Existing comment:
Hung Liu Family Photos
In the late 1960s, Hung Liu and her mother, Liu Zongguang, removed the photographs from their family albums to protect them from being taken by the Red Guards. Liu Zongguang hid some of the pictures and set fire to the rest. She also burned her journals.
During the Cultural Revolution, many people in China destroyed their personal records out of fear. Liu's family, among countless others, felt compelled to erase their past so as not to leave a trace of their earlier, more privileged lives. Because Liu's family was educated, they were seen as a threat to the government. Liu explains, "You couldn't keep anything personal. It was dangerous. That's why I'm so interested in old photographs. They are rare. It is not like today." Liu has carried these photographs with her through the years, not only as a reminder of her close-knit family but also as a tribute to their bravery and sacrifice.
Unidentified photographers
Photographs, 1949–80
Collection of Hung Liu and Jeff Kelley |