Mo Yi

The first retrospective of one of China's most important photographic artists, supported by an exhibition at the Rencontres d'Arles in 2024, followed by an international tour. Mo Yi is a photographic artist with a career spanning nearly forty years from the 1980s to today. Published to accompany a major exhibition at the Rencontres d’Arles, this retrospective contextualizes his career within the evolution of contemporary art following the reform and opening of China.

Working in a documentary tradition, but building on the meaning of 'documentary' and reinterpreting it, Mo Yi’s practice is exemplified by experimentation. Working regularly in distinct series, he tests ways of pushing back the boundaries of the medium and his own personal expression. Showcasing more than 100 original works, preliminary proofs, original documents, photomontages and mock-ups, it sheds light on the work and approach of an exceptional artist who is poised to make a mark on the international photography and contemporary art community.