Date: 15 Nov - 16 Dec 2015
Location: Yuanbo Garden, Tan Kan Kee Art Center, Three Shadows Xiamen Photography Art Centre
This day in age, many countries and regions are forming photo biennials, triennials, and international photo festivals to promote traditional and contemporary art photography while spurring on the economic and cultural development of the areas in which they are held. The internationally renowned “Les Rencontres d’Arles” already has an illustrious history and has developed its own unique style and model. Furthermore, it continues to strive for change amidst today’s global economic and cultural transformation.
Jimei X Arles emerges precisely from the convergent needs of both this specialized discipline and the broader public. Xiamen possesses a truly unique cumulative cultural heritage and history of overseas interaction and exchange. Jimei X Arles aims to have a widespread effect upon culture in its neighboring countries and regions, as well as that of the global characteristics of contemporary photography, which originated in Europe.
Jimei is one of China’s most attractive cities—one of Xiamen’s administrative areas, Its landforms consist of a vast mountain range splitting into five smaller ranges and surrounded by two gulfs, which was the basis for the exquisite traditional saying “five dragons playing with a pearl.”
When the land is beautiful, the people thrive. Chen Jiageng, once called “a radiant overseas Chinese ethnic minority leader” by Chairman Mao Zedong, was born here and established one of the longest standing academic areas in China—Jimei School Village, where tens of thousands of teachers and students continue to study, create, and attain academic excellence.
Cultured Jimei is comprised of software/information technology services, mechanized equipment production, business and commercial tourism, as well as the leading cultural performing arts industry. Life in Jimei is peaceful and content, happy and harmonious.
Jimei X Arles International Photo Festival will rely upon Les Rencontres d’Arles’ extensive international exhibition expertise and content, while incorporating Three Shadows Photography Art Centre’s comparable Asian and Chinese exhibition expertise and content, all strategically situated within Jimei district’s newly developed arts & culture estate. These elements will be synthesized with local civic and cultural resources to create China’s best international photo festival, bringing Jimei into the international public sphere and encouraging the expansion of its cultural industry.
Jimei X Arles International Photo Festival is supported by Xiamen, Jimei district and organized by Three Shadows Photography Art Centre and TianxiaJimei Media. Jimei X Arles International Photo Festival was jointly initiated by Sam Stourdze, Director of Les Rencontres d’Arles, and RongRong, Founder of Three Shadows Photography Art Centre. Independent curator Li Zhenhua will serve as CEO of the event.
Jimei X Arles International Photo Festival is the matically divided as follows: Encounter the East, Fashion & Photography, City Navigation, Double Nostalgia, Local Action, Extended Photography, Audio Visual, and Prize & Collection. The festival will encompass more than ten countries and regions, over a hundred photographers from China and abroad, and over a thousand photographs.