Since 2011, in the past ten years, the smiling faces of special groups such as deaf-mutes and rare diseases (SMA) have been frozen by the "Angel's Smile" children's public welfare photography exhibition. A few days ago, the 8th "Angel's Smile" Children's Public Welfare Photography Exhibition, sponsored by the China Literature and Art Foundation Liu Yan Literature and Art Special Fund, opened at the King & Wood Mallesons Art Center in Beijing, this time, the camera focused on the smiling faces of autistic children known as "Xingbao".
The "Angel's Smile" Children's Public Welfare Photography Exhibition aims to provide art education for children with special needs and convey love and warmth. In 2021, under the leadership of Liu Yan, a famous dancer and professor at the Beijing Dance Academy, the 2018 dance science students of the Humanities College of Beijing Dance Academy customized a three-month dance class for the Beijing Little Raindrop Children's Behavior Correction Center.
Young photographer Sun Ke records the children's stories with the lens. "It's actually very difficult to photograph children with autism." Sun Ke said frankly. Previously, he had the experience of shooting deaf-mute and SMA children, but the challenge this time is that autistic children often do not expose the crux of the problem, they build their own world in the depths of their hearts, and it is extremely difficult for outsiders to integrate. Before starting the shooting, Sun Ke did a lot of preparatory work and consulted a lot of video materials about autism. "Most of these children have been reported as 'children from the stars', and I will never know what kind of other world it is, but I seem to be able to feel something again." At a moment of ambiguity and difficulty, Sun Ke met a father and son on an outing. "Intuition told me this boy had autism." Sun Ke remembered the children in those images, "The boy's eyes are incredibly clear, the clarity I have never seen before, not even a baby, at that moment, I seem to have entered their world." ”
After finding the direction, Sun Ke finally provided 41 photos for the photography exhibition, according to the project leader Shang Siqiao, the photography exhibition screened out 18 photographic works, divided and displayed by 4 key figures, in addition to 7 children together. The curatorial team summarized the personality characteristics of each child: "little pilot" soaring freely, "little bodyguard" deeply in love with his mother, "little Goku" lively and cute, "little officer" character perseverance. While using photos to show the children's daily life, the exhibition signs and photographers' handwritten notes write more moving little stories. For example, Sun Ke described the "petty officer" this way: "He is energetic and strict with himself, full of curiosity about the things around him, and has his own unique insights." The petty officer would conscientiously complete the teacher's designated teaching plan every day, and although he could only take one small step a day, he was as determined and brave as a soldier, not bored or tired. He can take the initiative to enthusiastically hold the teacher's hand, and he will also pat the only chair and ask the teacher to sit first, these simple small actions are the proud results of his "long-term efforts." ”
The photography exhibition also opened up a painting space, and with the support of BOE (BOE) "Illuminating the Road to Growth" public welfare project "Dream Realization Plan" activity and Shanghai Yitu Charity Foundation, autistic children picked up paintbrushes to depict their dreams. Most of these works are colorful and wonderfully conceived, and the organizers look forward to calling on more people to put aside their prejudices and create a diverse and inclusive world.
According to ma Liyuan, the curator, according to the characteristics of the pure white space of the KWM Center, this exhibition is presented in a minimalist way, to simplify the complex, and to highlight the clear and pure hearts of the children through the combination of indoor and outdoor light.
The exhibition will run until December 16. Liu Yan also said that standing at the starting point of the new decade, the road of public welfare will continue to extend.