Celestial Realm, The Yellow Mountains of China, Wang Wusheng, 2005
Famous Chinese photographer Wang Wusheng (1945 - 2018) spent most of his life photographing the Huangshan mountains. He elevated every aspect of them through his exceptional vision and sense of composition. His particularly sought-after lighting enhances all the natural splendors of these unique and characteristic landscapes.
As a pioneer, Wang Wusheng was one of the first photographers to visit the Huangshan mountains, long before this natural park became one of the favorite tourist destinations for both Chinese and foreigners in recent years.
Wang Wusheng was born in Anhui province in 1945. His extensive collection of photographs quickly gained international success. Many of his prints have joined the private or public collections of museums such as the Chinese Art Museum in Beijing, the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, and the United Nations in New York.
After spending the majority of his life in Japan, Wang Wusheng passed away in 2018. He spent 44 years photographing the Huangshan mountains.
Huangshan Mountains
Located in Anhui province, the Huangshan mountains have been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1990.
They are one of China's most famous symbols, having inspired several generations of Chinese poets and painters in the purest tradition of Shansui landscapes (mountains and water). Devoid of any religious connotation today, there are no longer any active Buddhist or Taoist temples found there. The celestial mountains are now a protected natural park.
Illustrations excerpted from the book © Wang Wusheng
Famous for their sea of clouds and the rocky peaks that emerge from it, these mountains seem to come from the realm of imagination. Huangshan or "the Yellow Mountains" take their name from the Yellow Emperor, Huangdi, who visited these mountains (Tang dynasty) and decided to name them after himself. This was formalized by a decree in 747.
A Magnificent Book
Wang Wusheng's exceptional work has been compiled into a prestigious volume that every black and white landscape photographer should have in their library. It is abundantly illustrated with the author's prints, complemented by texts from Wu Hung. An essential work for enthusiasts of timeless landscape photographs that are close to traditional Chinese painting.
Discover the book Celestial Realm, The Yellow Mountains of China, by Wang Wusheng, published by Abbeville Press Inc., U.S.
Illustrations excerpted from the book © Wang Wusheng
The texts by Professor Wu Hung (Professor at Harvard and Director of the Center for the Art of East Asia at the University of Chicago) enhance Wang Wusheng's work. They provide the keys for a poetic reading of this work, inspired by the tradition of painters who reimagined the essence of landscapes they had observed through their memories.
Professor Wu Hung is also a leading expert on contemporary Chinese photography and arts. He has published numerous books, one of the most famous being "3000 Years of Chinese Painting."
"Celestial Realm, The Yellow Mountains of China" showcases all the spirituality that the photographer wished to place in his masterful work. It is undoubtedly the most complete and beautiful collection of photographs taken of the Huangshan mountains. The strength and balance of the brushwork of landscape painters are fully mirrored in Wang Wusheng's photographs.
Illustrations excerpted from the book © Wang Wusheng
Publisher: Abbeville Press Inc., U.S.; 1st edition (November 17, 2005)
Language: English
Hardcover: 239 pages
ISBN-10: 0789208679
ISBN-13: 978-0789208675
Item Weight: 2.58 Kilograms
Dimensions: 30.48 x 2.79 x 33.02 cm
You can also read my articles on the Huangshan mountains for more information on their origins, how to get there, where to stay, how to organize your travel, what equipment to bring, how to descend into the canyon, and other topics.
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