The exhibition “Early China Photography Collection” was held at a Toronto gallery in Canada from August 1 to 25, 2018. It showcased nearly 300 original historical photographs (1840-1920) from the private collection of Chinese-Canadian collector Mr. Li Ritian. These works not only provide a systematic visual record of social realities in late Qing China but also reflect the artistic styles of photography across different historical periods, possessing both high historical and collectible value.

The exhibits cover various aspects of social life and cultural traditions, vividly illustrating the characteristics of the late Qing era. Through these images, viewers gain a direct impression of the historical transformations of Chinese society while also understanding the evolution of photographic styles as they developed over time.  

“中国早期经典摄影收藏展”（Early China Photography Collection）于2018年8月1日至25日在加拿大多伦多画廊举行。 展览呈现了华裔收藏家李日天先生珍藏的近300幅（1840-1920年）原版历史照片。这些作品不仅系统呈现了清末中国的社会现实，也体现了不同历史时期的摄影艺术风格，具有极高的历史与收藏价值。

展品内容涵盖社会风貌与文化生活等多个层面，生动展现了晚清的时代特征。 通过这些影像，观众得以直观感受中国社会的历史变迁，并了解摄影艺术风格随时代发展的演变轨迹。

The important thematic exhibition of the 2017 Songzhuang International Photography Biennale, “Memories of China: A Century of Beijing through Photographs”, was held from September 29 to October 13, 2017, at the Zhongjie Contemporary Art Museum in Songzhuang, Beijing. The exhibition featured 200 precious historical photographs (1860-1920) from the personal collection of Chinese-Canadian collector Mr. Li Ritian. These images vividly document Beijing’s urban landscapes, social life, and significant historical events during the late Qing and early Republican periods, portraying the city’s responses and transformations in the face of Western imperial encroachment and domestic social upheaval. They provide invaluable visual documentation for the study of Beijing’s social, cultural, and political changes during this era.

The exhibition served not only as a historical retrospective but also as a tribute to Mr. Li Ritian’s dedication to preserving and presenting historical photography. It attracted numerous historians, photographers, and cultural enthusiasts, becoming one of the highlights of the biennale and emphasizing the enduring significance of historical visual archives in understanding China’s past.

2017年宋庄国际摄影双年展的重要主题展“中国记忆，见证北京百年影像”于2017年9月29日至10月13日在北京宋庄的中捷当代美术馆举行。 该展览展出了由华裔收藏家李日天先生个人收藏的200幅拍摄于1860年至1920年间的珍贵历史照片，生动记录了清末民初时期北京的城市风貌、社会生活及重要历史事件，再现了北京在面对西方列强侵略与国内社会动荡时的应对与转型，为研究该时期北京的社会、文化和政治变迁提供了宝贵的视觉文献。此次展览不仅是对历史的回顾，也是对李日天先生致力于保护和展示历史影像工作的致敬，吸引了众多历史学者、摄影师及文化爱好者，成为该届双年展的重要亮点。

 

The exhibition “A Century of Chinese Images Collection”, curated by Chinese-Canadian collector Mr. Li Ritian, was successfully held from October 1 to November 1, 2013, at the Toronto City Hall Library Gallery. The exhibition showcased 200 rare historical photographs from Mr. Li’s collection, taken between 1860 and 1910, vividly illustrating a century of social change in China. The works cover multiple dimensions, including social life, political events, and cultural development, providing a panoramic view of China’s history during the late Qing and early Republican periods.

These precious images allow viewers to traverse time and space, experiencing both the prosperity and turbulence of 19th-century China, with particular focus on key moments that profoundly influenced China’s modernization. As a collector dedicated to preserving Chinese cultural heritage, Mr. Li spent years gathering these historical materials from around the world. The exhibition was not only a visual feast but also a cross-temporal dialogue, attracting numerous scholars, photography enthusiasts, and historians from China and abroad.

Through “A Century of Chinese Images Collection”, audiences were able to trace the path of China’s modernization, gain deeper understanding of the stories behind major historical events, and foster cultural exchange and mutual appreciation between East and West. The exhibition served as both a heartfelt reflection on history and a vital testament to cultural heritage preservation, carrying profound educational value and significance for intercultural dialogue.  

“百年中国影像收藏展” (A Century of Chinese Images Collection)，由华裔收藏家李日天先生策划，于2013年10月1日至11月1日在多伦多市政府图书馆画廊成功举办。 展览精选李日天先生收藏的200幅摄于1860至1910年间的珍稀历史照片，以影像生动再现中国社会百年变迁。展品涵盖社会生活、政治事件、文化发展等多个维度，全景展现了清末民初中国的历史风貌。

这些珍贵的影像资料，引领观众穿越时空，感受19世纪中国的繁荣图景与动荡时刻，尤其聚焦于深刻影响中国现代化进程的关键节点。 作为一位致力于中国文化遗产保护的收藏家，李日天先生耗费多年心力，从全球范围内汇集了这批史料。展览不仅是一场视觉盛宴，更是一次跨越时空的历史文化对话，吸引了众多中外学者、摄影爱好者及历史研究者。

通过“百年中国影像收藏展”，观众得以追溯中国近代化的足迹，深入理解重大历史事件背后的故事，并在无形中促进了中西方文化的互鉴与交流。 此次展览既是对历史的深情回望，也是文化遗产传承的重要见证，具有深远的历史教育价值与文化交流意义。