Witness history through the lens of Liu Heung Shing

The Sea World Culture and Arts Center is set to launch a comprehensive retrospective exhibition of Pulitzer-winning photographer Liu Heung Shing this Saturday. “Liu Heung Shing: Lens · Era · People” highlights the classic works of the Hong Kong-born photographer, which span decades, capturing significant historical moments and the vibrant scenes of everyday life.

The exhibition features 150 works, including award-winning pieces, from Liu’s illustrious career. With a focus on the interplay between visual culture and photography, the exhibition will illustrate how Liu’s techniques have influenced various events and narratives.

Big Bird from “Sesame Street” makes his iconic debut in China outside the Workers’ Cultural Palace in Beijing in 1982. File photos

Liu was the first chief photojournalist for Time Magazine and the Associated Press to work in Beijing since 1978. His works have earned global recognition, including the Pulitzer Prize for Spot News in 1992 and accolades from the Overseas Press Club of America and Paris Photography. His unique humanistic perspective has helped to construct an international image of China on the world stage throughout the 20th century.

Liu utilizes his lens as a tool for chronicling the passage of time, focusing on individuals who rose and fell amidst the currents of history. From national leaders to ordinary citizens, and from world-changing events to daily occurrences, Liu’s “decisive moments” reveal an essence that transcends mere documentation.

For Liu, faces are the keys that unlock unfamiliar places, as each captured expression reveals the rich era behind it. He maintains a strong curiosity for his subjects, breaking stereotypes and avoiding the sensationalism often seen in photojournalism. Instead, he captures the nuanced emotions expressed through subtle body language, detailing the lives of diverse social classes.

A photo taken in 1980 shows the wave of reform and opening-up beginning to reshape fashion trends among the youth in Jinghong, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province. 

Before the age of social media and the internet, news reporting aimed to convey the richest information and details within limited spaces. Liu’s work connects cross-cultural experiences behind the lens, leading audiences through time and space to explore the social nuances often overlooked in standard reports.

Liu’s lens not only captures decisive historical moments but also the leisurely, serendipitous aspects of daily life. Crowds serve as vital components of news reporting, reflecting his unique observational perspective, aesthetic taste, and even a sense of humor.

Beyond the tensions of news photography, Liu skillfully collects diverse landscapes and characters during his global travels, inviting audiences to wander through the spaces between historical events and experience the natural poetry of life.

Dates: March 22 to June 8

Venue: Sea World Culture and Arts Center (海上世界艺术中心), Nanshan District

Metro: Line 2 or 12 to Sea World Station (海上世界站), Exit A