As the global event with the largest scale and longest history hosted by China Photographers Association (CPA), at every turn, China International Photographic Art Exhibition (CIPAE), the solicit contributions, selecting and exhibition of it, all became the focus of numerous photographers’ attention. From 25th to 29th August, the selecting conference of China 15th International Photographic Art Exhibition (15th CIPAE) was held in Lishui City Zhejiang Province, which had also converged the fervent view of photography colleagues.
15th CIPAE had totally received 76398 works (150559 masterpieces) of 17189 photographers from 98 countries& regions. The number of contributors increased 9891 than 14th CIPAE, the number of masterpieces increased 3720, both set new records. Gu Liqun, vice secretary-general of CPA, said despite large contributions had increased the work for the selecting committee, they showed the spirits of earnestness, respecting work, magnanimity and optimism; made acdemic exchange, and the concept of art was impinged upon during selecting.
15th CIPAE was divided into 4 categories in all: theme of femininity category, non-theme documentary category, art category and trade category; every category produced 2 golden prizes, 4 silver awards and 6 copper ones. The influence of succession of CIPAE multiplied daily, and it had found favour in eyes of photographers all over the world. The number of foreign contribution raised substantially, for the first time, there were photographers attended from Afghanistan, Bhutan and Kyrgyzstan etc, and the contracted photographers, from world major news agencies such as: AP, AFP, Reuters etc & some famous photo services, also submitted masterpieces positively, the number of contribution enhanced much more than before.
Newly increasing the theme of “femininity” to arouse masses’ attention to feminine problem
15th CIPAE had newly increased the theme of “femininity” category, and collected works of actual events in recent years, which comprehensively represented global feminine survival status and problems etc; and it was also the first time to set up themactic solicit contributions, it also underlined the position of photography of actual events in the international photographic art exhibition. Chen Jing, director of international liaison department of CPA, said the increased theme of “femininity” could arouse attention from global masses, governments and media to feminine problem. It was reported that every CIPAE in the future would set up one theme for solicit contribution, to arouse more mass’ attention to problems of social development, through the cameras of photographers.
Push-off of the theme of “femininity” category had found broad attention & approval of global photographers, they submited works of this category with high warmth. The organizing committee had totally received 16564 works from 6756 contributors. These had a lot of focuses, which represented the comprehensive life of global femininity.
Push-off of the theme of “femininity” category had also received judge-panel’s praise. Many judges paid close attention to this theme, and had a very high opinion of works contributed at the selecting meeting site. Suo Jiulin, vice president of CPA & director of selecting works of feminine theme, said the newly increased theme of “femininity” category embodied unique foresight of the organizing committee. Feminine problem was of vital important to human development. Photography, as well as other forms of art, played important role to promote equality between the sexes & feminine development; despite of uneven level, most works showed the spirits of self-choice, self-respect, self-improvement, unfolded feminine appeals & perplexity. Most photo language of the works deeply expressed the theme. Eliezer Berkman, judge, former president of US Media Photography Association, said 15th CIPAE had newly increased solicit contribution of “femininity” theme, which embodied CPA devoted much attention to feminine problem.
Conducting master class to learn from judges’ experience of photography
Deserved to be mentioned, the master class was opened during 15th CIPAE selecting, which attracted participation of domestic photographers. It was also the initiative of 15th CIPAE. Wu Yanhua, director of theory research office of CPA, told journalist that all the judges were renowned photographers domestic and abroad; conducting master class was a platform for Chinese photographers to learn & exchange with great masters of photography face to face.
The judge-panel of 15th CIPAE had a strong lineup, which was composed of 18 renowned photographers with different achievements, 7 more judges than last time. The judge-panel of “femininity” theme category consisted of: Suo Jiulin, vice president of CPA; Alain Sayag, former leader of photography department of Centre d\'art et de Culture Pompidou, France; Yu Wenguo, vice president of China News Photography Association; Feng Jianguo, assistant professor Academy of Art & Design , Tsinghua University; Eliezer Berkman, former president of US Media Photography Association.
The judge-panel of non-theme documentary category consisted of: Wang Yue, vice president of CPA, who was experienced in media & photography of actual events; Xu Bu, vice president of China News Photography Association; Yuan Ruilun, vice secretary-general of News Photography Association, National Specialized Newspaper; Kim Sea Kwon, member of Korean Portraying Association; Claudio Brufola, secretary-general of Italian Professional Photographers Association.
The judge-panel of art category consisted of: Li Xueliang, vice president of CPA; Bao Kun, photographer, critic of visual culture; Peng Bang, photographer, HK China; Johann Van Der Walt, president of Photography Association, South Africa; Henry Zeng, president of Australian Digital Photography Association; they were specialized at visual culture, landscape photography and post production.
The judge-panel of trade category consisted of: Wang Dajun, vice president of CPA; Shi Zhimin, Chinese-American photographer; Nicolas Berlingieri, photographer, Fédération Internationale de l'Art Photographique (FIAP).
During selecting of 15th CIPAE, judges exchanged ideas with the master class by giving lessons separately, giving lessons to groups, commenting trainees’ works etc. Everybody thought that he could learn about the judges only by their works in the past, now he or she could share what theme & method of shooting used by the judges directly and learn their idea of photography. So, Wu Yanhua said that the master class was a window and platform for the global top photography masters to give lessons, share ideas & experiences, commenting trainees’ works face to face; that could excavate, utilize the globally outstanding professional resources; we would continue to organize it.
