As an outstanding photographer, filmmaker, and educator in China, Wu Yinxian (1900-1994) was very influential in the history of photography in China. As a research project on the development of photography in China, Taikang Space has planned four exhibitions to show his works from the 1920s to the 1980s in reverse chronological order, based on thorough studies of a large number of his works. Following the first two retrospectives in November 2009 and November 2010, Valiant & Heroic Peripateticism will showcase the Militiawomen series that Wu took in the 1960s and 1970s, and another theme in Wu‟s photography after 1949, landscape. The final installment of the Wu Yinxian series will be held in October 2011 at Taikang Space.

In the Militiawomen series, through the photography of the Li Nationality militiawomen in Hainan Province and the Mongolian Nationality militiawomen in Inner Mongolia, Wu successfully presented the valiant and heroic images of these militiawomen and reinterpreted Mao Zedong‟s poem written for these photos in 1960 (Bright and brave, with rifles five-foot long/ At early dawn they shine on drilling ground/ Most Chinese daughters have desire so strong/ To face the powder and not to powder the face). The difference lies in their respective ways of expression, poem and photography, but they both passionately praised the brand new face of women in a new China.

As we sorted Wu Yinxian‟s photos, we found a surprisingly large number of landscapes of different sizes. They reveal a photographer that traveled through China, sang the praises of its beautiful landscape, hid personal feelings behind the natural images, and found himself free in the material medium of the photograph.

We are fortunate to have received the support of Wu‟s family for this exhibition, that has allowed a wider audience to experience the works of Wu Yinxian. We would also like to express our gratitute to Ms. Wu Zhuqing and Mr. Wu Wei.

Curated by Tsai Meng