R2 Portrait Photography Art Space

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I am a photographer. I have a firm belief in photography. Photography is a medium of expression that speaks through objects. Without objects, there can be no works. Therefore, I think: no matter how great a photographer is, at best, he is only 50% of the creators. Because the other 50% is given by the object. Respecting the object is the most basic ethics of photography. Beyond this limit, it is wrong to use or vilify objects with cameras. Therefore, I hope that when the person I photographed sees the photo, he won't say, "Why is someone so unlucky to be photographed by Ruan?" ! /x |； c)^.G

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Why is everyone rushing to a dead end? Is it the closed mind of the island people? Is it self-expansion after economic development? Is it the hypnosis of politicians' dream of building a country independently? Is it that people in Taiwan Province Province have no self-confidence and use arrogance to cover up their inferiority? What makes us regard electronic floats as the grassroots culture in Taiwan Province Province? What makes us applaud the ugly puppet show? What makes us regard betel nut beauty as a statue, rapists as heroes, showmen as the mainstream, evil as good, ugliness as beauty, and tasteless rationalization as "otherness"? $ L) h v# U8 m- ^

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I remember I just learned to take pictures. When I first went to Taiwan Province Province, the characters I saw from the camera were so kind and content. The rural scenery photographed from the viewing window frame is so quiet and harmonious. What a wonderful time I spent in Taiwan Province Province! # A2 p2 A 1 F6 m6 North Carolina! Z6 ]

“b7 Y- }。 H & At that time, everyone worked hard and were full of hope for the future. Cultural workers take the pursuit of ideals as their volunteers and conscience as their direction. But what about now? As soon as I pick up the camera, I always see a look of resentment and a look of being occupied by material desires. The villages and towns that have been visited before have already developed into a chaotic maze with overlapping signboards and markets without planning. /} * G； J4 g4 w！ U0 l% [% q b3 p ]3 f

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While everyone is preparing for the new millennium, I also made a decision: bid farewell to my homeland that I once embraced deeply with my creation. However, on the eve of the opening of the exhibition, the earthquake on September 2 1 shocked me. )K) p/ ~7 T* }！ G 1 [# f/ T2 P. [

# Z+ z* P0 R4 p% G U I have been to all the towns and villages in Nantou County and Taichung County, where the earthquake disaster was the worst, and some of them have written reports and taken many photos. Puli, Guo Jing, Jiji, Zhushan, Shuili, Wu Jie, Caotun, Wufeng, Dongshi, Guguan ... These places were so tolerant to me when I was a child, and loved lonely travel! My growing experience is inseparable from these places. I donated all the sales proceeds of four exhibition works to the China Children and Family Support Foundation as support funds for orphans in the earthquake disaster. Then, I arranged a trip for a few days, and asked a student of a victim whose house was completely destroyed to take me around the disaster area to see what was left in the dreamland in my memory. * L2 c5 J，M； American Academy of Pediatrics. H

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I remember that day, the car stopped at the red light at the intersection of Guoguang Road and Daming Road in Taichung City. The students pointed across the road and said, "We will enter the disaster area from now on! Only then did I know that the disaster area was many times larger than I expected. :g9h & amp； d0 e y 1 _； @

“V/ ]！ q *[5y； L4 @ Guided by the ruins all the way, I went to the Lin Garden in Wufeng, which has just been renovated and has not been accepted, but it has been razed to the ground, followed by Caotun, Nantou and Puli. When I came to the epicenter step by step-the top of Jiufen Lake in Nangang Village, the country's surname township, I was speechless and my heart was bleeding. P. g* r，E( y. _，z！ ?

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Back in Taipei, I feel like a disaster victim; Although, this earthquake, all my relatives and friends and I have not been hurt by flesh and blood, nor have we suffered too much economic losses. Those pictures of families falling apart and everything being destroyed made me lose hope. When a person feels desperate, he has no idea what to do next. 2 { ' B:i4 E2 _； A $ R! Mary

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Just then, I received a phone call from my friend Li Shouquan, who is a musician and I haven't seen him for many years. I thought he went to see my exhibition to show his respect, because there was a portrait of him in "A celebrity who is anonymous". I didn't expect him to ask me for help.

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He said that he had just got the position of consultant for AIDA TV and was planning to make a three-minute short film, which would be broadcast before the hourly news every day. I hope I can visit the primary and secondary schools adopted by Tzu Chi for post-disaster reconstruction through the eyes of different cultural workers, and observe the students' spiritual reconstruction before the new school is completed. 0 \/ @% s: k8 ~，u9 q4 \

4 g+ }，z(K & amp； U9 e, @%] At that time, I didn't agree. I only agreed to talk to Mr. Yao, the director of the TV station, and Miss Producer. There were four people in the huge conference room that day, and I told Mr Yao frankly, "I think Taiwan Province Province will only get worse and worse ... I can't see any hope ...". 」s . v ' j ' k； c% K q4 q8 t$ x

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Unexpectedly, the pious Tzu Chi volunteer replied earnestly, "Not only Taiwan Province Province, but all corners of the world are in a state of collapse. If there is anything that can slow down the collapse, it is worth doing. 」9]5t ' x/e 1 f:h； W

* D " J； Q+ Y 1 C+ J9 N moved me greatly. I don't think I have the right to be pessimistic. I had to promise: "well, I will try to find hope, even a little!" " % V' N8 a" l: K2 l) D9 [% w

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A year has passed. Now, if someone asks me, "What's your biggest feeling this year?" I would reply, "Thanksgiving. 」9 h. ^4 S( | 1 {2 j0 B W8 K+ M

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"What are you grateful for? 」4 C6 _ 3f； Q: e+ D) _

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"Appreciate everything. 3 P，H' Q _，S+E6 @ 5°c $ J9 {

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The word "gratitude" has never appeared in my mouth or pen before. When I first heard from the Tzu Chi population that I thanked him, I was surprised that he replied "grateful". "Thank you" has become a common greeting, but "gratitude" is a heavy word that cannot be repaid. At first, I just put it down to Tzu Chi's mantra, so don't be so serious. But after a year, I often inadvertently say these two words in my pen. . {- u. H( W y6 c0 z

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I feel that I have changed, although so far, I am still deeply afraid of what I believe in. Because it means that a person's spirit and soul are trapped by a fixed framework. I believe in the existence of God, but I am afraid to convert to any religion. I try my best to integrate my religious feelings into the persistence and practice of my ideals. + Y/ [' C 1 n4 u% G" \$ g

1 F6 G6 [* W7 {" b* f I'm a photographer. I have a firm belief in photography. Photography is a medium of expression that speaks through objects. Without objects, there can be no works. Therefore, I think: no matter how great a photographer is, at best, he is only 50% of the creators. Because the other 50% is given by the object. Respecting the object is the most basic ethics of photography. Beyond this limit, it is wrong to use or vilify objects with cameras. Therefore, I hope that when the person I photographed sees the photo, he won't say, "Why is someone so unlucky to be photographed by Ruan? "! Makes me so ugly and cringe. If the person I photographed will say, "Ruan is very energetic when someone photographs me!" "I will feel that all my efforts have not been in vain and I have won the greatest praise. 9 h6 E7 [2 Q0 y8 e

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I'm glad I'm not a reporter, and sometimes I have to shoot inside news that I hate, or politicians' behavior that I can't agree with. I will take a photo, because I want to affirm the value I believe, and let this value exist in the image forever. No matter how the times change, how the political situation turns, how the social atmosphere sinks, how right and wrong are confused, and how human nature materializes, I will use my camera to prove that the beautiful glory of human nature was once seen by my own eyes and captured by me. I hope I can turn the spark of hope into an eternal light of hope. I hope everyone can cheer for each other. In the darkest corner, we can still look forward to the flame of hope. In this way, we have the ability to protect fire and transfer firewood. I expect myself to try to be warm forever, instead of telling others coldly, "Don't deceive yourself! In this era, this world, this society, there is no flame of hope! 」9 {0 p！ I (y (V9P # m&; u

. J9？ 7 d！ f； K & ampb； ? 5 B& amplifier; In the past year, I was really inspired by many things: I saw tenacious vitality from the primary school students in the disaster area. From the dedication of countless Tzu Chi volunteers in every corner, I see the light of human nature.

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“V，{) v' @！ C* ]3 K 1 Q The first school I photographed in the disaster area was Tucheng Primary School in Dali City, Taichung County. At that time, almost all the students in the disaster area had moved into the combined house for classes. Only Tucheng Primary School, because there are too many students, still uses the open space of Zhongzheng Middle School to set up tents for classes, because the combined house can't be built first. More than 3,700 teachers and students spent nearly three months in class in the sandstorm.

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From a distance, those three rows of tents are really sad. However, all the approaching children have adapted to this inconvenient temporary place. The children greeted people with smiles and answered questions about the earthquake disaster with innocent children's words. Everyone has not been knocked down, but has become stronger after a ruthless test. Those faces are really shocking! I made a decision in my heart when I was filming Chen Xiangcen, a particularly confident female student in Class 4 14. 8p $ f5 d6 L4

. w }/a " \ n； ` $ u' A4D7j This time I want to be a photographer who specializes in painting these little soldiers. I am not important behind the camera; Every child in front of the camera must be a famous master with a surname and background. I want to find these seeds of hope and get inspiration from them. I'm going to take them a graduation photo album of "Earthquake Generation" students. )l/ _ 1？ (y6 i: H l( e" L' R！ A

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At first, there were only more than 20 schools adopted by Tzu Chi Hope Project, and later it was increased to 50 schools all the way. At first, my task at AIDA TV was only one month. Cultural workers include Huang Chunming, Yue Hanping,,, Ding, and Chen Ruoxi. But I took the initiative to choose a trip I had never been to and continued to take photos with other cultural workers. But so far, I still haven't visited all the schools, so my work is far from finished. I will film all these new schools until some students graduate from them. 1 p5 I9 E 1 N' \+ T2 w# X7 @

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One year. The first stage of my work has come to an end, and I have edited it into a book "Looking for Seeds of Hope", which is scheduled to be published on September 2 1 Day. Most of the articles and photos in this book are serialized in Tzu Chi Monthly, Tzu Chi's internal publication, and only some are published in newspaper supplements. This is a free magazine with a circulation of 300,000. I was lucky enough to share my work with Tzu Chi volunteers who didn't know me before, which made me feel that my life was rich. My photos have also been printed as posters to raise funds and brochures to introduce Project Hope. Not only did I fail to bid farewell to my native land, but I was also dragged to the disaster area by the 9.21earthquake and spent a year with lovely children and adults. 6 K3 Y/ l inch ~7 O

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I watched the children move from tents to simple classrooms, take exams, play sports, dance and sing, and play the Hu Qin with adults in the cold night. Watch them listen to Huang Chunming's story, learn printmaking, tie a scout club with Chen Ruoxi, and pour out their tears to Father Ding. I also attended their first graduation ceremony after the disaster; On the first summer vacation after the disaster, I spent the summer camp with the students of Tzu Chi Junior College YMCA. ! L3 e i & ampc 1 x) v- y

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I have also met many admirable principals and teachers of primary and secondary schools and witnessed the principles and attitudes of Tzu Chi volunteers. Many teachers in schools in disaster areas are themselves affected households. Within a few hours after the earthquake, completely isolated from the outside world, they were afraid of weakness and drank hot porridge cooked by Tzu Chi volunteers. Deeply moved, these teachers joined the Tzu Chi Meritorious Society and became Tzu Chi volunteers without exception. % b" }/ V9 h x 1 k% z5 t4 e

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Will such a teacher, the children taught by Tzu Chi's school, not be grateful? Tzu Chi's donations come from all over the country and from all over the world. How many people love these students? During the summer vacation, many schools adopted by Tzu Chi broke ground one after another. The fastest progress will be completed in the winter vacation. Recently, AIDA TV arranged for me to go out every week to observe the progress of school construction in the month of 92 1 anniversary. 7 o，Z2 i+ P: {) u) u

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I have the opportunity to learn more about Yan Zheng's ardent hopes for these schools. These fifty schools are all designed by the best architects in the country, and every link is supervised by the people themselves. Building quality is a new height of Taiwan's architectural engineering. SRC steel structure covering dozens of buildings is used to cover two or three-story schools. Every place where steel bars are tied with wire shall be marked with a numbered icon first, and must be bound and accepted according to the drawing. The time limit for concrete pouring from the factory to the site for each vehicle has the most stringent requirements. Tzu Chi itself has professionals present to supervise this work. If all the projects in Taiwan Province Province are designed and constructed in this way, there is no need to be afraid of any major earthquake.

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In the past year, I also learned a lot from the members of the "Project Hope" production team of AIDA TV. I admire their work spirit and the mutual trust they have established with the interviewees. I have done TV programs for five years and know the habits of ordinary TV workers. Under the double pressure of program budget and ratings, everything is grandstanding, and then it is quickly broadcast to create topics; The relationship with the interviewee is often mutual use, and the two are irrelevant after filming and broadcasting. These workers are very different. They always consider whether they will disturb their children's normal classes or embarrass them. From many small things, I can fully understand that they are doing programs with love. (n6 N' a6 H8 e% \: [3 K- W

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On the day of the 0/02nd anniversary of Wufeng Primary School/KLOC-,when the students in Class 8 were delayed by their mothers, and all the students and parents had begun to enjoy the feast of the party, the executive producer Cai immediately rushed out and bought a McDonald's children's meal. The family was completely destroyed, and a family of three shared a container room with friends. The shadow of the earthquake has been lingering. But in the end, his mother not only came, but also brought her own freshly baked pizza.

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# r7 K. Z 1 Q9 F+ y7 @3 f2 d Tao Kailun, a vegetarian photographer, is always absorbed in his work and is often the last one to call it a day. Taking care of his family and hurting his children, he also put care into the subject. One night, he cooked a meat dish at Lai Jia, a classmate of Class 1, Grade 3 in junior high school, and invited her and her brother Lai Laiyou to eat it. The brothers' father died young and their mother remarried. They lived with their grandparents in remote mountainous areas. Three or four days a week, two old people will take care of their own ginger and plums in the mountains. At this time, the two brothers and sisters will cook by themselves and urge each other to do their homework. After learning about this situation, colleagues at AIDA TV bought vegetables and washed rice, and then Karen, who is recognized as the best craftsman, became a chef. Vegetarian dishes are really delicious. 9 R- Q) \6 @ @ 4c & amp； b/ C

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Producer Li Wang pays special attention to students with special circumstances. He Mingzong of Class One, Grade Four, Ruicheng Primary School has learning disabilities, but he is extremely dexterous when playing stunts. Wang Li once told me in surprise: "I didn't expect He Mingzong to be recognized as the king of dodgeball and to be majestic on the court." What moved me was why Wang Li was really proud of Mingzong. 1 W，V( @5 i- U. t

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You Zhengyi, who just graduated from Laos, is a maverick in school. Li Wang tried to interview him again and again, but failed. Later, she told me that You Zhengyi was a completely different person at home. He is filial, sensible and responsible. It is hard to imagine that he is a junior high school student.

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8 M+ C) |- D5 @' h4 Q3 b# I 1 b Wang Li has become friends with these children and often answers their phone calls. Sometimes, when her cell phone rings in the location car, we will guess whether it is Little A Le or Lao Red Pig, or …; x) \5 u* |' G+ |- L

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Two rotating directors, Mingchun Xu and Huang Zhongxing, as well as several assistants and post-producers, all share the kindness of Tzu Chi volunteers.

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Over the past year, our topic has been about the principal, teacher and classmate of that school. As a photographer, what I saw and moved at the scene has been exposed as photos. The moment when the photographer is moved is also the moment of creation. An emotional input and output, a touching acceptance and giving, must be synchronized. Photographers can't press the shutter by memory. He caught the truth and was caught by the truth. This is the real sharing. To some extent, he should know how to be grateful. Appreciate what he saw and photographed. 6 a+ g8 P+ `" f" Z3 p% A0 [3 Y

% b＄M(s！ |、z5d & amp； Perhaps after the publication of my photography results this year, someone will criticize me: "Why does Ruan only take pictures of happy children's faces instead of digging into reality? There are so many unfairness and sufferings in the world, why should Ruan avoid them? 」(b，p%？ # g* i5 Z+ H7 ]4 U

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If people want to get in touch with these so-called realities, they will not miss anything by turning on the newspaper and TV every day, all kinds of ugly things and all kinds of corrupt human nature. After the disaster, I don't want to dig any misfortune in the disaster area. I want to look for hope and beauty, and I want to share my findings with you.