With all the talk of “political revolution” being bandied about in this most remarkable of American election years, it is particularly interesting to be reminded of what an actual revolution looks like. Fifty years ago in 1966, Chairman Mao Zedong orchestrated the Chinese Cultural Revolution, a sea-change with profound effects on world politics. Very few people were privy to the proceedings inside China during that period of upheaval, but Solange Brand was one of them. A fascinating selection of her rare photographs is on exhibit at Ars Libri in Boston’s SoWa arts district through August 20, 2016.
“Untitled (National Day celebration, when more than aa million people just marched holding up their Little Red Book to the rhythm of chanted slogans. It was the only celebration of this kind. This photo is taken from the Beijing Hotel), Beijing, China, October, 1966” by Solange Brand (courtesy of the artist and Robert Klein Gallery, Boston).
In 1966, television had brought the Vietnamese War into American homes, changing forever the way we view global conflicts. But Western media was barred from China then and the conflation of rumors and the unknown fostered American fears of the Asian giant. What was really going on inside China? This is just one reason why Brand’s street photographs are so enticing.
“Untitled (revolutionary song and dance in the Workers Park on Labour Day, a month before the Cultural Revolution was launched), Beijing, China, May 1, 1966” by Solange Brand (courtesy of the artist and Robert Klein Gallery, Boston).
Only nineteen years old, Brand was a secretary at the French Embassy in Beijing when the Cultural Revolution began. Armed with youthful curiosity, uncertain diplomatic immunity, her 35mm Pentax camera and a supply of inexpensive Agfacolor slide film that she was able to purchase and develop in embassy shops in Hong Kong, Brand wandered the streets of Beijing with near invisibility. Her unique vantage point allows us a bird’s eye view of the public stirrings and genesis of a sociopolitical campaign that led to the persecution, death and displacement of millions of Chinese.
“Untitled (on the train, the staff give a performance, reading quotations of the Little Red Book and singing revolutionary songs), China, 1967” by Solange Brand (courtesy of the artist and Robert Klein Gallery, Boston).
Although confined to public spaces, Brand nonetheless captured the essence of a movement with surprising objectivity, stating: “The pictures were not taken to prove anything; they were just a personal memento of a moment when I had no idea this would be an important period in the history of China. The photos show nothing of the dark side of the Cultural Revolution because I never witnessed it. Like all photographs, they reveal a fragment of reality and acquire meaning only when captioned or placed in context.”
“Untitled (demonstration against the French Embassy in Beijing held after Chinese students earlier had been expulsed from France for demonstrating in front of the Russian Embassy), Beijing, China, February, 1967” by Solange Brand (courtesy of the artist and Robert Klein Gallery, Boston).
Placing Brand’s images in context makes them all the more telling. The muted colorcast and somewhat soft focus for which Agfacolor was noted (especially compared to today’s high-definition imagery), imbue Brand’s scenes with a gentle aura of memory. This clashes with the content of her photographs, to stirring effect. With a pleasing variety of focal ranges, from close-up to wide-angle, Brand’s compositions are equally impressive at isolating her subjects and utilizing the serendipitous geometry of barriers and Communist Red focal points in crowds.
“Untitled (a Red Guard having his picture taken by his friends in Beihai Park), Beijing, China, November 1966” by Solange Brand (courtesy of the artist and Robert Klein Gallery, Boston).
Brand’s skillful photography capitalizes on chance, affording us a rare and fascinating view of an historic period with surprising significance today. Although her portraits exude hope and pride, and even though demonstrating crowds seem perplexingly orderly and calm, China’s Cultural Revolution was devastating. Viewed today, I think Brand’s photographs could be considered cautionary: be careful what you wish for. Something to keep in mind as we elect our next President.
For hours, directions and more about this exhibit, go to: http://www.robertkleingallery.com/index.php
Feature Image: “Untitled (National Day march on Changan Avenue), Beijing, China, October 1, 1966” by Solange Brand (courtesy of the artist and Robert Klein Gallery, Boston).
“Untitled (National Day. In a street adjacent to Tiananmen Square, the crowds wait their turn to march), Beijing, China, October 1, 1966” by Solange Brand (courtesy of the artist and Robert Klein Gallery, Boston).
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