Photographer DAVID ELLINGSEN was flown to Lishui, China this past week to attend the LISHUI INTERNATIONAL PHOTO FESTIVAL. David was invited, along with a select 30 artists from across North America, to exhibit his latest fine art series, Future Imperfect. We’d like to say thanks to Yan Li and the rest of the wonderful hosts at Lishui who so graciously welcomed and accomodated David and the other photographers to the festival; it was a fantastic experience for David (read below David’s comments on the trip).
Well, that was quite the trip.
I had been invited to be an exhibiting guest artist at the 2009 Lishui International Photo Festival in Lishui, China. A bi-annual event in a city of 2.5 million in western China, the Festival runs from November 28th to December 3rd. It will be the first public exhibition of my new fine art series, Future Imperfect.
And now on with the show…
After 26 hours of travel to the city of Lishui in China (about 6 hrs south of Shanghai) I finally arrived at the hotel just after 8pm, more than a little exhausted. I wanted nothing more than a long shower and a warm bed, but as soon as I put my bags down at the front desk the volunteers whisked me away to the Opening Ceremonies, which were already underway. I was expecting a conference room or something of that sort, so I was a little surprised to be ushered into a shiny new stadium where more than 10,000 people were in the stands watching the goings-on. Surreal after a trip like that. Television cameras, huge video screens, award presentations that seemed like they belonged on the Grammys…recipients rising up out of the stage to the top of a pyramid-like podium, hands raised in the air. Chinese generals, cultural dignitaries and a musical tribute with 100 dancers, singers and a lighting show that would put Vegas to shame. And all for a Photography Festival…hooray China!
Here’s the stage from where I was seated…
…and when I turned around (yes those bleachers are full!).
There were about 60 international guests at the hotel for the festival and the next morning we all got up early, had breakfast (Thousand Island dressing DOES look like yogurt) and were whisked off to Baiyan Forest Park, one of two main sites for the festival. A beautiful park at the edge of the city with a string of classical Chinese buildings which contained the galleries.
Entrance to the park’s festival site…
…and the view of some of the galleries.
Me with my work…
…and guests wandering through.
Following a morning wandering around the galleries we were taken for an official Welcome Luncheon Banquet and then back to the galleries to meet with curators and other experts from China. Lastly we headed to a converted oil factory to see beautiful work at the exhibits of the featured Chinese photographers.
The remaining days were filled with photography trips into the surrounding picturesque countryside, exploring the city of Lishui itself and connecting with the photographers and curators from China and North America.
Well, that’s all for now. If you’re still with me, thanks for your interest. It was a great event.
Thanks again to Yan Li and the volunteers who were the ultimate hosts.
