Gao Lingwei / N. Solntsev - China: Walls and People (Китай: стены и люди) - 1981

This rare and dramatic propaganda photobook was a product of the Sino-Soviet split when the USSR and Maoist China went from being communist allies in the 1950s to becoming bitter enemies for the rest of the Cold War. For almost 30 years, the two countries were engaged in a bitter competition to convince the developing world that they were the "real" communists and that the other side were puppets of the West.

A collaboration between journalists Gao Lingwei and Nikolay Solntsev detailing the harsh realities of Maoism and those living "behind the wall of fear" this striking Soviet photobook is designed to send the message that Maoist China is a just another US-supported brutal dictatorship and all Mao's rhetoric about global revolution was a sham.

"This book is about a tragedy - the great tragedy of the people of China. The long years of Maoist rule in that country have dealt a heavy blow to the country's economy. Maoism brought to the Chinese people the horrors of mass terror, endemic poverty, and hunger. Life behind the Maoist "wall of fear" is told by those who lived there - the Chinese themselves - with quotes from Mao Zedong and other leaders of the country, official appeals and slogans, excerpts from books, periodicals and semi-legal dazibao."

Published at a time when Soviet book design had stagnated, this outstanding book is a throwback to the lavish Soviet propaganda photobooks of the 1930s (produced by such influential figures as El Lissitzky, Alexander Rodchenko, Varvara Stepanova, Solomon Telingater etc) and utilises a variety of innovative visual techniques. As well as the unique size and format of the book, it uses elements such as photomontage combined with strong graphic design to heighten the central propaganda message that Maoist China is not to be trusted.

A great addition to any collection of Chinese or propaganda photobooks and a title that should have been included in Martin Parr and Wassinklundgren's Chinese Photobook compilation (in my opinion!).

Condition:
Very good first edition copy with very rare reversible dust jacket. Small damage to top and bottom of dust jacket. Binding tight. Please examine listing photos carefully.