WU YINXIAN 1900-

PERSONAL:

Born September 28, 1900, in Su Yang, Jiangsu, China; married Wang Zifei, 1940; children: Wu Zuging (daughter). Education: Attended Fine Arts School, Shanghai, China, 1920-22.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Al. Xuang Wai Street, Beijing, People's Republic of China.

CAREER:

Photographer and cinematographer. Middle School, Su Yang, China, fine arts teacher, 1923-30; Red Lantern Studio, Shanghai, China, photographer, 1935-38; Dian Tong and Ming Xing Film Corporations, Shanghai, photographer, 1935-38; The Film Studio, Chang Chun, China, director, 1949-54; China Film College, Beijing, China, deputy director, 1955-66; Film Bureau, Ministry of Culture, Beijing, adviser, 1974-81. Cinematographer for documentary and feature-length films, including Children of Troubled Times, 1935; Street Angel, 1937; Song of the Red Flag, 1960; The Diary of Yan'an, 1961; Rickshaw Boy, 1982; and Days at Jinchaji, 1988. Exhibitions: Solo exhibits include Beijing Museum, 1961, 1985. Group exhibits include Beijing Museum; Hong Kong Exhibition Centre; Intertrade Building, Singapore, China; and International Center of Photography, New York, NY. Military service: Eighth Route Army, Yan'an, China, 1938-46, film team leader under Chou Enlai.

MEMBER:

China Photographers' Association (vice president, beginning 1964), China Cinematographers' Society (president, beginning 1985), China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, China Veteran Photographers' Society (honorary president, 1985—).

AWARDS, HONORS:

Best Film Award, Chinese Ministry of Culture, 1965; Humanity Photo Award nominee, 1998.

WRITINGS:

Techniques of Expression in Photography, two volumes, [Beijing, China], 1963–65.

Portrait Photography, [Beijing, China], 1982.

Composition for Photography, [Beijing, China], 1984.

Wu Yinxian's Photo Album (two volumes), [Beijing, China], 1983–85.

Scenery Photography, [Beijing, China], 1985.

Light Selection for Photography, [Beijing, China], 1986.

SIDELIGHTS:

Photographer, cinematographer, and filmmaker Wu Yinxian commented in Contemporary Photographers: "I produce my works of art according to socialist principles; they are intended to serve the people and socialist construction." One of China's leading photographers during that country's Cultural Revolution of the mid-twentieth century, Wu's work remained unknown by many in the West due to the political and cultural barriers erected under Chinese leader Mao Tse-Tung's government. Innovative in his approach to his craft, Wu also commented: "I think we should not copy foreign photography, but should learn from it to develop a national style. Nor should we imitate Chinese painting, but should work within the specific characteristics of photography itself."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

BOOKS

Contemporary Photographers, 3rd edition St. James Press (Detroit, MI), 1996.

PERIODICALS

Chinese Photography, September, 2000.

ONLINE

Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival '97 Web site,http://www.city.yamagata.yamagata.jp/ (February 24, 2004), "Anti-Japan War of China."*