Pingyao finds bridge for cultural exchanges in photography

Photographers exchange opinions and experiences at the 23rd Pingyao International Photography Festival. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] 

Pingyao has a rich spiritual life and ancient China can still be felt and seen there, said Russian art history expert Irina Chmyreva at the 23rd Pingyao International Photography Festival (PIP) ongoing in Pingyao county, North China's Shanxi province.

Since 2008, Chmyreva has visited Pingyao multiple times. This year, as a curator, she invited nine photographers from six countries including France, Brazil, and Belgium to showcase their joint works there, fostering a spiritual and artistic connection between international photographers and this 2,800-year-old region. 

"It feels very familiar to come back to Pingyao after three years. The quality and standard of this year's photography festival are even better than before," said Moshe Rosenzveig, founder and chairman of the Sydney Head On Photo Festival. In his eyes, the annual PIP has become a spiritual bond connecting photographers worldwide. 

Photography enthusiasts exchange opinions and experiences at the 23rd PIP in Pingyao. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Since its first session in 2001 was held with the theme of openness and exchange, the PIP has attracted over 50,000 photographers from more than 100 countries and regions to exhibit some 350,000 works. 

Through exchanges and a fusion of ethnic, regional, and photographic cultures, this international event has built a bridge for cultural exchanges, further promoting such exchanges between China and other countries.

An official representing the mayor of Bottrop in Germany extends an invitation to Jinzhong city at the opening ceremony of the 23rd PIP on Sept 19. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] 

So far, Pingyao has established friendly city relationships with Provins in France, Suwon in South Korea, and Kyakhta in Russia. 

During this year's session from Sept 19 to 25, Bernd Tischler, mayor of Bottrop in Germany, sent his best wishes via video and extended an invitation to Jinzhong city which administers Pingyao county. 

That included an invitation to visit Bottrop to explore the possibility of opening a PIP European institution and collaborating on photography events in Germany, as well as researching opportunities for Chinese photographers and curators to conduct study and travel activities in Germany, exploring photography education and future cooperation between Bottrop and Jinzhong, and discussing cultural exchanges between the two cities.