While no artist fits neatly into just one category, some create work that speaks to a shared culture. Whether referencing traditional styles or incorporating symbols as a metaphor, we see some contemporary artists making images with meaning rooted in a collective past.

Check out the video below for a look at three contemporary Chinese photographers who tackle big ideas through their work:

View these three artists and others currently on view in MOPA’s exhibition Out of the Shadows: Contemporary Chinese Photography.

Want to learn more? Don’t forget to browse other inspiring resources on the fundamentals of photography at MOPA’s Photo 101Also, make sure to check out MOPA’s Nancy K. Dubois Library for unique resources related to photography and film.

 

Special thanks to the artists Hong Lei, Wang Ningde and Yang Yongliang. 

Additional financial support is provided by the Gould Family Foundation and the City of San Diego.