Chinese-style Workout (1) [China.org.cn]

Photographer:

Niu Guozheng was born in Henan province in 1955 and began photography in 1987. He now works in the Public Security Bureau in Pingdingshan city in Henan. He specializes in black-and-white documentary photography and has exhibited his works in Pingyao, Beijing and the U.S.

 

Niu Guozheng's "Chinese-style Workout" records a unique nationwide social phenomenon of the 1990s. People from every social class became fascinated by qigong, a type of deep-breathing exercise. It was an indication of the loss of spiritual belief and idealism. Dramatic changes to the Chinese people's identity during the opening-up in the last two decades of the 20th century led to widespread anxiety and insecurity. This set of pictures vividly depicts people's lifestyles and their spiritual condition. (Curator: Liu Shuyong)