September 19-23, 2025
I was so excited to participate in this giant photo festival in China — the 25th year of the festival. Curated by the amazing Thomas Kellner, I presented my 6 Feet Apart series in a group show titled Where Time’s Echoes Repeat.
Artists: Falk BrvT, Jolana Havelková, Galina Kurlat, Ralf Litera, Ari Salomon, Frauke Thielking, and Stig Marlon Weston
Opening day tour:
Quick tour of my show, includes walk around other parts of the festival on a busy Saturday
4 min interview with me and 2 others (this was posted to the festival WeChat account)
Images:
Award: I was honored to receive the “Phoenix of Pingyao” award for best photo installation. This award was given to the top 19 photographers among the 100s of photographers who participated (maybe as many as 5000 – but i’m not sure if all the outdoor exhibitions qualified). The sculpture on top of the trophy is a symbol of Shanxi province – discovered in 2000, the “Zun of Jin” is an ancient ritual object that depicts a mythical bird with an elephant for a tail.
My installation consisted of 5 parts:
- Large grids – with one “distressed”
- Artifacts – these were previously displayed on the ground
- Ground markers – these made a path around our group show area
- DNA sequence
- Sculptures – I had a small stack of 12 of my “memorial” sculptures
- On the first day, visitors (especially kids) kept moving my sculptures around. Then the cleaning crew came through, saw them scattered on the floor, and thought they were trash. They threw away all 12. The funny thing is—these works were made of concrete. Solid, permanent objects. But what they showed were temporary things: sidewalk markers from the pandemic. So in a strange way, the cleaners completed the cycle. The sculptures were meant to hold onto something fleeting—and then they, too, disappeared.
Location:
- Building A2: The former diesel factory (Not the cotton mill factory)
- It’s in the northwest of the Ancient City of Pingyao: No. 153 West Avenue (西大街153号), Pingyao Ancient City, Jinzhong, Shanxi Province, 031100
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
2025 festival curatorial statement:
In the information age, where artificial intelligence and digital technology are rapidly developing, the boundaries of photography are constantly being expanded and reshaped. The 25th International Photo Exhibition in Pingyao “Break boundaries and see the future.” As a theme, photographers around the world are encouraged to “respond to the changes of the times with a more open vision, innovative technologies and deep thinking, and explore the limitless possibilities of images.”
scope:
This event attracted over 5,000 photographers from 34 countries and 25 provinces across China, presenting 20,000 works. The exhibition also showcased works from 117 domestic and international universities, 133 short videos, and over 100 photography albums and handmade books. Included five exhibition areas: the former diesel engine factory, the former cotton mill, the county government office, the Jixiang Temple, and the Wu Temple. The festival welcomed approximately 300,000 visitors.
ABOUT PINGYAO
The Pingyao International Photography Festival (PIP) is a prestigious annual event held in Pingyao Ancient City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in central China. Known for its rich economic history and remarkably preserved Ming and Qing dynasty architecture, Pingyao becomes a living gallery during the festival, with its historic streets, ancient temples, and traditional courtyards transformed into vibrant indoor and open-air exhibition spaces. Surrounded by the intact city wall, the setting provides a dramatic backdrop that fuses centuries-old architecture with the contemporary visual language of photography.
Founded in 2001, PIP has grown into one of China’s most significant photography events, attracting thousands of visitors each year—from art lovers and curious locals to internationally recognized photographers and collectors. The festival features many exhibitions and showcases the work of over hundreds of photographers, displaying as many as 20,000 images. While the majority of participating artists are Chinese, the festival also maintains a strong international presence, highlighting voices from around the globe. The exhibitions are spread throughout the city in a wide array of venues, including museums, galleries, repurposed factories, schools, and alternative cultural spaces, allowing for a dynamic and immersive experience. In addition to the exhibitions, PIP offers lectures, workshops, and portfolio reviews, fostering artistic exchange and dialogue across cultures and disciplines.
There is no official website for the event (many organizations in china rely on social media and not websites) but here is a more info about the 2024 festival. And an older video or two.
See more videos of the event on my YouTube channel
