Susan Sontag mentioned in On Photography that “photography serves a noble goal: revealing the hidden truth and preserving the disappearing past.” Photography provides people with a way of viewing history from a documentary perspective, especially for later generations. Despite the mad intervention and sharp modification of computer technology, regardless of its authenticity, which was once deeply questioned, but the images that were circulated did provide a proof of presence with “people, subject, thing” from a certain perspective. Perhaps in the era when everyone has a mobile phone to take pictures, all are “photographers,” and a small number of people will go against this, making filming return to the good mood of the heart. However, in the era when only films dominate the situation, the history completely concentrated on the square of pictures. At this time, people often shouted loudly: we miss the era without retouching treatments when everything seemed to be infinitely close to reality.
Bruno Barbey, a former president of Magnum Photos International and now a member of Académie des Beaux-Arts, who has witnessed the development of China through his lens. Barbey was born in Morocco in 1941 and joined Magnum Photos in the 1960s. His work focuses on highlighting colors and having a strong visual style. His footprints spread all over the world. He has photographed many important people and focused on the beauty of daily life. Besides winning various awards, he was made a Knight of France’s National Order of the Legion of Honor in 1982.
In September 1973, Mr. Barbey visited China with the then French President George Pompidou. He recorded the Chinese through the eyes of Western photographers with his camera. As Barbey said, “It is very exciting to record photos in a modern country which was at a crucial moment of history.” This year is also the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. A series of Sino-French cultural activities have been launched in both countries. With DISCOVERING CHINA AS IT IS: a Photographic Exhibition of Bruno Barbey as the title, the exhibition features 49 photographs taken by Bruno Barbey during his visit to China in the 1970s and 1980s. At the same time, he also donated 69 masterpieces to the National Art Museum of China.
At that time, photographers generally used black and white photos. In the era when color photography was not taken seriously, Barbey took the lead in trying Kodak Chrome color films, which shows the importance of technical support and pioneering spirit.
Lens may be just a medium and a tool. It really carries a thought, from the observation, imagination, narrative and exploration of the master behind the lens. It is like a writer using words, an artist using a brush, and a camera is a photographer’s “speaking way” and “communicative means.” Barbey’s photography was not obsolete because of the passage of time. On the contrary, each photo has a different appeal. After years, they are still full of rich and original colors.
As Mr. Wu Weishan mentioned in his preface for the exhibition, Barbey once said “photography is the only language that can be understood anywhere in the world.” This exhibition rediscovers China as it was while reflecting on the historical scenes of China, which were once again reunited and re-examined. The exhibition will remain on view until July 28.
Text by Zhang Yizhi, translated and edited by Sue/CAFA ART INFO
Photo Courtesy of the Artist and National Art Museum of China
About the artist
Bruno Barbey, born in Morocco, has dual nationality, French and Swiss. He studied photography and graphic arts at the École des Arts et Métiers in Vevey, Switzerland. In 1961-1964 he photographed the Italians, perceiving them as protagonists of a 'theatrical world', with the aim of capturing the spirit of a nation. Bruno Barbey began his relationship with Magnum Photos in 1964. He served as Magnum vice president for Europe in 1978/1979 and as President of Magnum International from 1992 to 1995.
Over five decades Bruno Barbey has photographed in all five continents and covered wars and conflicts in Nigeria, Vietnam, the Middle East, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Kuwait. His work has appeared in the world's major magazines and he has published over 30 books. In 1999 the Petit Palais, Paris, organized a large solo exhibition of photographs taken by Bruno Barbey in Morocco over a period of three decades.
In 2015/2016, La Maison Européenne de la Photographie, Paris, showed his retrospective exhibition which is currently circulating internationally. He published simultaneously his retrospective book “Passages”.
He has received numerous awards for his work, including the French National Order of Merit.
In 2016, Bruno Barbey was elected a member of the French Academy of Fine Arts, Institut de France.
His photographs are exhibited worldwide, and feature in numerous museum collections. Today he is working on a new project and photographing extensively in China.
For further information please visit www.brunobarbey.com.
