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Negative views: collection of camera film captures changing face of China Negative views: collection of camera film captures changing face of China
(4 months later)
Recently, Thomas Sauvin has been a bit obsessed by women with fridges.Recently, Thomas Sauvin has been a bit obsessed by women with fridges.
Tourists in front of the Mona Lisa are another fascination: "You have a glass box in front of the painting, dozens of people fighting to see, the flash - it's the perfect horrible image," he said with delight.Tourists in front of the Mona Lisa are another fascination: "You have a glass box in front of the painting, dozens of people fighting to see, the flash - it's the perfect horrible image," he said with delight.
Over almost four years, the Beijing-based French artist has amassed more than 500,000 negatives from Chinese amateur photographers which had, until his intervention, been destined for destruction.Over almost four years, the Beijing-based French artist has amassed more than 500,000 negatives from Chinese amateur photographers which had, until his intervention, been destined for destruction.
"This time is from 1985, when everyday Chinese accessed film photography, to 2006, when digital started taking over," he said. "It's really the birth of post-socialist China.""This time is from 1985, when everyday Chinese accessed film photography, to 2006, when digital started taking over," he said. "It's really the birth of post-socialist China."
The rapid spread of cheap automatics allowed ordinary people to capture the country's changing face. But while the collection spans hundreds of thousands of lives, the same themes appear again and again.The rapid spread of cheap automatics allowed ordinary people to capture the country's changing face. But while the collection spans hundreds of thousands of lives, the same themes appear again and again.
The portraits of women posing with their fridges emerged in the late 1980s, as people acquired more household goods. Later came shots with Ronald McDonald, as the Chinese discovered fast food. Photos of the Eiffel Tower followed as wealthier families began travelling abroad.The portraits of women posing with their fridges emerged in the late 1980s, as people acquired more household goods. Later came shots with Ronald McDonald, as the Chinese discovered fast food. Photos of the Eiffel Tower followed as wealthier families began travelling abroad.
"In the western understanding of photography now we see a good picture as something that is shot discreetly, without the person being aware … something where you steal the moment," said Sauvin."In the western understanding of photography now we see a good picture as something that is shot discreetly, without the person being aware … something where you steal the moment," said Sauvin.
But in these photographs "you have complicity between the photographer and the person being photographed. It's not a stolen photograph. It's 3-2-1, looking at the lens … There's a complete absence of spontaneity.But in these photographs "you have complicity between the photographer and the person being photographed. It's not a stolen photograph. It's 3-2-1, looking at the lens … There's a complete absence of spontaneity.
"It makes them very intriguing, very unpretentious. And they're just quite funny. All those are qualities pretty hard to find in photographs today.""It makes them very intriguing, very unpretentious. And they're just quite funny. All those are qualities pretty hard to find in photographs today."
The artist was buying prints by contemporary Chinese photographers for the Archive of Modern Conflict in London when he decided he needed a change from the expense and ego of professional work and started seeking amateur images.The artist was buying prints by contemporary Chinese photographers for the Archive of Modern Conflict in London when he decided he needed a change from the expense and ego of professional work and started seeking amateur images.
When he came across an advert from a man seeking negatives, he assumed he had found a rival buyer. Instead, he discovered, Xiao Ma worked in the recycling trade and collected X-rays, negatives and CDs so he could drop them into a pool of acid and sell the resulting silver nitrate to chemists.When he came across an advert from a man seeking negatives, he assumed he had found a rival buyer. Instead, he discovered, Xiao Ma worked in the recycling trade and collected X-rays, negatives and CDs so he could drop them into a pool of acid and sell the resulting silver nitrate to chemists.
These days he sells Sauvin the negatives, by the kilo, but is "super not interested" in the artistic results.These days he sells Sauvin the negatives, by the kilo, but is "super not interested" in the artistic results.
Few Chinese friends beyond the art world care for the project, Sauvin said. He suspects the era is simply too close and familiar.Few Chinese friends beyond the art world care for the project, Sauvin said. He suspects the era is simply too close and familiar.
But to outsiders the pictures are compelling. It is hard not to wonder what became of these smiling families, serious young men and perturbed-looking infants.But to outsiders the pictures are compelling. It is hard not to wonder what became of these smiling families, serious young men and perturbed-looking infants.
"I really don't want to know. It would kill a bit of the magic," said Sauvin."I really don't want to know. It would kill a bit of the magic," said Sauvin.
One day, after combing through hundreds of pictures of the same couple, he decided to take a break and go for a walk. When he cut through the grounds of a hospital, he stopped short. On a billboard showing staff photographs, "there was my man" - the husband from the shots he had just been inspecting.One day, after combing through hundreds of pictures of the same couple, he decided to take a break and go for a walk. When he cut through the grounds of a hospital, he stopped short. On a billboard showing staff photographs, "there was my man" - the husband from the shots he had just been inspecting.
"I was not very happy … it became so obvious. It was too soon," he said."I was not very happy … it became so obvious. It was too soon," he said.
Another time, a Chinese friend recognised the wedding photos of a childhood acquaintance, and then discovered the couple had divorced eight years ago.Another time, a Chinese friend recognised the wedding photos of a childhood acquaintance, and then discovered the couple had divorced eight years ago.
Sauvin has selected pictures for an exhibition at the Format photo festival in Derby in March, but the collection has grown beyond him. Collaborators see the negatives in different ways, picking out other images and finding new uses for them, he said.Sauvin has selected pictures for an exhibition at the Format photo festival in Derby in March, but the collection has grown beyond him. Collaborators see the negatives in different ways, picking out other images and finding new uses for them, he said.
One, illustrator Ray Lei, created an animation from near-identical shots of different people. He wanted bulk and repetition, rather than distinctiveness.One, illustrator Ray Lei, created an animation from near-identical shots of different people. He wanted bulk and repetition, rather than distinctiveness.
"I'm creating a historical archive. The worst thing that could happen is for it to be digested by me and me alone," said Sauvin."I'm creating a historical archive. The worst thing that could happen is for it to be digested by me and me alone," said Sauvin.
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