West Meets East:Retrospective Exhibition of Marc Riboud’s Photography
Introduction
West Meets East:Retrospective Exhibition of Marc Riboud’s Photography
2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France and the "China-France Year of Cultural Tourism". On this significant celebratory year, the Hunan Museum, in collaboration with the Musee National des Arts Asiatiques-Guimet, will hold the West Meets East:Retrospective Exhibition of Marc Riboud’s Photography in the special exhibition hall on the third floor of the Hunan Museum from September 26 to December 10, this exhibition is free to the public. This exhibition is organized by the Hunan Museum and the Musee National des Arts Asiatiques-Guimet, co-organized by the Association Les amis de Marc Riboud, Ambassade de France en Chine and Institut francais de Chine. This exhibition is also an important visual art project of the "2024 Croisements Festival-Special Presentation for the 60th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and France".
This exhibition selects 118 pieces/sets of classic photographic works by Marc Riboud from the collection of the Musee National des Arts Asiatiques- Guimet, including the valuable photos taken by Marc during his more than 20-times visits to China from 1957 to 2010. With Marc’s acute instinct, unique artistic insight and abundant photographic language, he captured the real pictures of various classes of Chinese society, and objectively introduced the huge transformation of history and society in China from 1950s to 2010 to the West. Marc’s photographic works not only have extremely high artistic value but also monumental historical significance. His works have witnessed great historical changes in China, many classic moments have become the epitome of China in the 20th century.
As Marc Riboud said, "The countries I love are like my friends. I like to see them again and understand their development and changes. Therefore, I often return to China. Everything here is developing faster than in other places. Even a careful person can see the eternity of things under this restless appearance."
Highlights
- Painter on the Eiffel Tower
- Diver in Dubrovnik
- Khyber Pass
- Boy in a gun factory, at the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan
- The young girl with a flower, demonstration against the war in Vietnam,
- Peasant in a train between Hong Kongand Guangdong
- Canteen in steelwork factory
- Antique shop windows
- Photographer on the Great Wall
- Huang Shan
Artist introduction
Marc Riboud, a famous French photographer, was born in Lyon, France in 1923. He took his first photos1937. At the age of 29, he became a photographer. In Paris, he met Henri Cartier-Bresson and Robert Capa, and at their invitation he joined the Magnum Photos agency.
After living in the UK for one year, he embarked on a long journey. His first destination was Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, then came the Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nepal, finally he arrived in Kolkata, India.The journey took a whole year. In 1957, he traveled to China for the first time. In 1958, he lived in Japan for several months.
In the early 1960s, he photographed Algerian and African Independence Movement, and he visited former Soviet Union for several times. Since 1979, he has been shuttling between China and other places continuously, he recorded the tremendous changes of Chinese society and developed a deep connection with Huang Shan. Also, he visited Angkor monuments in Cambodia many times, and photographed in Turkey and France.
Between 1957 and 2010, Marc Riboud visited China for more than 20 times, China was the country that Riboud photographed the most. He observed the changes in Chinese society with passion, “Observing is the best way to know China”, this mindset drove him to shuttle between China and other places again and again. While photographing, Riboud believed that China is full of beauty, surprising and endless inspirations. His records of China’s pivotal history over 50 years have become precious witness that era.
Intuitive, insightful, elegant and vivid, his works are always beautifully composed with a natural sense of geometry. As Martin Parr, former president of Magnum Photos agency, said, "Riboud is one of the few photographers who combine the worlds of photojournalism and art.
Marc Riboud was a world-renowned photographer and former President of the European Division in Magnum Photos agency. His works were published in prestigious magazines such as Life Magazine, National Geographic, and Paris Match. They were also exhibited in a number of prestigious museums and galleries around the globe. He received numerous awards including the prize from the Overseas Press Club, the International Center of Photography's Infinity Award in New York, the Leica Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sony World Photography Awards.
