Holly Roussell – författare

Supported by an exhibition at Les Rencontres d'Arles in 2024, to be followed by an international tour, this is the first retrospective of one of China's most important photographic artists. Mo Yi is a photographic artist with a career spanning nearly forty years from the 1980s to today. Published to accompany a major exhibition at Les Rencontres d’Arles, this retrospective contextualizes his work within the evolution of contemporary art following reform and opening in China in the aftermath of the Cultural Revolution. Organized into five chronological chapters that mark the milestones of Mo Yi’s journey as an artist, each introduced by Holly Roussell, the book presents the key projects and series, created through an era of great change and upheaval in China. A restless innovator of photographic practice and form, Mo Yi has combined documentary photography of daily life in Beijing with the exploratory and performative aspects for which his work has become renowned, shifting from the dynamic black and white images of his earlier practice to the vivid red that becomes a recurring motif in his later colour work. Showcasing more than 150 original photographs, and with text contributions from Christoph Wiesner, Director of Les Rencontres d’Arles, and Philip Tinari, Director of UCCA, this book will introduce one of China’s most important, yet virtually unknown artists to international audiences for the first time.

A comprehensive yet accessible survey of Korean photography by two leading curators. Visually bold, it provides access to important thematics, key artistic positions and events in Korean photography’s development from 1957 to the present. Shine Brightly: Korean Photography Since 1957 is the first wide-ranging survey of Korean photography in the English language. Built upon original, on-the-ground research and first-hand interviews, this publication offers a focused yet accessible exploration of the key artists, movements and exhibitions against their political, social and economic backdrops. Korean photography, whose practitioners have forged a unique visual language over seven decades, has been a vital part of the rise of South Korea’s identity and influence at the heart of contemporary culture. Bold and richly detailed, this survey will engage readers looking to embark on an unprecedented, curated journey through Korea’s photographic history. Featuring more than 100 photographers and over 450 photographs, this striking publication traces the development of Korean photography from the documentary roots of post-war realism and the avant-garde explorations of the 1970s and 80s to the key themes and artists at work today. Not only do authors Holly Roussell and Sunyoung Kim present important thematic developments, but they also propose new approaches to understanding the role of photography in performance and video art, the evolving aesthetics and symbolism of landscape photography, and the politicization of cityscapes around the turn of the millennium. For all who seek an understanding of an increasingly important photographic culture, Shine Brightly will be the definitive publication.