On October 18th, the Beijing International Photography Week 2025, better known as Photo Beijing, jointly organized by the China Artistic Photography Society, the China Photographers Association, and the Photojournalist Society of China, grandly opened at the China Millennium Monument. Manolis Metzakis, President of the Global Photographic Union (GPU), and Guo Jing, GPU Vice President, were invited to attend the opening ceremony and related activities, joining photographers and representatives from institutions across China and around the world in this grand celebration of photography.
At the opening ceremony, Mr. Li Ge, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of Photo Beijing and Chairman of the China Photographers Association, and Manolis Metzakis, GPU President, among other distinguished guests, delivered speeches.
In his speech, Mr. Li Ge noted that since its founding in 2013, Photo Beijing has evolved over 13 years while adhering to the principles of internationalization, academic depth, professionalism, and diversity. It continues to document the changing times through the lens and tell China’s stories through images. The event has become not only a cultural hallmark of Beijing but also a vital bridge for international photographic exchange, cultural tourism integration, and academic innovation.
GPU President Manolis Metzakis remarked that Photo Beijing is not only a visual feast but also a cross-cultural dialogue of the heart. Over the years, GPU and the Photo Beijing have shared a common mission — to promote photography as an art form that fosters understanding among people and cultures. Through collaboration, exchange, and mutual respect, photographic art continues to prove itself as a bridge connecting minds, emotions, and nations.
The opening was officially declared by Mr. Yang Yuanxing, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of Photo Beijing 2025 and Honorary Lifetime Chairman of the China Artistic Photography Society. GPU President Manolis Metzakis joined distinguished guests to press the launch button, officially inaugurating the event.
During this year’s Photo Beijing, GPU as one of the main organizers, hosts two major exhibitions by international photographers: “Origin of Civilization: Visual Memories of the Three Ancient Civilizations” and the 6th Edition of “View & Appreciate: Exhibition of Presidents of Photography Organizations from Ten Countries.” Both exhibitions were on display at the China Millennium Monument.
The showcased works transcend geographical and cultural boundaries — from rare images of the 1930s depicting China, Greece, and Egypt, to photographs capturing the living traditions and intangible heritage that embody collective memories and cultural DNA across nations. Each photograph acts as a bridge connecting hearts and histories.
The “View & Appreciate: Exhibition of Presidents of Photography Organizations from Ten Countries.”, curated by GPU Vice President Guo Jing, focuses on the theme “Intangible Heritage: Tradition and Innovation.”
The exhibition brings together 100 outstanding works by photography organization leaders from Egypt, Serbia, Bahrain, Turkey, Belarus, India, Indonesia, Morocco, and the UAE, forming a narrative through three thematic sections: “Intangible Cultural Heritage Across Time and Space”, “Craftsmanship in Light and Shadow”, and “Tradition in a Global Perspective”.
In addition, “Origin of Civilization: Visual Memories of the Three Ancient Civilizations,” hosted by GPU and co-planned by GPU President Manolis Metzakis, also drew wide attention.
From right: GPU Vice President Guo Jing, GPU President Manolis Metzakis, Greek artist Stella Koukoulaki, Photo Beijing Art Director Zhao Yingxin, photo collector Wang Xu, curator Liu Hualong, and vintage camera collector Yuan Zefeng visiting the exhibition.
The exhibition “Origin of Civilization: Visual Memories of the Three Ancient Civilizations”, brings together 70 rare works by nine pioneering photographers from China, Greece, and Egypt — including Chinese photographer Zhang Yinquan, Lin Zecang, Chen Chuanlin, Ge Gongzhen, Liu Guangxue; Greek photographer Spiros Meletzis, Nikos Zographos, Elli Sougioultzoglou-Seraidari (Nelly’s), and Switzerland photographer Frédéric Boissonnas; and Egypt photographer Samir Ghazouli.
These images, taken in the 1930s, capture daily life across Byzantine fields, Cairo markets, and Chinese streets, expressing the emotional complexity of hope and hesitation in a transforming era. They collectively bear witness to the enduring resonance of human civilization, creating a cross-temporal visual dialogue among the three ancient cultures. The exhibition also featured rare artifacts, including Feiying magazine and vintage cameras.
During the exhibition, GPU President Manolis Metzakis, GPU Vice President Guo Jing, and Greek artist Stella Koukoulaki participated in the symposium “Origin of Civilization: Visual Memories of the Three Ancient Civilizations.” They engaged in discussions with curators, collectors, and representatives from organizing institutions on topics such as “Introduction to Chinese and Greek Collections” and “Revisiting History and Reviving Art.”
