Jie Hailong

Author: Xie Hailong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-01
Features: This book is a photographic collection that captures the desire of Chinese children to learn photography, yet it possesses such immense emotional impact—this is the photographic power of Xie Hailong. At that time, I had just begun my career in photography and writing, and I was not yet clear about the state of photography in China, including his specific work. While I felt a strong urge to write something about his photography, I also knew that fleeting emotions could not guarantee the creation of valuable criticism. It might be better to wait for a while. For a long time, my desire to write a serious review of Xie Hailong's Hope Project photography was never fulfilled due to a lack of opportunity. However, one thing is certain: if I were to write anything about contemporary Chinese photography in the future, Xie Hailong's Hope Project photography would undoubtedly be a subject that must be taken seriously as a research object. His photographic practice has opened up new possibilities for understanding the social role and function of photography in multiple ways.