Tiny Rays Converge into a Sun - Photography Invitational Exhibition

Sabancı University, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Faculty Member, Asst Prof Dr Alex Wong is the Co-Curator in Chief for The Third University Invitational Exhibition of Jinan International Photography Biennale "Tiny Rays Converge into a Sun" - Asia-Pacific University Photography Invitational Exhibition. At the same time, he has exhibited together with his students' photography/video works. Participating students from FASS/VAVCD program are Öykü Onal, Berrak Güloğlu, Doga Batılı, Zeynep Sıdal Keten, Yasemin Bilgin, Zeynep Bafralı and Bengisu Yiğit.

Chief Curators: Yoong Wah Alex Wong, Zhang Hui and Ryu Eunkyu.
Art Director: Zeng Yi.
Academic Chair: Yao Lu.
Exhibition Location: Shandong University of Art & Design - Main Gallery 1 & 2.
Date: 25 October - 25 November 2022.

Although we are thousands of miles apart and far away, we are each an individual of vague yet firm shining point in the bright light of human civilization. We face each other across the sea and seem to be standing alone. However, the breath of the ocean has already made us form a unified community of destiny, which is difficult to separate and give up. Even if there is nowhere to go, they are still watching and knowing each other and sharing safety and security. Today, in the face of the complicated and changing global situation, such as the fragile recovery of the world economy, our mutual openness, diversity and inclusiveness are the foundation and lifeblood of the prosperity and development of the Asia Pacific region.

The rapid development of the Internet and digital technology in this century has brought photography into the pan-digital era. At a time when the contemporary digital cultural context presents a kind of media and consumption, and when the traditional photography methods and concepts are gradually being diluted, we need to think about the future development direction of photography. At the same time, under the waves of information in the 21st century, profound changes have taken place in people's way of life, means of production and cognitive thinking. As a product of information technology in the new era, the Internet has opened the way and brought notable changes to human information dissemination. After the evolution and development of mobile phones and social media, photography education is also facing unprecedented challenges and opportunities. In order to adapt to the rapid changes and development, it is necessary to break down barriers between each other, break through obstacles, and establish a good communication and exchange mechanism to promote the joint development of photography education in various countries.

This exhibition is the 3rd international university photography invitational exhibition since the 2018 "From Chang'an to Rome" China-Italian University Photography Invitational Exhibition and the 2020 "Foreign Land, Same Sky" China, Japan and South Korea University Photography Invitational Exhibition. This time, thirty-seven universities participated in the exhibition. The Asia-Pacific region universities hold offline and online photography exhibitions jointly. Hundreds of excellent photography and video works express how university teachers and students in the Asia-Pacific region observe the world and the means of artistic practice and expression of visual language. In the boundless mutual exchange and learning, we aim to promote the contemporary development of photography education worldwide. At the same time, when we gather together, a small amount of light can turn into a radiant glow no matter how far apart we are.