History of Life is a collection of over 400 found photographs chronicling the history of modern China, from the 1910s to the late 1990s. Compiled from over 600,000 negatives, Cai Dong Dong curated this remarkable book using salvaged negatives from public records and discarded photographs of ordinary Chinese citizens. Adding a few of his own photographs into the story, the artist crafted his interpretation of the birth and growth of modern China over 3 of the country's most formative eras: the founding of the Republic, the cultural revolution, and the post-Mao era.
History of Life is more than just a compilation of found photography documenting China's modern history. It is an existential introspection that questions the idea of truth. It shows us the power and beauty of history curated and reimagined by those closest to it.
In the artist's words: "These images carry the memory of Chinese people. Memories are the only way to establish life. The process of forming this memory symbolizes how I visualize history. Visualization is the only way to understand facts."
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