Zeng Yi, a well-known photographer in the world, has opened exhibitions everywhere: United States, Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Cyprus, South Korea, Taiwan, etc. This time, his station is Tirana and the National Historical Museum. The famous Chinese artist opened a personal exhibition, being supported by the National Historical Museum, the Municipality of Tirana, the Municipality of Pietrasanta in Italy and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China. The inauguration of the exhibition was attended by personalities of culture, painters and photographers.
During his opening speech of the exhibition, the Director of the National Historical Museum, Mr. Labi Melsi considered the exhibition as a reflection of the past and the future, said: “The exhibition “Homeland” comes in the Albanian capital, and the author bears from his long and successful career a number of local and international awards. In this way, Tirana becomes a point of curiosity, as the photographer Zeng Yi attracts the attention of the cultural world and media wherever he opens an exhibition. Zeng is one of those photographers which focus target are the events that leave a mark on the country’s history. He wants to present an authentic image of the Chinese people. For this reason he uses black and white background. Such a mission he has taken very seriously and with great responsibility. Focusing on daily and its extraordinary, he has documented the village life, the common people of the permanent problems. The exhibitions realized by him are already recommended for those who want to know about the ordinary life. In every image remained on celluloid, in every camera shot, he has fixed an unrepeatable magic moment. He is turned in a popular photographer and a cultural ambassador of China. His photos constitute a precious archive periods that he has documented. Obviously they are part of history.”
The author of the exhibition Zeng Yi, in his speech emphasized the fact that many years of cooperation in culture between people of the two countries, China and Albania, should continue to recognize new achievements. For his part, the curator of the project Mr. Alfred Milot Marashi, said that it was lucky to have known such a great artist as Zeng Yi. He added that along with the Director of the National Museum Mr. Labi Melsi, had undertaken a joint initiative, to bring the great Chinese photographer in Tirana. This was made possible.
Deputy Mayor of Tirana, Mr. Abbaz Hado, also a painter by profession, expressed his impressions about the exhibition of Zeng Yi. The “Homeland” brings 40 black and white photos of people living in Chinese provinces. Tirana welcomes such an event. It also makes more dynamic its artistic life. Seeing in a deeper perspective, perhaps many Albanians would feel represented in photography of Zeng Yi, the focus in black and white where happiness and sadness are shared with an almost invisible line. This is the daily life; sometimes grim, but most often with light of hope.
“Homeland” was open in the exhibition hall of the National Historical Museum from 22 May to 22 June 2016.
