Difference between revisions of "“This is Africa” Exhibition"

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[[File:This is Africa 2.jpg|thumb|Photo of an African boy side to side with gorilla at "This is Africa" exhibition]]
 
[[File:This is Africa 2.jpg|thumb|Photo of an African boy side to side with gorilla at "This is Africa" exhibition]]
'''“This is Africa” Exhibition''' held at the Hubei Provincial Museum from 28th September until 17th October 2017. In the exhibition shown photos from Africa taken by Chinese photographer Yu Huiping with total 150 photos displayed in the 3 weeks of exhibition.  
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'''“This is Africa” Exhibition''' is a photo exhibition held at the Hubei Provincial Museum from 28th September until 17th October 2017. The exhibition included photographs from Africa taken by Chinese photographer Yu Huiping, with a total of 150 photographs shown over the course of three weeks.  
  
According to a local destination blog [http://shanghaiist.com/2017/10/12/racist-african-exhibit Shangaiist], the ‘This is Africa’ exhibition was intended to to “give visitors a sense of ‘primitive life’ in Africa through the interplay of humans, animals and nature.
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The ‘This is Africa' exhibition was created to “give tourists a sense of ‘primitive life' in Africa through the interplay of humans, livestock, and nature,” according to [http://shanghaiist.com/2017/10/12/racist-african-exhibit Shangaiist] a local destination site.
  
The photographer, who is the the vice-president of Hubei Photographers Association, is reported to be a lover of Africa and its wildlife. He titled the exhibits in question with the Chinese idiom: outward appearance follows inner reality.<ref>Akwei, Ismail. [https://www.africanews.com/2017/10/17/chinese-museum-pulls-down-racist-exhibits-comparing-africans-to-animals// Chinese museum pulls down 'racist' exhibits comparing Africans to animals], africanews.com, 17 October 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2020.</ref>
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The photographer, who is also the vice-president of the Hubei Photographers Association, is said to be a huge fan of Africa's wildlife. He gave the exhibits the Chinese idiom "outward appearance follows inner truth" as a title.<ref>Akwei, Ismail. [https://www.africanews.com/2017/10/17/chinese-museum-pulls-down-racist-exhibits-comparing-africans-to-animals// Chinese museum pulls down 'racist' exhibits comparing Africans to animals], africanews.com, 17 October 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2020.</ref>
  
 
==Racial Issue==
 
==Racial Issue==
 
[[File:African in China exibition.jpg|thumb|Photo of African man next to photo of monkey ]]
 
[[File:African in China exibition.jpg|thumb|Photo of African man next to photo of monkey ]]
This exhibition caused controversy in society due to racist gesture toward African people. African people were juxtaposed with photos of wild animals, such as big cats and apes, with mouths agape.
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Due to racial gestures toward African immigrants, this show sparked debate in society. African people were juxtaposed with images of wild animals with agape mouths, such as large cats and apes.
  
In creating his collection the photographer was simply trying to “show the harmony between man and animal in Africa”, the curator said. “There is no discrimination at all in this.”<ref>AFP. [https://hongkongfp.com/2017/10/13/china-museum-removes-photos-comparing-africans-animals-following-racism-row/ China museum removes photos comparing Africans to animals following racism row], Hong Kong Free Press, 13 October 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2020. </ref>
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According to the curator, the photographer's aim in making his collection was to "display the peace between man and animal in Africa." “This is not discriminatory in the least.”<ref>AFP. [https://hongkongfp.com/2017/10/13/china-museum-removes-photos-comparing-africans-animals-following-racism-row/ China museum removes photos comparing Africans to animals following racism row], Hong Kong Free Press, 13 October 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2020. </ref>
  
 
==Backlash==
 
==Backlash==
Social media users in Africa had led outrage over the montages, including one showing an open-mouthed African child alongside a monkey in the same pose, and another showing a black adult man baring his teeth alongside a photograph of a lion, reported the Shanghaiist.<ref>Agence France-Presse. [https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/chinese-museum-removes-racist-exhibit-comparing-africans-to-animals/story-lwUZFXgwWDhdy0wCaIwDBJ.html Chinese museum removes racist exhibit comparing Africans to animals], hindustantimes.com, 14 October 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2020.</ref>
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According to the Shanghaiist, African social media users were outraged by the montages, which included one showing an open-mouthed African boy alongside a monkey in the same pose, and another showing a black adult man baring his teeth alongside a photograph of a lion.<ref>Agence France-Presse. [https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/chinese-museum-removes-racist-exhibit-comparing-africans-to-animals/story-lwUZFXgwWDhdy0wCaIwDBJ.html Chinese museum removes racist exhibit comparing Africans to animals], hindustantimes.com, 14 October 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2020.</ref>
  
The offensive nature was first notices by a Nigerian Instagram user, Edward E Duke. In a post, which was later removed, he asked why the museum “put pictures of a particular race next to wild animals”.<ref>Haas, Benjamin. [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/14/chinese-museum-accused-of-racism-over-photos-pairing-africans-with-animals Chinese museum accused of racism over photos pairing Africans with animals], theguardian.com, 14 October 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2020.</ref>
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Edward E Duke, a Nigerian Instagram regular, was the first to note the inflammatory nature. He wondered why the museum "placed pictures of a particular race next to wild animals" in a message that was later deleted.<ref>Haas, Benjamin. [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/14/chinese-museum-accused-of-racism-over-photos-pairing-africans-with-animals Chinese museum accused of racism over photos pairing Africans with animals], theguardian.com, 14 October 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2020.</ref>
  
"I saw it as disrespectful. I felt they really disrespected the African people and misrepresented Africa," said Samantha Sibanda, a Zimbabwean and founder of the Appreciate Africa Network.<ref>Housen, Claudine.[https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1070409.shtml Africans’ call for apology over ‘racism’ overreaction: Wuhan curator], globaltimes.cn, 15 October 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2020.</ref>
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"It seems insensitive to me. They appeared to ridicule Africans and distort Africa, in my view "Samantha Sibanda, a Zimbabwean and member of the Appreciate Africa Network, shared her sentiments.<ref>Housen, Claudine.[https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1070409.shtml Africans’ call for apology over ‘racism’ overreaction: Wuhan curator], globaltimes.cn, 15 October 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2020.</ref>
  
 
The exhibit was eventually removed after complaints by Africans, including some living in China. More than 141,000 people visit the exhibit in Wuhan, which opened just before China’s week-long National Day holiday.
 
The exhibit was eventually removed after complaints by Africans, including some living in China. More than 141,000 people visit the exhibit in Wuhan, which opened just before China’s week-long National Day holiday.
  
 
==Apology==
 
==Apology==
“To show our goodwill and sincerity, we have replaced the photos that our African friends find shocking,” said Wang Yuejun, one of the exhibit’s curators. Wang also said that comparisons to animals were typically seen as a compliment in Chinese culture, pointing to the zodiac signs that identify people with animals according to their birth year.
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“We have replaced the images that our African friends find surprising to prove our gratitude and sincerity,” said Wang Yuejun, one of the exhibit's curators. Wang also said that in Chinese culture, animal similarities are usually taken as a complement, citing the Chinese zodiac signs, which match people to animals based on their birth year.
  
“The target audience is mainly Chinese,” Wang said in a statement. But the museum understood the images offended “our African friends” and the pictures were removed to show respect for their concerns, Wang added.<ref>Haas, Benjamin. [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/14/chinese-museum-accused-of-racism-over-photos-pairing-africans-with-animals Chinese museum accused of racism over photos pairing Africans with animals], theguardian.com, 14 October 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2020.</ref>
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Wang said in a statement that the target demographic is mostly Chinese. The museum, however, realized that the photographs insulted "our African mates," and the photos were deleted to demonstrate respect for their interests, Wang explained.<ref>Haas, Benjamin. [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/14/chinese-museum-accused-of-racism-over-photos-pairing-africans-with-animals Chinese museum accused of racism over photos pairing Africans with animals], theguardian.com, 14 October 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2020.</ref>
  
But in the apology Wang blamed distortion and overly interpretation by certain online media that caused controversy and ask for the understanding from all especially Africans and promised to continue making contribution to China and Africa friendship.
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However, in his apology, Wang blamed the dispute on distortion and over-interpretation by some online media, and he asked for everyone's understanding, especially from Africans, and vowed to continue contributing to the friendship between China and Africa.
  
Actually this is not the first time in recent years that Chinese institutions have been accused of showing a lack of sensitivity on race.<br>
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Really, this isn't the first time that Chinese organizations have been accused of racial insensitivity in recent years.<br>
Back in 2016, [[Qiaobi]] detergent brand firm apologized after a TV advertisement for it's detergent campaign showed a black man being forced into a washing machine before emerging transformed into an Asian man after being washed with the detergent.
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In 2016, the [[Qiaobi]] detergent company apologised after a television commercial for its detergent campaign depicted a black man being dragged into a washing machine and then turned into an Asian man after being cleaned with the detergent.
  
 
==External Link==
 
==External Link==

Revision as of 13:35, 14 March 2021

Photo of an African boy side to side with gorilla at "This is Africa" exhibition

“This is Africa” Exhibition is a photo exhibition held at the Hubei Provincial Museum from 28th September until 17th October 2017. The exhibition included photographs from Africa taken by Chinese photographer Yu Huiping, with a total of 150 photographs shown over the course of three weeks.

The ‘This is Africa' exhibition was created to “give tourists a sense of ‘primitive life' in Africa through the interplay of humans, livestock, and nature,” according to Shangaiist a local destination site.

The photographer, who is also the vice-president of the Hubei Photographers Association, is said to be a huge fan of Africa's wildlife. He gave the exhibits the Chinese idiom "outward appearance follows inner truth" as a title.[1]

Racial Issue

Photo of African man next to photo of monkey

Due to racial gestures toward African immigrants, this show sparked debate in society. African people were juxtaposed with images of wild animals with agape mouths, such as large cats and apes.

According to the curator, the photographer's aim in making his collection was to "display the peace between man and animal in Africa." “This is not discriminatory in the least.”[2]

Backlash

According to the Shanghaiist, African social media users were outraged by the montages, which included one showing an open-mouthed African boy alongside a monkey in the same pose, and another showing a black adult man baring his teeth alongside a photograph of a lion.[3]

Edward E Duke, a Nigerian Instagram regular, was the first to note the inflammatory nature. He wondered why the museum "placed pictures of a particular race next to wild animals" in a message that was later deleted.[4]

"It seems insensitive to me. They appeared to ridicule Africans and distort Africa, in my view "Samantha Sibanda, a Zimbabwean and member of the Appreciate Africa Network, shared her sentiments.[5]

The exhibit was eventually removed after complaints by Africans, including some living in China. More than 141,000 people visit the exhibit in Wuhan, which opened just before China’s week-long National Day holiday.

Apology

“We have replaced the images that our African friends find surprising to prove our gratitude and sincerity,” said Wang Yuejun, one of the exhibit's curators. Wang also said that in Chinese culture, animal similarities are usually taken as a complement, citing the Chinese zodiac signs, which match people to animals based on their birth year.

Wang said in a statement that the target demographic is mostly Chinese. The museum, however, realized that the photographs insulted "our African mates," and the photos were deleted to demonstrate respect for their interests, Wang explained.[6]

However, in his apology, Wang blamed the dispute on distortion and over-interpretation by some online media, and he asked for everyone's understanding, especially from Africans, and vowed to continue contributing to the friendship between China and Africa.

Really, this isn't the first time that Chinese organizations have been accused of racial insensitivity in recent years.
In 2016, the Qiaobi detergent company apologised after a television commercial for its detergent campaign depicted a black man being dragged into a washing machine and then turned into an Asian man after being cleaned with the detergent.

External Link

Read the official statement here
Watch the video at Youtube

References

  1. Akwei, Ismail. Chinese museum pulls down 'racist' exhibits comparing Africans to animals, africanews.com, 17 October 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  2. AFP. China museum removes photos comparing Africans to animals following racism row, Hong Kong Free Press, 13 October 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  3. Agence France-Presse. Chinese museum removes racist exhibit comparing Africans to animals, hindustantimes.com, 14 October 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  4. Haas, Benjamin. Chinese museum accused of racism over photos pairing Africans with animals, theguardian.com, 14 October 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  5. Housen, Claudine.Africans’ call for apology over ‘racism’ overreaction: Wuhan curator, globaltimes.cn, 15 October 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  6. Haas, Benjamin. Chinese museum accused of racism over photos pairing Africans with animals, theguardian.com, 14 October 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2020.