2023 Jimei×Arles

The “Exhibitions from Arles” section aims to synchronize Chinese audience with the freshest international perspectives. This July, Les Rencontres d’Arles opened with the theme of “A state of consciousness”, among which 7 selected exhibitions will be toured in China: “My Polaroid Friends” by Wim Wenders; a part of the “SØSTERSKAP, Contemporary Nordic Photography” exhibition starring artists Jeannette Ehlers, Fryd Frydendahl, Bente Geving, Heiða Helgadóttir, Hannah Modigh and Emma Sarpaniemi, curated by Elina Heikka, Anna-Kaisa Rastenberger, Charlotte Præstegaard Schwartz, Æsa Sigurjónsdóttir, Nina Strand, Susanne Østby Sæther and Anna Tellgren; “Hoja Santa (Holy Leaf)” by Maciejka Art, curated by Ramon Pez; “COSMOVISIÓN” by Garush Melkonyan. The Rencontres d’Arles Discovery Award, curated by Tanvi Mishra in Arles 2023, presents in Jimei two projects: “Caribbean Dreams” by Samantha Box, presented by Tiger Strikes Asteroid (New York, United States) and “The Ajaib Ghar Archive” by Philippe Calia, presented by Tarq (Mumbai, India). And finally, as in previous years, the spotlight will be on photography publishing with the presentation of our 2023 Book Award shortlist and winners.

“Greetings from Asia” aims to discover the dynamic pulse of photography in the Asia region. In past editions, this section has highlighted the photography scene of various Asian countries, including Thailand (2022), Singapore (2021), Japan (2020), India (2019), South Korea (2018), and Indonesia (2017). This year, the section presents a group show titled “Archipelago: Paradise Revisit”, curated by Singaporean curator Gwen Lee, a member of Jimei x Arles Art Committee. This exhibition showcases artists from the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Cambodia. The artists include ANG Song Nian, Charles Lim Yi Yong, Eiffel Chong, Elizabeth Gabrielle Lee, LIM Sokchanlina, Miti Ruangkritya, MM Yu, nor, Poklong Anading, Wawi Navarroza, and Wilfred Lim.

The “Outer Regard” section of Jimei x Arles is proud to present the exhibition “Color” by renowned Taiwanese artist and aesthete Cheng Tsun-shing. This exhibition pays tribute to his extraordinary commitment to the development of Chinese art. Cheng Tsun-shing has long been engaged in the fields of aesthetics, philosophy, psychoanalysis, moving image art, etc. “Color” is the third episode of his “Personal Psycho History Trilogy” and features color-film works he shot in Europe during the 1970s. The exhibition will be curated by two members of the Jimei x Arles Art Committee: Gu Zheng and Yan Qi.

The "Collector’s Tale" emphasizes the endeavors of photography collectors and collecting institutions across Asia. This year, “The Third Eye of History”, curated by Xiao Ruiyun, unveils the cherished collection of Mr. Liu Gang, showcasing a photographic album that chronicles the visit of the Great White Fleet to Xiamen during the late Qing Dynasty. It includes 38 original album prints documenting the entire process of this visit, which is a witness to Xiamen’s role as one of the treaty ports in modern Chinese history. Additionally, the exhibition will display artifacts related to this historic event from the collection of Xiamen-based collector, Mr. Chen Yayuan. Rather than constructing a grand narrative, the exhibition aims to delve into the microhistory of these visual images.

The “China Pulse” section joins hands with Chinese higher art-education institutions to showcase the new force of Chinese photography. This year Jimei x Arles invites the Major of Photography, Department of Information Art & Design, Academy of Arts and & Design, Tsinghua University to present “Forever Young: Tsinghua University Academy of Arts & Design Photography Education Exhibition”. This exhibition borrows its name from the lyrics inheriting the spirit of Tsinghua University’s motto, “Wuwen Xidong (Forever Young)”. It consists of two parts, namely, “Literature and Performance” and “Fiction and Experiment”, which review and trace back the 30-year history of photography education at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University. This exhibition will be curated by Feng Jianguo, the artists include Degjinhuu, Feng Jianguo, Gao Yuan, Huang Qiujie, Juan Zi, Lei Lei, Li Tong, Liu Silin, Liu Zirui, Ma Sen, Ma Haoran, Mao Wei, RongRong, Sun Yan, Wang Wei, Wang Shiran, Wang Wenbo, Zhang Yinghan.

The “Crossover Photography” section exhibits the clash between multimedia and diverse perspectives. This year, it presents the works of actress Huang Xiangli, sculptor Jiang Sheng, and film photographer and director Yu Likwai. On the tenth anniversary of Huang Xiangli’s monodrama “Letter from an Unknown Woman,” she initiated her latest photography project, the “When I Face Alone - 100 Letters from Unknown Women” art project. These Polaroids will be presented alongside the artist's photographic creations from many years in the exhibition “Clumsily Burgeoning.” The project and the exhibition are curated by Liu Chang and supported by CHANEL. Jiang Sheng’s photographic works in the ”The Image Is Still Current” exhibition mirror his background in sculpture, influencing his perspectives on the relationship between humans and nature. This experience fosters a dynamic spiritual connection between the audience and his creations. Yu Likwai’s exhibition, “Already it is dusk”, curated by Hai Jie, seeks to transport lost souls into a dream realm through photographs and GIFs derived from film production.

"Local Action" triggers the local growth of photography art. Three Shadows Photography Art Centre and Luchao Kulangsu Art Park jointly launched the "Artist Residency Program". From the open call this year, two artists, Shu Chutian and Pocono Zhao Yu, were selected for a one-month residency in Kulangsu, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and known as a Historic International Settlement. The residency-achievement exhibition, "The Island, Lowercased: Time-Space Beyond the Map," is curated by Li Zijian. In Fuzhou, G-Lake Art Gallery will present the exhibition "Metropolitical Retreat", curated by Lin Linfeng, which adopts the city as a metaphor for the shadows of Plato's cave, soothing the dilemma of reality and becoming a shelter for the soul. From the perspective of environmental media, it initiates a medium archaeology of present and an On-Site Curating based on Xiamen/Southern Fujian. This year, Jimei x Arles International Photo Festival joins hands with One Seed Domestic Workers Care Foundation to present the exhibition "A Room of One’s Own" (curated by Xiao Ruiyun). This is a unique exhibition that integrates the concepts of "Home" and "Women-only Space" and echoes One Seed Domestic Workers Care Foundation's concern for women, aiming to call attention to female creators and to explore the position and influence in the creative field of more and more "hers".

The Jimei x Arles International Photo Festival, in collaboration with its Premium Imaging Partner, vivo, presents the "vivo VISION + Exhibition" The exhibition is curated by RongRong, co-founder of the Jimei x Arles festival, and includes mobile photography works by artists such as Alex Webb and Francesco Gola. It also features a selection of outstanding submissions from over 40 countries and regions, totaling 212,265 entries. Each image captures a moment of life. Each frozen frame holds new potential. In this rapidly changing and uncertain era, "adding one more shot" is one of the few certainties in our lives, a precious testament to our ability to capture moments and emotions, and a source of calm amid the chaos of the world. The “vivo VISION + Exhibition” aims to showcase a dynamic aesthetics of images, awakening everyone's perception and expression of contemporary life through mobile photography, fostering imagination and creativity in daily life. It also extends an invitation to global creators to participate in the 2024 vivo VISION +, expecting more people to enjoy creating, anticipate life, capture it with passion, and "add one more shot." The competition will officially begin its call for entries on November 13, 2023.

Jimei x Arles, in collaboration with its Imaging Partner FUJIFILM, presents the exhibition “It's Been Many Years”, featuring the works of dozens of artists including Feng Li, Guo Mei, Chi Haibo, Xiong Hanquan, Chen Lei, Cheng Xueli, Sun Zhijun, Yu Jia, Kong Lingkai, Chen Jingwen, Tang Xiaoping, Wu Shenjie, etc. Their works transcend geographical boundaries, capturing incredible moments in time, documenting destruction and rebirth, and at times, reshaping the distant past.

The exhibition “Curved Lines,” a collaboration between FUJIFILM and Magnum Photos, features works by three photographers from Magnum Photos: Alessandra Sanguinetti, Emin Özmen, and Gregory Halpern. The exhibition is curated by Philipp Ebeling.

As a significant and unique medium for presenting photography, photobooks have always garnered attention from artists. The study of photography theory has also remained a focal point in the realms of visual culture and communication studies. The “Space on Paper - Jimei x Arles Book Exhibitio” continues its focus on the development of contemporary photobooks over the past year, endeavoring to collect and showcase outstanding photography books and publications on photography theory from around the world. Additionally, this year's book exhibition introduces the “Jimei x Arles Dummy Book Award”, open to unpublished sample books and handcrafted photography portfolios. Winners will receive a prize of RMB 10,000 (pre-tax), encouraging and supporting artists in their creative endeavors rooted in photography books.

The Leica Oskar Barnack Award (LOBA), established in 1980, marks the centenary of Oscar Barnack's birth (1879-1936). He is the inventor of the first modern compact camera, the “Ur-Leica,” and the 35mm film. The award’s primary purpose is to recognize photographers with a sharp sense of observation and the ability to vividly depict humanitarian aspects and the relationship between humanity and the environment.

Following 2011, the LOBA Newcomer Award once again went to a young Chinese photographer in 2023. Photographer Le Ziyi from Fujian captured the faces of young people in a foreign land through his series titled “New Comer”. His imagery reflects their self-doubt, detachment, emptiness, and their quest for personal development and social standing.

The 2023 LOBA main award was claimed by Ismael Ferdous. He employed a keen photographic eye and a vibrant contemporary style to skillfully demonstrate the collision and fusion of cultures at Cox's Bazar Beach Resort in his series “Sea Beach.”

The 2023 Jimei x Arles introduces the “Isles Project” under the theme of “Art is Never Alone.” Centered around the Jimei x Arles main venue, this project radiates and collaborates with diverse cultural, artistic, and living spaces, inviting the audience to embark on an urban art stroll.