MARC RIBOUD IN CHINA: Forty Years of Photography

by Marc Riboud ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 1, 1997

Riboud, a superb documentary photographer, has traveled repeatedly in China over the past 40 years. This handsomely produced new volume gathers together some of his powerful early work (shots of Chinese village scenes in the 1950s and of that sprawling nation's first steps toward industrialization) along with photographs from the 1970s and 1990s: The idea is not to provide a retrospective of Riboud's work, but rather to trace China's startling emergence as an industrial giant. The new images--of vast plants, glistening new cities, elegant young women in Shanghai and Beijing, of crowded markets and bustling construction sites--viscerally communicate more of the reality of the new China than most recent articles on the subject. They also catch the subtle, astonishing shifts in consciousness: American imagery seems to be everywhere. In one memorable shot, a wall adorned with posters includes both a portrait of Mao and a photo of a smiling young Elvis. Other photos point out the growing disparity between the poor and the well-to-do. Terse captions offer some lively commentary, indicating Riboud's mixed feelings about the new China. A strong, fascinating portrait of a nation undergoing an astonishing transformation.

Pub Date: June 1, 1997

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 176

Publisher: Abrams

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 1997

Categories: NONFICTION