Shared Memories: Photographic Archive Exhibition for the 80th Anniversary of the Global Victory Over Fascism
This thematic photography exhibition guides viewers across time and space through over three hundred precious historical images, returning them to those wartime years engulfed in the flames of conflict.
Eighty years ago, an unprecedented war engulfed the globe, drawing in 61 countries and 1.8 billion people. On the Eastern Front, the Chinese people, after fierce and bloody struggles, ultimately achieved a great victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, making indelible contributions and sacrifices to the worldwide cause of anti-fascism. “We have won!”—this cry, echoing through history, still allows us to feel the hard-won joy and national pride. This arduous struggle taught our nation the meaning of unity, bringing together people of different beliefs under one banner, fighting for the survival and dignity of the nation.
Through these battlefield images from World War II, we seek to impart to present and future generations what true courage means, and help them appreciate the precious value of freedom. The exhibition specially features a "Images as Historical Testimony" documentary section, presenting multidimensional perspectives of history through comparative visuals of the same events. It includes intense combat scenes captured by war correspondents, as well as quiet moments of rest recorded by ordinary soldiers with simple cameras. These images corroborate one another, reconstructing a more comprehensive historical truth. Victory did not come easily. In the glory of being among the victorious nations, we revisit history to better face the future.