During the period, many Chinese photographers were awarded honorary titles and prizes by international photographic organizations, and photographic groups of other countries, Hong Kong and Macao. In 1984, Hong Kong Photo Art Society conferred the title Famous Contemporary Photographer to Xu Xiaobing, chairman of CPA, and vie-chairman Wu Yinxian. In the same year, the Paris City Council conferred a Paris Silver Medal to Hu Zhuchuan, a research fellow on the Chinese photographic history from CPA, for his prominent research results. In 1986, Lin Guanglin, vice-president of the Photo-Art Association of Singapore, visited China, and conferred an honorary advanced membership medal to Wu Yinxian on behalf of the council of the association. In the same year, the Photo-Art Association of Singapore conferred honorary member title to Peng Bangqin and Fang Xuehui, Chinese photographers and members of the Overseas Chinese Photography Association, to cite their contribution to promote exchanges between the photographic circles in the two countries. In 1987, the New York International Center of Photography, at its 4th decoration awarding meeting, awarded a decoration certificate to famous Chinese photographer Wu Yinxian for his contributions in developing the Chinese photographic undertakings. Wu Yinxian went to New York for the decoration-awarding ceremony. In 1989, the 4th International Higashikawa Prizes, Japan, conferred Shi Shaohua the award for overseas photographers.

In this stage, many Chinese photographic works on the real life won a lot of prizes in international photographic exchange activities. The most representative ones included the annual photographic competition, sponsored by UNESCO Asia Culture Center in Japan. Chinese photographers won first prizes on many occasions. At the 32nd international exhibition in Singapore, Lang Qi won a gold prize with his work of Autumn. At the 19th international photographic exhibition in Luxemburg, Zhao Dapeng won the gold prize from FIAP with his Free Market. At the International Red Cross Photographic Competition, Yang Kailin won the first prize with his work Temptation. At the UN International Industrial Development Photograph Competition, held in Britain, Zhu Han won the gold prize from FIAP with his work Qian Pai Mi Ji. At the photographic salon competition, held in Nivelles, Belgium, Lin Tingsong won the first prize for the color photo group with his work Look at the Bride, and Lu Houmin won the first prize for the black-and-white photo group with his work Feeding Ducks.

At the photographic competition sponsored by UN World Health Organization and FIAP in Geneva, Switzerland, under the theme of Health for Everyone, and Everyone for Health, Qi Guohui won the gold prize with his work Cradle of Life. Yang Shaoming won the third prize for news figures with his group photos Deng Xiaoping in Retirement at the 31st Netherlands World News Photography Competition in 1987. Because of the works, Yang Shaoming was invited to serve as an Asia-based recommender for the master class of Netherlands World News Photography in 1995, 1996 and 1998. At the 1st World Professional Photographic Exhibition in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, the Chinese works won the Winner gold elephant prize for collective works. Since 1994, CPA sponsored the International Gold Bridge activity, a new channel for Chinese photographic works to participate in international exchanges. It facilitated Chinese young photographers to expand their visions and grow up rapidly. In 1996, CPA, through soliciting works, sent 2,470 photos to participate in 17 international photographic exhibitions and competitions. Among them, 92 works were admitted to the exhibitions and competitions. Chinese photographers won two silver medals at the 2nd international photographic competition in Romania.

In the Asia-Pacific photographic competitions, 21 Chinese photographers won prizes, ranking the first of all participating countries. Two Chinese photographers won the top prize and special prize. When the photos won prizes in an Iran-based photographic competition, the Iranian sponsor invited the Chinese photographers to hold photo shows in Iran. The international gold bridge activity facilitated photographic exchanges with the outside world, and promoted the Chinese photographs to step into the world. In 1997, 13 Chinese photographers won prizes at the 20th Asia-Pacific Photographic Competition.

In this period, the Chinese photographic circle sponsored a number of influential international exchange activities. First, it held international photographic exhibitions. In order to enhance photographic exchanges with other countries, CPA began to hold international photographic exhibitions, one session in every two years, in Beijing since 1981, displaying works of photographers from across the world. It had held seven sessions until 1996. In 1986, the Shanghai Branch of CPA started to sponsor international photographic exhibitions, also once in every two years. It is of great significance to hold international exhibitions. Through the exhibitions, Chinese photographers might come into contact with foreign photographic organizations, learn from foreign photographers, particularly their photographic skills, to improve their own photographic levels.

The first international photographic exhibition attracted 2,000 works from 500 photographers from 15 countries and regions in Asia. The judging panel, comprising of 17 members including Xu Xiaobing, selected 460 photos, and awarded prizes to 24 photos. The honorary chairman of the event was Liao Chengzhi, vice-chairman of standing committee of the National People’s Congress. The exhibition expanded in scales from the second to the seventh sessions, with participants from scores of countries from across the world. The photographic works were diversified in contents, expression modes, styles and themes, featuring higher artistic quality. Prizes were awarded in each session. The success of the Chinese international photographic exhibitions improved the reputation of the country’s photography, promoted exchanges with foreign counterparts, facilitated China’s cultural exchanges with the outside world and the prosperity of China’s photography, and enhanced understanding and friendship with the photographic circles and people from other countries.

Second, China successfully held the 24th congress of FIAP. FIAP, a great event in the international photographic circle, was previously held in European countries. In 1995, under the support of many friendly countries, China was authorized at the 23rd congress of FIAP, held in Andorra, to sponsor the 24th congress. The activity was seen as a big event in the Chinese photographic circle and the Asian photographic circle. CPA smoothly held the 24th congress of FIAP under full support of related departments. It expanded China’s influences and was highly admired. The event took place in Shenzhen from September 2 to 7, 1997. The participants comprised 131 delegates from 38 countries and regions, and 50 non-voting delegates, representing wide ranges. The congress passed the work report, elected a new council, and smoothly went through all agenda. FIAP believed the congress was one of the best in all its congresses, played an important role to speed up future development, and laid a solid foundation for all operations. During the session, FIAP held 11 photo shows of various sizes. The 24th FIAP black-and-white photo show and the 18th Chinese photographic exhibition put the photographic exchanges to the climax. The 18th Chinese photographic exhibition, in particular, attracted high admiration of audiences home and abroad for its exquisite artistic level, splendid contents, high quality and marvelous decorations. The audiences proclaimed it was amazing for the Chinese photographic circle to make so fast development.

In terms of photographic organizations, China has set up scores of comprehensive and professional photographic groups since 1978, in addition to CPA and its branches in the country. They have displayed their unique advantages under the backdrop of inspiring situations from reform, opening up, and expanded exchanges with the outside world. These organizations availed themselves to all channels to make friendly visits, hold photographic exhibitions, deliver their masterpieces to photo shows, explore photographic theories and skills. They enriched the contents of China’s photographic exchanges with the outside world, and contributed to boost the Chinese cultural exchanges with foreign countries.

Editor: Li Cheng