The Folio – Volume 3. Number 2
Chinese-American Exchange Exhibit
Half a world in distance, and the differences between the Orient and the Occident separate cosmopolitan Hong Kong and America’s western frontier – Washington State. But, among other things, the China-Washington Council International Photographic Exchange has demonstrated again that there is a medium, which transcends all differences in race and creed: Pictures!
In viewing the exhibition of the “6:20 Club” of Hong Kong and the Washington Council of Camera Clubs; we are at once stuck in thought: Discounting the differences in landscape, architecture and people, eh shows are astonishingly alike! In both, there is that sincere desire to capture, for the enjoyment of others, the beauty that is everywhere in one’s native land, to portray the character of interesting men and beautiful women, and to preserve those incidents that may never pass before the scene again.
Credit must be given to Francis Wu, FPSA, Vice President of the Photographic Society of Hong Kong for pursuing the idea of a print exchange between photographers in Hong Kong and those of other countries. He communicated with the PSA and was directed to the Pictorial Division. The latter quickly recognized the potentialities of eh Hong Kong field, appointed Mr. Wu Pictorial Division Representative and suggested that he form a PSA Pictorial group in that area. In January 1949, he was elected Chairman. The print exchange was handled by Mr. Yuen, who arranged with George L Kinkade of the Washington Council of Camera Clubs under the general direction of Dr, Glenn Adams, and all the collection and exchange matters, which have made this exhibition possible.
With this initial showing of the First American-Chinese Exhibition, the Photographic Society of Hong Kong hopes to bring to the public of Hong Kong many more exchanges, not only from the photographers of America, but from photographers all over the world – and by such understanding hopes to foster international friendship through the sympathetic of similar aims and ideas.
Francis Wu wrote:
On the opening day, over 2,000 visitors came to view the prints, but ill fatedly, the clubroom was of a rather diminutive size, so that the accommodations for such a large crowd were inadequate. In spite of the drawback, the guests were patience, and waited their turn to enter the clubroom. The Governor and Lady Grantham were greeted by the President of the Society, Mr. Fung Ping Fan, and the Vice-, Mr. Francis Wu and his wife who escorted them around the premises and entertained them with discussions about the photographs. The club officials entertained the other visitors and the representatives of the press. The Governor and Lady Grantham spent a delightful half-hour in viewing the beautiful work of the exhibition, During the four days following the opening of the show, over 10,000 persons were in attendance – the largest response ever accorded to any type of art exhibit in the Colony.
In this exhibition, Francis Wu has 13 prints in this exhibition:
79 Sunlight, Calm and Misty
80 Sir Robert Hop Tung
81 Hauling In
82 Two On A Quiet Morning
83 Mirrored
84 For Big Fishes
85 Peace Is Here
86 Misty and Calm
88 Dawn Worker
89 An Old Master
90 Homeward Sail
91 Village Fog
92 Alone.
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| Two On A Quiet Morning By FrancisWu |
