On April 10^th, the "Rediscovering Guangzhou - Li Ruiran's Old Photo Exhibition" opened at the Nanyue Ancestral Hall and will run until May 5^th.

The exhibition showcases the visual legacy of Li Ruiran, a renowned street photographer in China, featuring nearly a hundred previously unseen old photos of Guangzhou. These images unveil a unique panorama of Guangzhou's urban transformation from the 1990s to the early 21^st century, each photograph reflecting Li Ruiran's deep affection for the city. Asked about the purpose behind capturing these photos, Li Ruiran's son, Li Yi, told a reporter from the Yangcheng Evening News: "In his diary in 2004, my father wrote about his purpose for taking photos: to preserve Guangzhou's memory so that future generations can witness its changes."

The exhibition is divided into four sections: "Demolition and Construction," "Street Advertisements," "Transportation," and "Past and Present Contrasts." The "Demolition and Construction" section showcases Li Ruiran's photographs capturing the demolition and construction in Guangzhou from the 1990s to the early 21^st century.

As a forefront of China's reform and opening-up, Guangzhou underwent rapid development and renewal. "Demolition" became a significant and intricate theme during this period. Amidst the process of tearing down the old and erecting the new, the old city vanished while the new one emerged, with these photos serving as the city's chronicles, documenting Guangzhou's transformation over the years.

The "Street Advertisements" section features various advertisements from over twenty years ago, showcasing different styles of hand-written signs, blinking neon lights, large logos, and posters that adorned the streets of old Guangzhou. These advertisements not only displayed brand images in the most direct and eye-catching manner but also became a unique scenery of old Guangzhou.

The "Transportation" section focuses on showcasing the diverse urban transportation system. It encompasses a wide range of vehicles and modes, from large articulated buses with two sections to double-decker buses imported from Hong Kong. It includes traditional taxis where passengers can signal for them to stop, to the increasing prevalence of private cars on the roads. It also features the ubiquitous bicycles, once almost one per person, alongside the speedy motorcycles. Additionally, it covers the ferries shuttling back and forth between the banks of the Pearl River, as well as the fishing boats transporting fresh produce. 

Visitors can trace the colorful changes in Guangzhou's transportation modes over time, as captured through Li Ruiran's lens, almost hearing the hustle and bustle of the streets of that era and feeling the rhythm of the city.

The "Past and Present Contrasts" section showcases a series of comparison photos taken by volunteers from the Guangzhou Native Culture Promotion Association after revisiting the locations where Li Ruiran's works were shot. Through these comparisons, visitors are guided into a dialogue across time and space, experiencing the changes over time and understanding Guangzhou's evolution and development.

Many residents of Guangzhou visited the exhibition, standing before the old photos left by Li Ruiran, experiencing the evolution and development of the city firsthand.

Source :Yangcheng Evening News

近百张旧照见证广州城市变迁

4月10日，《然起广州——李瑞然广州旧影展》在南粤先贤馆开幕，将展至5月5日。

展览聚焦中国著名街坊摄影师李瑞然的视觉遗产，从中精选出近百张从未展出的广州旧照，展现20世纪90年代至21世纪初广州城市变迁的独特画卷，每一幅照片都凝聚着李瑞然老人对广州的拳拳深情。为何要拍摄这些照片？李瑞然的儿子李易告诉羊城晚报记者：“父亲曾在2004年的日记里写下拍照的目的：为广州存照，下一代可见到广州的变迁。”

本次展览分为“拆与建”“街头广告”“交通出行”“今昔对比”共4个版块进行展出。其中，“拆与建”版块展示了李瑞然老人拍摄的20世纪90年代至21世纪初广州拆迁与建造的摄影作品。

广州作为改革开放的前沿阵地，在中国改革开放后的飞速发展期进行着快速的更新换代。“拆迁”，成为当时广州一个重要又复杂的主题。拆旧立新的过程中，老城消逝与新城崛起相互交织，这些反映拆与建的老照片如同城市的年轮，记录着广州旧貌换新颜的历程。

“街头广告”版块以20多年前广州街头各式各样的广告为拍摄对象，展示风格各异的手写字、闪烁的霓虹灯、巨大的LOGO和海报等街头广告。它们以最直接、最醒目的方式，向世人展示品牌形象，也成为了老广州的独特风景线。

“交通出行”版块围绕多元的城市交通进行展示。从两节车厢的大通道车到引进自香港的双层巴士，从扬手即停的“的士”到日渐增多的私家车，从几乎人手一辆的单车到风驰电掣的摩托车，从珠江两岸穿梭往来的轮渡到运送新鲜蔬果的渔船……

市民可沿着时间的车辙，共同重温广州交通方式的多彩变迁。透过李瑞然老人的镜头，仿佛还能听到那个年代街头的喧嚣，感受到城市节奏的鼓点。

“今昔对比”版块展示了广州市古粤秀色本土文化宣传协会志愿者在重访李瑞然作品拍摄地后拍摄的一组组今昔对比照。通过今昔对比，引导市民走进时空对话，在老照片与新影像之间切身感受时间的变化，读懂广州的变迁与发展。

不少广州街坊前来展览现场，驻足于李瑞然老人留下的广州旧照前，感受广州城市的演变和发展。

文 | 记者 黄宙辉
图 | 记者 刘颖颖（除署名外）
译 | 刘佳慧