2017.03.29

An event billed as CROSSINGPATHS INTERSECTIONS | Photo Exhibition, cosponsored by Times Culture Complex and Marino Orland, held its grand opening on February 28. The exhibition, which represented a collaborative effort between Mariana Lozano, of Argentina, and José Luis Vílchez, of Nicaragua, ran till March 28.

Mariana Lozano attended the opening ceremony, at which he offered intriguing insights on photography. Visitors from many different walks of life attended.

The exhibition served to illustrate the global travel experiences of two artists from different countries. The images combined to portray a graphical text recorded with their cameras, and covered a range of subjects: nature, humanistic landscapes, folk customs, sentiments, etc.

The exhibition was thoughtfully divided into sections, each of which was shown in different patterns and printed on different materials (Plexiglas, fabrics, papers, metal, light box and video/multimedia). Thus each section was distinct from the others, and collectively they implied the deep relationship among the images.

What is the meaning of photography? All the meaning of photography comes from the meaning of the things one shoots. Thus, the photos selected for this exhibition not only represented the intersection of two gifted artists but also reflect the collective experience of their subjects and viewers. More importantly, the pictures convey a simple fact: Each of us may espouse a different religion, speak a different language or have a different skin color, but we belong to the same human race. Our resemblance is more valuable than the superficial differences we present.

· The artist explains the humane sentiments hidden in the photos

· The viewers are immersed in the emotions of photographers' works

The "CROSSING PATHS INTERSECTIONS" exhibition hosted by Times Culture Complex was opened to people from all walks of life, and certainly many came to see it over the month-long run. The photo exhibitions held by Times Culture Complex provide opportunities for creative persons like artists, photographers and designers to interface with the general public, and at the meeting point an exchange of perspectives occurs. Consequently, the exhibitions bring art closer to life in a very real sense, becoming an important platform for the dissemination of contemporary art in Guangzhou.

When one is tired of so-called photographic artists who continually crank out superficial images of Tibet adventure, studio beauty portraits or distorted, post-processed vignettes, it's beneficial to share in the fundamental appreciation for life that is so abundantly conveyed through the works of Mariana Lozano and José Luis Vílchez.