Concerning me
Chen Li was born December 31,1960. In 1980 I completed graduate school training.Soon afterwards I was appointed to teach at an advanced art institute. In September 1990 I also graduated from the specialized Yunnan Arts Design Academy. In 1997 I became a professional photographer.
Two years later I began photographing Chinese nationalities of Yunnan Province. In 2005 I began specializing in shooting pictures of minority people who were Christian.
Exhibition: Yunnan Provincial Museum
Preface
When my works are presented before you I feel peaceful comfort in my heart. First, it is because there are more and more people, through those photos, get to know about and understand the real situation of Chinese minority nationality Christian in Yun Nan province of China. Second, it is because my work has already been done, which should express by itself about everything it contained. During six years of work I experienced lots of difficulties and hard times. When I fell into bemusement and confusion my faith always gave me strength and hope. It was like a very bright light guided me so I did not lose my way but surely had correct direction. I have a desire that this way would show the specific and ordinary life of Christian and felicitously express real significance of the faith of Jesus Christ. Yun Nan province is situated in the south-west border area of China with many minority nationalities. Yun Nan province has 26 ethnic groups. Each of them keeps their own life style, traditional culture and original religion. When faith in Jesus Christ merged into their culture it rooted deeply into this land, sprouted and bore fruit. The faith in Jesus Christ has become rich and varied. The seed of gospel has resulted beautiful blossom in many minority nationalities such as Yi, Jinpo, Tibetan, Lisu, Nu and Miao. Most of these minority people live in very poor mountainous area. But the poor life and inclement environment are not able to move their faith. They are simple and honest. When I shared with their faith I shared their sorrows and happiness as well. When people sang songs to praise and glorify God I knew what I wanted to show is the real feeling of daily life among minority believers.
Prayer before Meal (Nu Nationality)
Yak-buttered tea and pancakes are the gifts from God’s grace. The children develop a good habit to say grace before each meal.
Eucharist (Tibetan)
The receiver of Eucharist is 86 years old. As an elder of the church he was cruelly persecuted during the Cultural Revolution and put into jail for 25 years. In those long years he never gave up his faith. His legs were beaten and broken because of his faith. After he was out of jail he kept preaching a sermon every Sunday, holding a stick, and doing some of the other works in the church. He often says that he wants to preach the gospel until his last breath.
Tibetan couple
Christmas is one of the happiest days for Tibetan believers. All the believers except those who are sick in bed get together, dancing and singing until the next morning.
Little girl presenting flowers at the altar
Zhen XX, a man from X county. ‘I started to abuse drug from 1993. I knew nothing about drug and thought it was trendy to take some. After three times of taking drug I was addicted. Actually it is not very hard to quit drug if you just start for a short time, but it’s possible to quit if you repeated for too many times. I tried numerous times but all failed. I really hate abusing drug. When I was in Yingjiang, I needed to take one gram of heroin per day already, that amount kept increasing and I had to spend more than 50 Yuan per day. I spent every penny from family and had to cheat like a gangster. Later, I went to Myanmar to try to quit drug. I found a job of assembling motorcycle and everyday I could earn 150 Yuan. Life seemed to get better. But everyone around me took marihuana and alcohol and I could resist, taking drug again. In 2003 and 2004, I was penniless because of drug. I wanted to commit suicide with ephedrine and antipsychotic but failed. When I took drug, we share needles and I was infected with AIDS. Now, I am a HIV carrier. I have sore all over my body and I am bald. I though I would die but later my syndromes was all cured. Government pays to cure me. I will go to AIDS hospital regularly to help others with AIDS and to cheer them up.
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