This year (2014), Yang Yankang finally finished his series on Tibetan Buddhism, a body of work he has been shaping for ten years. The series is now touring, from Lhasa to Taipei, and then on to Xining, Zhengzhou, Beijing, and Shenzhen. At the Seventh Guizhou International Photography Festival, Yang's "The Reflections of Soul" was awarded the Jury Prize for Photographer of the Year. When they gave the award, the jury said, "The scenes he has captured are full of religious meaning, but they also represent his life philosophy. He places his emotions into a classic photographic language and visual rhythm. He quietly depicts the spiritual core of these people and the purification of his own soul. Perhaps these images are simply the by-product of his spiritual journey, but he does not concern himself with the transcendental aspects of religion. He simply observes real life, showing simple truths through photography."

Medium:  (1) Silver gelatin print (2) Inkjet print
Dimensions:  (1) 50 × 34 cm (2) 80 × 54 cm
Edition:  (1) 20 (2) 6

Artist's Bio

Yang Yankang (b. 1954, Anshun, Guizhou Province)

Yang is a contract photographer for Agence VU; he currently lives and works in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province.

Solo Exhibitions:
2014 "The Reflection of Soul," Inter Art Center / Gallery, Beijing, China
2014 "The Reflection of Soul," Seventh Guizhou International Photography Festival, Guiyang, China
2013 "Tibetan Land," Leica Headquarters, Wetzlar, Germany
2009 "Buddhism in Tibet," Zen Foto Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2007 "Buddhism in Tibet," Shanghai Museum of Art, Shanghai, China
2004 "Catholic in the Countryside," 798 Photo Gallery, Beijing, China
2002 "China's Catholics," Visa pour l'Image International Photography Festival, Perpginan, France
2001 "Demonstrating the Natural Form of a Religion," Taiwan International Visual Art Center, Taipei, Taiwan

Group Exhibitions:
2013 Beijing Photo Biennial, Beijing, China
2010 "The Fourth Dimension," Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong
2010 "Of Legends and Beliefs," Leica Store Gallery, Singapore
2008 "An Insight into China," touring exhibition in the United States and Europe
2004 "Catholics in China," Pingyao International Photography Festival, Pingyao, China
1995 "Active Asia," Tokyo Metropolitan Museum, Tokyo, Japan
1992 "Beyond the City: Countryside Photography in China," Berlin, Germany

Publications and Awards:
2014 Published The Reflection of Soul
2014 Received the Photographer of the Year Award at the Seventh Guizhou International Photography Festival, Guiyang, China
2012 Received the Xu Xiaobing Prize
2010 Received the Influential Chinese Photographer Award (2008-2009)
2009 Received the Henri Nannen Preis 2009
2007 Received the First Shafei Photography Award
2005 Received the Henri Nannen Preis 2005
2002 Received the Best Foreign Photographer Award at the First Dong Gang International Photography Festival, Yeongwol, South Korea
2002 Named the Most Influential Figure in Chinese Photography by Photographers Companion
2001 Named the Most Influential Figure in Chinese Photography by Photographers Companion
2001 Received the Annual Fund Award at the Dongying International Photography Festival, Dongying, China

Related Essays

The Reflection of Soul (by Li Mei)