Left, Right by Cai Dongdong

(2024)

First limited edition of 300 copies.

Small format hardback in fine condition. Small bump to upper left had corner of cover. Some reading wear to the Left spine

13.5 x 17 cm

258 pages

About

This work is composed of two books. The one with an arrow pointing to the right on the cover contains photographs of women and men during the period of the Republic of China government , from 1912 to 1949. The one with an arrow pointing to the left presents those taken from 1949 to 1978 , since the founding of the People's Republic of China to the reform and the opening up of the country.

Drawing from his archive of 600,000 anonymous photographs from China, Dongdong pairs images (those taken before the founding of the People’s Republic of China on the right-hand side, those after the founding on the left-hand side) that show women of similar age, facial structure, body posture and situation. Originally taken in private spaces for private purposes, the photographs take on a different meaning and become part of a conversation between two different historical eras of a country. 

“I picked these portraits from an archive of approximately 600,000 photographs and divided them into two parts based on their costumes, makeup, and the textual records on the back of the photos.
Then I paired these portraits of similar age, facial structure, and posture to demonstrate the changes in women’s appearance and temperament as a result of the different social regimes and ideologies in China over these two periods.”