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Discovering China through Bruno Barbey's lens
CGTN
This photo, taken on July 18, 2019, shows French photographer Bruno Barbey's solo exhibition
This photo, taken on July 18, 2019, shows French photographer Bruno Barbey's solo exhibition "Discovering China as It Is" in Beijing. Barbey is one of the first photographers to record China in color back in the 1970s and 80s. /CFP

This photo, taken on July 18, 2019, shows French photographer Bruno Barbey's solo exhibition "Discovering China as It Is" in Beijing. Barbey is one of the first photographers to record China in color back in the 1970s and 80s. /CFP

This photo, taken on July 18, 2019, shows French photographer Bruno Barbey's solo exhibition
This photo, taken on July 18, 2019, shows French photographer Bruno Barbey's solo exhibition "Discovering China as It Is" in Beijing. Barbey is one of the first photographers to record China in color back in the 1970s and 80s. /CFP

This photo, taken on July 18, 2019, shows French photographer Bruno Barbey's solo exhibition "Discovering China as It Is" in Beijing. Barbey is one of the first photographers to record China in color back in the 1970s and 80s. /CFP

This photo, taken on July 18, 2019, shows French photographer Bruno Barbey's solo exhibition
This photo, taken on July 18, 2019, shows French photographer Bruno Barbey's solo exhibition "Discovering China as It Is" in Beijing. Barbey is one of the first photographers to record China in color back in the 1970s and 80s. /CFP

This photo, taken on July 18, 2019, shows French photographer Bruno Barbey's solo exhibition "Discovering China as It Is" in Beijing. Barbey is one of the first photographers to record China in color back in the 1970s and 80s. /CFP

This photo, taken on July 18, 2019, shows French photographer Bruno Barbey's solo exhibition
This photo, taken on July 18, 2019, shows French photographer Bruno Barbey's solo exhibition "Discovering China as It Is" in Beijing. Barbey is one of the first photographers to record China in color back in the 1970s and 80s. /CFP

This photo, taken on July 18, 2019, shows French photographer Bruno Barbey's solo exhibition "Discovering China as It Is" in Beijing. Barbey is one of the first photographers to record China in color back in the 1970s and 80s. /CFP

This photo, taken on July 18, 2019, shows French photographer Bruno Barbey's solo exhibition
This photo, taken on July 18, 2019, shows French photographer Bruno Barbey's solo exhibition "Discovering China as It Is" in Beijing. Barbey is one of the first photographers to record China in color back in the 1970s and 80s. /CFP

This photo, taken on July 18, 2019, shows French photographer Bruno Barbey's solo exhibition "Discovering China as It Is" in Beijing. Barbey is one of the first photographers to record China in color back in the 1970s and 80s. /CFP

Bruno Barbey is a pioneer who broke with the black-and-white world of traditional photography. The Morroco-born French photographer was also one of the first photographers to record China in color back in the 1970s and 80s.

In 2019, the renowned photographer held a solo exhibition titled "Discovering China as It Is" in several Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing. With 49 pieces of work recording Barbey's journeys around China on display, the exhibition highlighted subjects such as the young and the old, life in cities and rural areas, and major historical events.

The tight bond between Barbey and China originated from a visit to Beijing with then-French President Georges Pompidou in 1973. From the first press of the shutter in this country, time and history were inextricably linked for him.

Many of the visual memories of China from the past three decades were marked by images shot in black and white, while the China that Bruno depicted was entirely in color. Over time, his work also served as a bridge linking the artistic connections between China and France.

At the age of 79, the humanistic photographer died in 2020. 

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