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Photographer finds fresh perspective on ‘Living Yangtze’
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WHEN French photographer and filmmaker Eric Valli was invited to document communities along the Yangtze River, he jumped at the opportunity.
For Valli, who has spent his career capturing life in the most remote and inhospitable corners of the world, this seemed like an adventure too good to pass up. It was also a new opportunity to pursue one of the defining themes in his artistic work.
“I didn’t want to repeat or copy what other great writers or photographers had already done. We all know the disturbing images of pollution along the Yangzte. I wanted to come up with something new — something hopeful and positive. This is what I have done all my life: record man living in harmony with nature,” said Valli, whose recent film “Himalayan Gold Rush” was co-produced by CCTV.
The Yangtze project was commissioned last year by Austrian luxury brand Swarovski, which sent Valli to document local life around its Waterschools. As a non-profit organization, the goal of Swarovski Waterschools China is to restore the ecological integrity of the Yangtze River and teach local families and children about the importance of clean, sustainable water sources. Founded in 2008, the project had reached 173,000 children in the country by the end of last year.
After spending six months along this mighty river, Valli’s photographs and short documentary films can now be seen in an exhibition titled “Living Yangtze” in Jing’an Park.
These works focus on seven communities captured by Valli as he journeyed from the Yangtze’s source in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau to the its terminus some 6,300 kilometers away. “The way I travel is to go off the tourist roads, so I got completely lost in unknown places. That gave me the chances to see China and capture its people in an unexpected way,” he said.
For Valli, such exploration resulted in some 30,000 kilometers worth of traveling during the six-month period. For instance, it took four attempts to find a community of Naxi ethnic minorities where he could suitably capture the relationship between local farmers and the river.
Valli spent many days going from house to house at different locations along his circuitous route. Yet at every home, he says, he felt welcomed and was invited to share food and spend the night with local people.
“‘Living Yangtze’ started with a basic observation. We remember that which touches us emotionally — beauty, tenderness, passion and harmony — for the rest of our lives. Instead of discouraging people with gloomy statistics, I decided to encourage and motivate them, to make them proud.”
As a specialist in mountain landscapes and the people who live around the Himalayas, Valli has contributed photos to a wide range of publications, including National Geographic. He has also worked with corporate clients such as L’Occitane, Hermes and Louis Vuitton.
“Living Yangtze’’ is open from 6am to 9pm daily until September 27.
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