“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.
According to a local destination blog 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.”
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.[1]
Racial Issue
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.
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.”[2]
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.[3]
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”.[4]
"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.[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
“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.
“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.[6]
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.
Actually this is not the first time in recent years that Chinese institutions have been accused of showing a lack of sensitivity on race.
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.
External Link
Read the official statement here
Watch the video at Youtube
References
- ↑ Akwei, Ismail. Chinese museum pulls down 'racist' exhibits comparing Africans to animals, africanews.com, 17 October 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- ↑ AFP. China museum removes photos comparing Africans to animals following racism row, Hong Kong Free Press, 13 October 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
- ↑ Agence France-Presse. Chinese museum removes racist exhibit comparing Africans to animals, hindustantimes.com, 14 October 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
- ↑ Haas, Benjamin. Chinese museum accused of racism over photos pairing Africans with animals, theguardian.com, 14 October 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
- ↑ Housen, Claudine.Africans’ call for apology over ‘racism’ overreaction: Wuhan curator, globaltimes.cn, 15 October 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
- ↑ Haas, Benjamin. Chinese museum accused of racism over photos pairing Africans with animals, theguardian.com, 14 October 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2020.