1970·Jilin Province
—— Zhu Xianmin's photography exhibition provides us with a unique visual entry point to understand that complex and scarred history, allowing us to rethink the complex relationship between images, reality and memory at this historical juncture, and stand on another high point to look back at history. ——
Chun Wai
This exhibition, specially planned and launched by Shenzhen 5A1 Art Space, focuses on the early works of Zhu Xianmin, an important representative of Chinese documentary photography, the photography series of the 1960s. Under Zhu's lens, China's historical trajectory in recent decades has been deeply observed and recorded. His photography journey can be said to have traversed a tortuous and complex historical landscape of New China.
Supply and marketing cooperatives in the county 1972·Jilin Province
Herders on the grasslands study Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought seriously
1971·Inner Mongolia
This exhibition features over 40 works by Zhu Xianmin during his youth, taken in the 1960s and 1970s. These images are inevitably tinged with propaganda: bright colors, distinct layers, high-spirited figures and rigorous scene layouts all highlight the political discourse and emotional atmosphere of a particular era.
Frontier Female Militia 1969·Inner Mongolia
A herdsman family in a yurt 1969·Inner Mongolia
The 1960s was a highly political era in Chinese history. The facial expressions, body language and background elements in the images are all highly symbolic: clenched fists, high-spirited expressions, fluttering red flags and slogans, together building up a passion for belief. These images are not entirely fictional, but a reflection of the real mental state of that era - many people sincerely believed that they were participating in a great historical process, and conveyed their inner beliefs through these ritualized body languages. The good news of the convening of the 10th National Congress of the Communist Party of China spread to the textile factory workshop 1973·Jilin Province Korean female members working in the fields 1969·Jilin Province The educated young woman who went to the countryside happily became a coachman 1967·Jilin Province Zhu Xianmin studied photography at Changchun Film Studio in his early years and graduated from the stage design department of Jilin Opera Art School in 1965. His solid professional training can be seen in the works exhibited this time; "Female Militia in the Frontier", "Educated Youth Going to the Countryside Happily Became the Boss of a Horse-drawn Carriage", "Educated Youth Going to the Countryside in Beijing in Tieling County Planting Trees Together Under the Leadership of the Chairman of the Poverty Association", etc. are fully demonstrated. Whether it is the scene scheduling, the capture of the relationship between the characters, the delicate treatment of light and shadow, or the precise choice of perspective (camera position), all show his ability to control the composition of the picture and the visual narrative. It also indicates that in his future large-scale documentary projects such as "The People of the Yellow River", even if it is an impromptu moment, the visual style still retains a simple and vigorous atmosphere. New urban graduates go to the countryside to participate in military training 1965·Jilin Province The Chinese People's Liberation Army sent military representatives to the countryside to promote Mao Zedong Thought 1968·Jilin Province Art is never an accidental creation, but a mirror image of the consciousness of the times. The photography style popular in the 1960s was once a trend of the times, but in fact it was the manifestation of the deep structure of history. Time flies, and sixty years have passed in a flash. These pictures that were once full of passion and faith have now been transformed into "historical archives" for future generations to reflect on and read. Through this photography exhibition by Mr. Zhu Xianmin, they provide us with a unique visual entrance to understand that complex and scarred history, allowing us to rethink the complex relationship between images, reality and memory at this historical node, and stand on another high point to look back at history. The first exhibition of the collection of 100 famous Chinese photographers Zhu Xianmin The People 1966-1976
Artist Zhu Xianmin Organizer Entrepreneurs Photography Association (Shenzhen) 5A1 Art Space Duration 2025.6.28-2025.7.27 Tue-Fri 9:00—18:00 Sat, Sun 10:00-17:30 （Closed on Mondays） Venue 5A1, 5th Floor, Building AB, Tianji Building, Tian'an Digital City, Chegongmiao, Futian District, Shenzhen
Zhu XianMin
The most influential photographer in contemporary China, the founder and pioneer of documentary photography in China. He occupies an extremely important position in the history of Chinese photography with his outstanding artistic achievements. For more than half a century, he has consistently paid attention to the lives of ordinary people, and used his lens to freeze the time and vicissitudes of history of ordinary people in the great changes of the times. His works are profound in artistic conception and have great artistic value and social significance. He was awarded the title of "Founder of the Art Discipline of the Republic" by the Ministry of Culture.
Zhu Xianmin's works cover the Yellow River Basin, the Pearl River Delta Basin, the Songhua River Basin and the Yangtze River Delta Basin, various Chinese cities, ethnic minority areas, as well as the former Soviet Union, the United States, Japan, Southeast Asia, Europe, etc. Since the "Zhu Xianmin Photography Exhibition" was held at the National Art Museum of China in 1985, Zhu Xianmin's personal photography works have been held in theme exhibitions in major cities, museums and art festivals at home and abroad, and his works have been collected by art institutions in China, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and other countries.
Since the publication of "Collection of Works by Chinese Photographer Zhu Xianmin" in 1987, dozens of personal photography albums have been published, among which the most representative ones are: Yellow River People, Grassland People, Chinese Farmers, Image of the Times, Yellow River Waiting for You, Pictographic Years, The People, Restlessness, Looking at the Streets of Paris, The Eyes of Truth, People's Century, Changes in the Pearl River Delta in 50 Years, Micro-macro-picture, Background Chinese...
