Revisiting the Roots of Asian Photography
The Masters section of this exhibition turns back to the very beginnings of photography in Asia. Photography was first introduced to China in the 1840s, to Japan in the 1850s, and somewhat later to Korea, with its first photo studio opening in 1883. Although the camera was a Western invention, each country absorbed and transformed it in distinct ways.
The Masters seeks to revisit these early roots and reconnect them within a broader history of Asian photography. Within this context, the exhibition highlights LANG Jingshan (1892–1995), celebrated as the “Father of Chinese Photography.” LANG pioneered the technique of composite photography, layering negatives, adding inscriptions, and even painting directly onto prints to recreate the poetic perspective of traditional Chinese landscape painting. Influenced by Western experimental photography of the 1930s yet deeply rooted in Chinese ink traditions, LANG developed a uniquely romantic and modern style. His practice not only bridged East and West but also secured a lasting position for Asian photography within global art history.
What is particularly compelling is how the very act of seeing landscapes shaped the way photographs were perceived. This aesthetic of landscape vision forms a meaningful link to the Discover New Asia section, where contemporary artists continue to reinterpret landscape photography and expand its possibilities. Together, these sections invite audiences to consider both the historical foundations and the living dialogues of Asian photography today.