Photography exhibition opens in Hangzhou to foster China-Africa ties

An exhibition of latest African pictures opened in Hangzhou, capital metropolis of East China’s Zhejiang province, on Saturday.

The largest of its type in Asia, the exhibition was initiated by the KT Wong Foundation, and was born out of the popularity that Africa’s wealthy and vibrant up to date artwork and tradition stay largely unfamiliar to the Chinese public, regardless of the essential and enduring financial and political ties between Africa and China, in keeping with the organizers.

“There’s still the idea that contemporary art isn’t made on the African continent,” mentioned Mary Corrigall, an award-winning artwork journalist and curator of the exhibition from South Africa.

Photography as a medium is one that’s simply understood, she mentioned, explaining why this explicit artwork type has been chosen as the main target.

“As we all play with cameras and photographs ourselves and it becomes a language that is easy to relate to,” she added.

Titled “Marvelous Realism”, the exhibition borrowed its identify from the time period coined by Kole Omotoso, a Nigerian novelist, playwright and critic, who used it as an instance the poetics and politics of African identities solid via a various mixture of native, regional and worldwide cultural influences all through historical past.

Running till November 30, it options dozens of works by 13 established and rising African artists, together with Justin Dingwall, Ayana Jackson and Ruby Okoro, and seeks to current the Chinese viewers with an Africa that will have escaped their consideration.

It is all of the extra related as 2026 additionally marks the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, mentioned Phuti Joyce Tsipa, South African consul common in Shanghai, on the opening ceremony.

“The exhibition is a great platform for the Chinese people to understand a different Africa and how the African people perceive their history, their present and their future,” she mentioned.

These pictures may give the guests a glimpse of what Africa — and specifically South Africa — is basically about, she added.

While the occasion continues, plans are afoot to deliver works of Chinese photographers to Africa this yr, in keeping with the organizers.