Capturing the real China of 30 years ago

In the late 1980s, Japanese photographer Akiyo Hirose traveled to China with a second-hand camera, and documented the street life of the country that had just opened its door to the outside world. 

“That was a time when the personal distance was so close,” Hirose said. She visited Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, which had just started reforming and opening up. 

“I was taking pictures on the street and people smiled back and chatted with me. They were open and kind, never treating me as a foreigner. I loved them,” she said. 

Hirose’s solo photography exhibition will take place on Sunday at the Haishang Culture Center, displaying the country, city scenes and people three decades ago. 

Her photos are in black and white, but vivid and colorful at the same time. She captured the warm smile of a granny who lived on sewing and stitching, the relaxing break time of a restaurant chef sitting behind rows of barbecue, students after school and a piano tuner working intensively. 

Without deliberately designed arrangements or perfect light and shadow, these photos document true, natural moments of Chinese daily life. 

“Hirose captured and presented people’s status and their relationship through her lens,” said art critic Gu Zheng. “Her pictures show the diversity and the not-as-delicate-as-Japan side of China.” 

The 1980s was a new start for China, but its neighbor Japan was in the middle of its economic heyday. 

“Compared with Japan, China at the time was coarse and unpolished. However, this made China special to some degree. Even today after 30 years, these photos still have a strong aftertaste,” Gu said. 

Exhibition info

Date: December 22-29, 1:30pm-4:30pm

Venue: Haishang Culture Center 

Address: 1222 Pingxingguan Rd