Beijing Stories

The Liu Shiming Art Foundation Gallery is pleased to present “Beijing Stories: Liu Shiming and Lois Conner”, opening on Thursday, January 16, and continuing through March 21, 2025. “Beijing Stories” showcases two perspectives on the Chinese capital from the 1980s through 2010, juxtaposing the sculptures of Liu Shiming, who spent most of his life in Beijing, with the remarkable photographs of Lois Conner, who has visited nearly every year since 1984. The pairing of these two artists offers a unique view of Beijing from two distinctly different yet equally powerful perspectives, each capturing an evolving and resilient city and its people through an intensely personal lens.

Liu Shiming’s sculptures, created in Beijing from the 1980s until his death in 2010, reflect a changing way of life as the city expanded dramatically in both size and population. Liu experienced Beijing’s cultural and political transformations firsthand as the capital and seat of government solidified its prominence. As more people moved to the city from rural areas, Liu observed their adaptation to urban life while preserving their sense of community, culture, and family in a rapidly changing environment.

Lois Conner has been visiting and photographing across China since 1984, when she spent six months there on a Guggenheim Fellowship. Falling in love with the landscape and culture, Lois creates panoramic “portraits.” Using a large-format 7” x 17” banquet camera, she presents both sweeping vistas and intimate details, capturing a nuanced narrative enhanced by long exposures and heightened detail. Through her lens, we see a city in flux—a city that has grown exponentially while still retaining much of the flavor and culture of its old self.

Exhibition Overview

Beijing Stories presents two distinct perspectives of Beijing during the transformative years from the 1980s to 2010, juxtaposing the sculptures of Liu Shiming and the panoramic photographs of Lois Conner.

Timeline: 1980s to 2010

Two Artistic Perspectives:

• Liu Shiming’s sculptures document the urbanization and socio-cultural shifts of Beijing.
• Lois Conner’s panoramic photography captures the city’s evolving yet enduring identity, preserving its cultural legacy and historical nuances.

3. Artist Profiles

Liu ShimingLiu Shiming (1926–2010) was a pioneering Chinese sculptor whose work bridged traditional Chinese art and modernist influences. A graduate of the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) in Beijing, Liu was among the first generation of sculptors trained in both Chinese and Western techniques, gaining early acclaim with his works. Rejecting fame, he spent years in rural China, drawing inspiration from local customs and folklore to develop his humanist style. After returning to Beijing, he advanced techniques in clay and bronze while working at the National Museum of Chinese History and later at CAFA. Liu’s sculptures are now exhibited globally, and his legacy is celebrated through the Liu Shiming Sculpture Museum in Beijing and the Liu Shiming Art Gallery in New York.

Lois Conner
A New York-based photographer, Lois Conner is known for her panoramic "portraits" of landscapes and urban settings. Using a large-format banquet camera, she has been documenting Beijing since 1984, offering an intimate look at its transformations. Her work is featured in renowned institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the British Museum.

Host or Publisher Liu Shiming Art Foundation