Li Zhengde – “From the Xijiang to Yangtze Rivers”

Photography exhibition 

From the Xijiang to the Yangtze River explores the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, China’s longest and most significant waterway. This region not only serves as a cradle of traditional Chinese culture but also stands at the forefront of the country’s rapid economic development.

Over the past four decades, China has experienced some of the most dramatic transformations in the world, with the Pearl River Delta, the Yangtze River Delta, and the areas along the Yangtze River undergoing particularly profound changes. These regions epitomize the sweeping urbanization and modernization that have reshaped both the physical landscape and the cultural identity of contemporary China.

Through his photography, Li Zhengde captures the immense scale of urban expansion and its dual impact—both material and spiritual—on the lives of the Chinese people. His work reflects on the tension between progress and heritage, questioning how rapid development alters personal and collective identity.

Born in the 1970s in Anhua, Hunan Province, Li Zhengde is an artist and photographer based in Shenzhen, where he founded the “Little Park” art space. While photography remains central to his artistic practice, he also explores conceptual art, performance, and painting.

His works have been exhibited in various institutions, including Minsheng Modern Art, Museum, Guangdong Art Museum, Shenzhen Art Museum, Guanshanyue Art Museum, the Folkwang Museum in Essen, Germany, Brandts – Museum of Art and Visual Culture in Odense, Denmark, SOLLERIC in Palma, Majorca, Spain, as well as in art spaces like Photo L.A in Los Angeles and Saddleback College in Los Angeles, USA.

His works have received several accolades including the Hou Dengke Documentary Photography Award in China, a nomination for the “Touchpoint” award at the Lianzhou International Photo Festival, and the Chairman’s Award of the DIPE International Photography Alliance at the Dali International Photo Exhibition. In 2020, his work ‘Layers’ was selected for the Eighth Annual China Photography Rankings.