Photo © Yexin Qiu Moying Zhang
Talent of the Year 2020 - NOMINEE: Yexin Qiu Moying Zhang
Silent River
Support this photographer - share this work on Facebook.
Under the background of many difficulties brought by global warming，the water problem has been affected at the same time， and its own problems will also react to climate change。But on the“Mother River”of china，a development attitude that does not consider ecological consequences is being performed。Where will the future of the "Mother River" be driven by the several hydro-level development plans starting from the upstream，the mountain mining along the coast，and the downstream areas full of chemical industries？The photography project 《Silent River》 tries to put forward some contradictions that human beings may face while continuing the development of modern civilization from the contemporary perspective of culture，environment and ecology。
For five thousand years，the Yangtze River and the Yellow River as the "Mother River" of China，have been feeding the people of the land of China。From the early images of the Yangtze River by John Thomson，we can get a glimpse of the original state of the Mother River in the past。In the present，it's gone forever。Since the “Reform and Opening-Up”，both sides of the mother river have been over-developed，The problems such as floods and environmental pollution caused by the ecological destruction of the mother river basin in the past are now becoming ecological barriers：wetlands、 woodlands and lakes has been shrunk，some water systems began to dry up。China is currently undergoing rapid urbanization and development. Human survival and transformation are in infinite conflict with the fragile natural ecology。
The project《Silent River》 focuses the camera on the "Mother River"of china，The Yangtze River and the Yellow River represent different river basin civilizations and ancient myths。However，the once anointed land became deserted now。At present， there is no difference between the two rivers。Both sides of the river are full of traces of natural rivers being tamed by humans；becoming Narrowly riverbed and gradually shrinking，dry tributary river systems。Nowadays，they are showing motherhood and myth that are constantly being dismembered。 In the past，the two rivers were regarded as metaphors of life。Now， however， they are turned into a river full of contradictions between ancient Chinese civilization and modern civilization，a river that infinitely fulfills human's desires，a river that is sometimes bright and sometimes hidden，a silent river，a dying river。
This ongoing project was completed in cooperation with artist Moying Zhang。
About author:
Yexin Qiu ，Independent image writer，now living and working in Shanghai.
Exhibitions：
2016 ，16th China Pingyao International Photography Festival;
2016 ，Beijing AOTU Space "place" photography exhibition;
2016 ，“Everyday·Encounte”- Group Photography Exhibition of Young Photographers from Home and Abroad;
2017 ，China LiShui International Photography Festival;
2017 ，Wonder Fotoday -Taipei International Photography Art Exchange Exhibition;
2018，Tongji University And Liberation Daily -“The Ultimate Literatus” - Chen Congzhou's 100th Birthday Tribute Exhibition；
2019，Resident Artists Group Exhibition of Shanghai Ruan Yisan Heritage Foundation - "Towards Countryside - 2019"
2020，Contemporary Photography and Chinese Classical Garden on The Couple’s Garden
Resident:
2017 ，Shanghai Ruan Yisan Heritage Foundation - Resident Artists Plans;
2018 ，"Local Chronicle Novel" Resident Writing Plans;
Awards:
2013 ，"Boqi Cup" - China Creative Photography Exhibition ，Excellent Works Award;
2016 ，Sony Young Photographer Program ，Sony Young Photographer;
Collections:
2018 ，CHINESE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ETHNOLOGY
Moying Zhang，a video artist、director，based in Beijing and London
Awards and Exhibitions
2018 Guest Artist Beijing International Short Film Festival, Beijing, China
2018 Guest Artist I Art Youth Project, Yuan Museum, Chongqing, China
2016 Guest Artist Time Based, Non-Places, The 3rd Shenzhen Independent Animation Biennale, Shenzhen, China
2016 Guest Artist Reel China , New York
2015 Guest Artist Power of Teaching Shanghai Himalayas Museum
2015 Top 10 Experimental Image Unit China Independent Film Festival
2015 Award of Avant-grade Spirit Nanjing Independent Film Festival
2018 First Prize, I Art Youth Project
2019 Award of TenThousandGreen selection, TenThousandGreen Festival
For five thousand years，the Yangtze River and the Yellow River as the "Mother River" of China，have been feeding the people of the land of China。From the early images of the Yangtze River by John Thomson，we can get a glimpse of the original state of the Mother River in the past。In the present，it's gone forever。Since the “Reform and Opening-Up”，both sides of the mother river have been over-developed，The problems such as floods and environmental pollution caused by the ecological destruction of the mother river basin in the past are now becoming ecological barriers：wetlands、 woodlands and lakes has been shrunk，some water systems began to dry up。China is currently undergoing rapid urbanization and development. Human survival and transformation are in infinite conflict with the fragile natural ecology。
The project《Silent River》 focuses the camera on the "Mother River"of china，The Yangtze River and the Yellow River represent different river basin civilizations and ancient myths。However，the once anointed land became deserted now。At present， there is no difference between the two rivers。Both sides of the river are full of traces of natural rivers being tamed by humans；becoming Narrowly riverbed and gradually shrinking，dry tributary river systems。Nowadays，they are showing motherhood and myth that are constantly being dismembered。 In the past，the two rivers were regarded as metaphors of life。Now， however， they are turned into a river full of contradictions between ancient Chinese civilization and modern civilization，a river that infinitely fulfills human's desires，a river that is sometimes bright and sometimes hidden，a silent river，a dying river。
This ongoing project was completed in cooperation with artist Moying Zhang。
About author:
Yexin Qiu ，Independent image writer，now living and working in Shanghai.
Exhibitions：
2016 ，16th China Pingyao International Photography Festival;
2016 ，Beijing AOTU Space "place" photography exhibition;
2016 ，“Everyday·Encounte”- Group Photography Exhibition of Young Photographers from Home and Abroad;
2017 ，China LiShui International Photography Festival;
2017 ，Wonder Fotoday -Taipei International Photography Art Exchange Exhibition;
2018，Tongji University And Liberation Daily -“The Ultimate Literatus” - Chen Congzhou's 100th Birthday Tribute Exhibition；
2019，Resident Artists Group Exhibition of Shanghai Ruan Yisan Heritage Foundation - "Towards Countryside - 2019"
2020，Contemporary Photography and Chinese Classical Garden on The Couple’s Garden
Resident:
2017 ，Shanghai Ruan Yisan Heritage Foundation - Resident Artists Plans;
2018 ，"Local Chronicle Novel" Resident Writing Plans;
Awards:
2013 ，"Boqi Cup" - China Creative Photography Exhibition ，Excellent Works Award;
2016 ，Sony Young Photographer Program ，Sony Young Photographer;
Collections:
2018 ，CHINESE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ETHNOLOGY
Moying Zhang，a video artist、director，based in Beijing and London
Awards and Exhibitions
2018 Guest Artist Beijing International Short Film Festival, Beijing, China
2018 Guest Artist I Art Youth Project, Yuan Museum, Chongqing, China
2016 Guest Artist Time Based, Non-Places, The 3rd Shenzhen Independent Animation Biennale, Shenzhen, China
2016 Guest Artist Reel China , New York
2015 Guest Artist Power of Teaching Shanghai Himalayas Museum
2015 Top 10 Experimental Image Unit China Independent Film Festival
2015 Award of Avant-grade Spirit Nanjing Independent Film Festival
2018 First Prize, I Art Youth Project
2019 Award of TenThousandGreen selection, TenThousandGreen Festival