Second History – The true story of some of China’s most famous propaganda images – Zhang Dali

Posted: May 23rd, 2010 | No Comments »

An interesting event tomorrow in Shanghai organised by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club. Beijing-based artist Zhang Dali is perhaps best known for his “Dialogue” graffiti series, in which he spray-painted the outline of a human head across the crumbling and half-demolished hutongs of Beijing.

In his latest project, “Second History”, he has trawled through various archives to find the original images used in some of the iconic propaganda pictures and posters of the Mao era – revealing people who were airbrushed out of history, backgrounds which were doctored, slogans which were added. The pictures include such famous images as “Zhou Enlai’s Return to Beijing from Moscow” (1964) and “Lei Feng Loves Whatever He Does.” The results have been compiled into a book “Zhang Dali: A Second History”, and some of the images will be on display in the exhibition “Re-visioning History” at Shanghai’s OV Gallery, from May 22-July 17. Zhang Dali will give an illustrated talk explaining how the pictures were doctored, and discuss the complex process of getting access to the original photos.

Second History – The true story of some of China’s most famous propaganda images

Zhang Dali

OV Gallery, 19C Shaoxing Lu, near Shaanxi Nan Lu

Monday, May 24th, 7pm (Talk starts at 7.30)

Venue details: OV Gallery, 19C Shaoxing Lu, near Shaanxi Nan Lu (5465 7768) www.ovgallery.com

Nearest subways: Shaanxi Nan Lu (Line 1, 10), Jiashan Lu (Line 9)

Admission: Members free; non-members 50 RMB

NB: Space for this event is limited so please RSVP to fcc.sfcc@gmail.com. In the event of over-subscription, priority will be given to current SFCC members. (Membership can be renewed on the night – correspondent and media members 400 RMB; associate members 600 RMB)

About the speaker:

Zhang Dali

A Harbin-native, Zhang Dali – sometimes known as “18K” or “AK 47” – graduated from the Central Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Beijing in 1987. His work focuses on changes taking place in Chinese society, notably the destruction of long-standing communities and the increasing estrangement brought about by the drive towards modernization. As well as his famous “Dialogue” series, he has also focused on migrant workers, making haunting resin casts of workers’ faces and bodies in the series “100 Chinese” and “Chinese Offspring.” Other works explore the complex balancing act of power relationships – such as “Man and Beast,” a series of bronze sculptures featuring humans and panthers. See here for more details.

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