A Yin is a Chinese visual artist of Mongolian ethnicity who has devoted more than three decades to an in-depth visual study of Mongolian nomadic culture. From an anthropological perspective, his work documents the ways in which social and historical change has transformed this civilisation. His practice is guided by the principle that “meaning and image are inseparable”. A Yin has long made the Mongolian grasslands of China the setting of his artistic practice, using photography as a means of preserving Mongolian cultural heritage.
He has published a trilogy on nomadic culture comprising Nomadic Mongolians of China, The Sacred Land of Nomads and The Buryats, as well as China’s Mongolian Primary Schools and −40 °C (Mongolian Horses). He is widely recognised as a visual guardian of the nomadic culture of the grasslands.
Within Chinese documentary photography, A Yin is a leading figure in the representation of ethnic cultures and the only photographer from one of the country’s ethnic minorities to have been twice named among the “Top Ten Chinese Portrait Photographers”. He has also received the Golden Statue Award, China’s highest distinction in photography, the Humanity Award and National Geographic’s “All Roads” Award, among other honours.
His work has been exhibited at the United Nations Headquarters and in countries including France, Germany and Russia, and is held in the collections of several museums. Narrative authenticity, emotional resonance and a reflection on the present distinguish his practice. By connecting tradition and modernity, A Yin’s images have established him as a visual ambassador for the spirit of nomadic culture.
EXHIBITIONS AT OCHRE
