Photography exhibit capturing pre-earthquake Myanmar opens in Shanghai

A photography exhibition documenting pre-earthquake Myanmar and diverse, natural landscapes spanning continents opened at Shanghai's Qingpu district on Wednesday, featuring works by photographer and former Miss Hong Kong Loletta Chu.

The exhibition, titled "The Beauty of Nature and Mythical Land", showcases 45 photographs at Cheng's Ancestral Hall in Panlong Xintiandi. The restored Jiangnan-style building, with its traditional carved windows and white walls, provides the backdrop for Chu's Eastern aesthetic sensibilities.

The exhibition is organized into three sections. "Mythical Myanmar", featuring previously unreleased images of Bagan, documents the country's cultural and spiritual life. "Eye for Beautiful Nature" demonstrates Chu's artistic interpretation of natural subjects, and was influenced by her background in floral art. Finally, "Eye for the Wild" presents wildlife photography, featuring red-crowned cranes in northeast China's Heilongjiang, sable antelopes in Botswana, and giraffes in Tanzania's Serengeti plains.

Born in Mandalay, Myanmar, before moving to Hong Kong at age 10, Chu focused significantly on Bagan in Myanmar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that suffered extensive damage from a 7.7-magnitude earthquake this year.

"Bagan originally had over 10,000 pagodas and stupas from the 11th to 13th centuries," Chu said. "Today, fewer than 2,000 remain, and this year's earthquake caused further significant damage."

"It fills me with sadness to see this heritage disappear," Chu said, recalling her experiences photographing Bagan. "I will never forget capturing the sunrise from a hot-air balloon and the sunset over the Irrawaddy River. I hope to introduce Shanghai audiences to Myanmar's beauty, as it is my birthplace."

Chu noted that she chose Shanghai as the setting for the exhibition because of its cultural significance, as well as her personal ties to the city.

"It is fitting to exhibit my work in Shanghai, as I consider it my second home. The city offers convenience similar to Hong Kong, but with a more vibrant cultural and artistic scene," Chu said. "Both cities share a unique hybrid culture with Chinese roots refined by Western influences, though they manifest differently in daily life."

The exhibition runs until Nov 10 and admittance is free. Once the exhibition concludes, select photographs will be donated to schools and hospitals in Myanmar and around Panlong Xintiandi in an effort to promote environmental and cultural awareness among younger generations.

"Through photography," Chu said, "I aim to create more exhibitions that facilitate cultural exchange and shared experiences, promoting better understanding between different cultures."