A DESPONDENT mental patient, Mickey Mouse in a temple, a nude figure crouching on a block - these are some of the images of China, Taiwan and Hong Kong that will be seen at the Hong Kong Arts Festival.
These three photos, along with 167 others taken by more than 40 photographers, can be seen at the Hong Kong Arts Centre from February 18 to March 13.
Contemporary photography from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan will be the first large-scale exhibition that comprehensively traces photographic developments in the three regions since the 1970s, according to exhibition director Irene Ngan.
The work of the Hong Kong photographers emphasised formalism - studies in light and shadow, colour, texture and motion - said exhibition direction Oscar Ho.
This was photography as a medium for art.
In contrast, much of the work of the mainland photographers was documentary and neo-documentary.
The death of premier Zhou Enlai in 1976 gave birth to the historical photography of the April 5th Movement. As the Chinese Government tried to discourage large numbers of Chinese from turning out to mourn Zhou, riots broke out, and people took photos of the disturbances, Mr Ho said.
