The Jimei × Arles International Photo Festival returns to Xiamen, China, for its tenth edition, presenting 25 exhibitions featuring over 2,000 works by artists from France, Spain, Germany, India, Japan, Canada, the United States, and China. Once again, the festival offers visitors an exciting showcase of the past, present, and future of photography.

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Five exhibitions selected from the Rencontres d'Arles cover a range of themes, including AI, architectural landscapes, and environmental issues. Special attention will be given to the works of renowned photographers Masahisa Fukase and Luo Bonian, providing audiences with an opportunity to experience the distinctive artistry of these iconic figures. Additionally, three exhibitions in the 'Crossover Photography' section will present diverse perspectives from creators in music, video, and other disciplines. The 'Jimei × Arles Discovery Award' will feature eight exhibitions, including a group show under the 'China Pulse' theme, spotlighting Chinese photographers. Another exhibition will showcase the finalists of the 'Jimei × Arles Curatorial Award for Photography and Moving Image,' aimed at discovering and nurturing young Chinese curators and researchers. This year, the festival also collaborates with vivo VISION+, Xiaohongshu Photography, and FUJIFILM, presenting works by global image creators and championing photography that reflects everyday life.

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The highly anticipated 'Jimei × Arles Discovery Award,' co-initiated with Premium Discovery Partner Xiaohongshu Photography, has spent the past decade discovering and promoting Chinese image creators. This year's edition features artists from Hong Kong, mainland China, Canada, and the United States. The 'Jimei × Arles Curatorial Award for Photography and Moving Image,' established in partnership with CHANEL, has launched its award selection along with a new public curatorial program, the 'Curatorial Seminar.' Through keynote speeches, group learning, and local practices, this program offers fresh pathways for developing emerging Chinese curators. Additionally, the festival introduces the 'Best Portfolio Award' as part of its public education initiative, 'Portfolio Review,' recognizing and encouraging new photographic talents.

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This year, the Festival will place greater emphasis on integrating with local culture, exploring the intersections between photography and the cultural heritage of Xiamen and its surroundings. As an international platform for photographic arts, the festival’s tenth edition will also engage with the local art scene through the 'Parallel Exhibition' and 'Isles Project.' The 'Parallel Exhibition' collaborates with key venues such as LOHKAH, Luchao Kulangsu Art Park, Red Dot Design Museum Xiamen, Topred Center for Contemporary Art (TCCA), SHaN SHaNG Art Space, and More Art, presenting Xiamen's local art ecosystem in diverse forms and exploring the dynamic relationship between the city and contemporary art.

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The Festival’s 2024 Committee includes Cao Dan (Senior art journalist, curator, and documentary film director); Christoph Wiesner (Director of the Rencontres d'Arles in France); RongRong (contemporary photography artist and Co-founder and Co-director of Three Shadows Photography Art Centre); Gu Zheng (curator, critic, and professor at the School of Journalism at Fudan University); and Yan Qi (Executive Director of Three Shadows Photography Art Centre).

Commenting on the strength of the Festival’s tenth edition, the founder of the Jimei × Arles International Photo Festival, RongRong, says:

"Ten years ago, driven by a passion for photographic art and a desire for cultural exchange, we launched this global photography event on this beautiful land where the sea meets the sky. From the initial spark of an idea to what it has become today—a widely recognized platform—we now have a place in Jimei where ideas and souls collide—a window through which we tell the world’s story with images."

"I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all those whose support has made this possible. A special thank you to the leaders of Xiamen City and Jimei District, as well as the French Embassy in China, the Arles Photography Festival, Supermedia, Chanel, Vivo, Xiaohongshu, Fujifilm, and all of our other invaluable partners. Your contributions have been instrumental in bringing this vision to life."

“Images are a form of expression that transcend language and time. They allow us to see others and, in turn, see ourselves; they not only record but also create."

Rencontres d'Arles Director Christoph Wiesner comments on the decade-long collaboration:

"In just a decade, the Jimei festival has become a must-visit event for contemporary photography in China. It has become a place for meeting, sharing, and dialogue between artists, curators, journalists, and passionate audiences - much like the Rencontres d'Arles has been for 56 years in France. These are spaces where the image, in all its diversity and richness, takes center stage."

"This aligns deeply with the philosophy of the Rencontres d'Arles, which advocates for photography as a universal language, a tool for reflection and openness. This edition is particularly significant for us, as it marks the anniversary of our collaboration with the festival in Xiamen, it also celebrates the efforts of my predecessors with Three Shadows in supporting Chinese photography. Today, it is both a pleasure and a privilege to witness the same energy and enthusiasm unfold here in Jimei, a true cultural crossroads that I am discovering for the first time. As director of the Rencontres d'Arles, I am convinced that international collaborations like this not only push the boundaries of our discipline but also strengthen the bonds of friendship between our two cultures."

"Art and creation play a central role in understanding the world. Exchanges like this help build a shared future, where photography serves as a means of dialogue and unity."

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About Jimei × Arles International Photo Festival
The Jimei × Arles International Photo Festival is a cultural and artistic exchange project between Xiamen’s Jimei District and the Rencontres d'Arles in France. Since its establishment in 2015, the festival has showcased exceptional photography from around the world, embracing a spirit of openness and diversity. It plays a key role in supporting the creation, research, and curation of Chinese photography, raising its profile domestically and amplifying its presence on the global stage.To date, the festival has hosted over 300 exhibitions featuring more than 700 works by artists from China, Asia, and the Rencontres d'Arles, along with over 800 public events that have attracted more than 500,000 visitors.

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