Cinnamon at Shanghai photography exhibition

Tuesday, 10 June 2014 00:29 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Award winning photographer showcases Sri Lanka during a 17 day exhibition in China

Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, a brand that is synonymous with Sri Lanka together with the Sri Lankan Consulate General in Shanghai are currently hosting Shanghai’s most famous freelance photographer, Er Dong Qiang during a seventeen day photographic exhibition. The 51-year-old Er Dong Qiang visited Sri Lanka twice in 2012 and 2013 and in the long term intends to write a publication with the inclusion of the magnificent photographs he captured during his short stays here, highlighting his interests in ancient Sri Lanka and its connection to the Chinese, especially in relation to Buddhism, the Silk Route and voyages of the Ming Dynasty Admiral Zheng He.

Er Dong Qiang is a figure of many identities: extensive traveler, antiques collector, publisher, bookshop owner and press company owner to name just a few. He is acknowledged by the Western media as a scholar-oriented photographer of China, and his photographic achievements are often reported by US mainstream media, such as the Tim magazine. He is also the recipient of numerous awards, including one from the American Institute of Architecture. For Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, embracing arts, history and culture and portraying itself as a lifestyle brand, is all part of its brand mission in inspiring people and inspiring experiences; and in this case, an inspired photographer being no different. “We are indeed proud to be a part of this portrayal of some of Sri Lanka’s best kept secrets which are being showcased through the captivating images produced by this award winning photographer. The photographs depicts Sri Lanka in its purest form and deems Sri Lanka as a ‘must visit’ destination to the awe-inspired audience present at the exhibition,” said Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Head of Brand Marketing Dileep Mudadeniya. “Er Dong Qiang needs no introduction to the Chinese public, especially to Shanghainese. For over 30 years Dong Qiang has been

wandering in the streets of Shanghai, and trying to record with his camera all the ups and downs of this megalopolis; this indeed has made him THE iconic photographer of one of the world’s fastest changing cities – which is, Shanghai,” said Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Shanghai PRC Consul General Hasanthi Dissanayake. “Sri Lanka, being a main country along the Sea Silk Route, its Buddhist heritage as well as the journeys of the Ming Dynasty Admiral Zheng He to Sri Lanka, soon attracted Dong Qiang’s attention,” she added. Many elite parties and opinion leaders have attended this exhibition thus far, such as the Director of Foreign Affairs Division of the General Office Wang Junwei, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) – Shanghai Committee, US Consulate General in Shanghai amongst many others. “I am thankful for all the VIPs who came for the opening ceremony and Consulate General in Sri Lanka for facilitating my visit to Sri Lanka. I am very interested in the Silk Route both in land and sea and it has been an absolute pleasure to have this chance to visit key areas in Sri Lanka. I am planning a journey along the Sea Silk Route soon, where I intend on inviting all these VIPs and friends to also visit Sri Lanka,”said Er Dong Qiang. This exhibition is one of the major milestones of a long term partnership between Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, Sri Lanka Consulate General in Shanghai, Er Dong Qiang and the Sri Lankan archaeologist trained in China, Sri Lanka, USA, Italy and Netherlands.