ltd. It is jointly curated by the FAW Hongqi brand and will be exhibited in two batches at Hunan Museum and the Pingjiang Service Area of the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway for about 20 days each, free of charge. Citizens can jointly trace historical footprints and feel the pulse of the times amidst the interplay of light and shadow.
The exhibition is free to the public from October 22, 2024, to November 10, 2024, at the Art Hall on the first floor of the Hunan Museum. Visitors can book tickets through the official WeChat public account and Alipay mini-program of Hunan Museum.
