Joel Meyerowitz's 1975 image of a couple in camel coats walking through street steam in New York will be shown in the 2017 Rencontres. [Photo/ Rencontres Arles]

Pushing for development of Chinese photography

The Jimei Arles aims to build one of the most influential photo festivals in Asia, according to Stourdze.

"Today's Jimei Arles is like what Rencontres was like 30 years ago. I believe, 30 years later, Jimei will become one of the major photo festivals in Asia."

China is still lagging behind its European and Japanese counterparts in photography, Rong told China Daily.

"Chinese photography only has a history of some 200 years, which is far shorter than other art forms such as calligraphy and paintings," Rong said.

"China's art system didn't pay enough attention to photography as an art form. For a long time, photography has been more widely seen as a means of news communication, rather than a form of art. The importance of photography has not yet been realized or acknowledged," he continued.

To promote the development of Chinese photography, Rong and his wife, Inri, a Japanese artist, founded the Three Shadows Photography Art Center in 2007, which has now grown into a leading photo institution in China. In 2008, the institution set up the Three Shadow Discovery Award to encourage young Chinese people to explore their imaginations through the lens.

When asked about the future of Chinese photography, Rong is optimistic. "With more and more young people passionate about taking up photography as a career or hobby, I'm confident that Chinese photography has a bright future ahead."