Did you know that Canton (Guangzhou) and Hong Kong, twin cities where Cantonese is the lingua franca, have much more in common beyond language?
Modern art and visual culture born in the two cities share a legacy deeply rooted in the history of Modern China. M+ Museum’s recent exhibition “Canton Modern: Art and Visual Culture 1900s-1970s” showcases over 200 artworks – many on public display for the first time – from this lesser-known history.
Sha Fei, a featured artist in this exhibition whose works are on loan from our Library’s Special Collections, is regarded as one of the most influential Chinese photographers of the 20th century. Born and educated in Guangzhou, Sha Fei, originally named Situ Chuan, came from an extended family that was well known for its artistically talented members, including a film director and two painters. Initially aspired to be a fine art photographer, Sha Fei turned his lens towards the working class and later, scenes of war during the 1930s-40s. This transformation was driven by a shared artistic vision among Cantonese artists highlighted in the M+ exhibition: the belief that art could influence people and transform society.
Two of Sha Fei’s works on display at M+, photos taken by the author.
As a photojournalist, Sha Fei produced more than a thousand photo records of the Sino-Japanese War. Thanks to a generous donation from Sha Fei’s daughter, Ms Wang Yan, who reached us through Professor David Cheng Chang at the Division of Humanities, our Library now holds a collection of Sha Fei’s wartime photographs: Sha Fei Photographic Collection. In the past, we have also organized an exhibition: Sha Fei: A Humanist Photographer at War, and produced a digital humanities project: Sha Fei and Wartime Photography on the Sha Fei collection.
Finally, if you have time, don’t miss the exhibition at M+. It will end on October 5th!
Shirley Zhang
Librarian (Archives & Special Collections)
lbshirley@ust.hk
References:
- Ho, Eliza. (2009). Art, Documentary, and Propaganda in Wartime China: The Photography of Sha Fei. East Asian Studies Center, Ohio State University. https://lbdiscover.hkust.edu.hk/bib/991013394465603412
- 彭綺雲，楊浚承（2025）。 〈摩登人物〉，《明報月刊》， 二〇二五年八月號。https://lbdiscover.hkust.edu.hk/bib/991000627839703412
- Chang, David Cheng. Exhibition Introduction of Sha Fei: A Humanist Photographer at War (1912-1950). https://library.hkust.edu.hk/exhibitions/sha-fei/?sub-exhibit=intro
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