Wuxi's new museum of city history takes a journalistic turn

When Xue Zhongqing was informed a month ago that he would become the curator of a new museum in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, he was filled with a burst of motivation.

"I saw a new challenge ahead with many details to manage, but I embraced the role with enthusiasm," says the 52-year-old journalist.

The Wuxi City Construction Museum, scheduled to open later this year, is envisioned as a landmark showcasing the city's transformation from a wilderness 3,200 years ago, to a thriving economic hub in the Yangtze River Delta region with a bright future.

Occupying 12,800 square meters in the Wuxi Economic Development District, the museum has a striking black-and-white design, with both three-story and single-story sections, and a sloped surrounding roof.

Xue drafted an action plan for the museum that recently won over the municipal authorities.

The senior journalist at Wuxi Daily and general manager of the Jiangnan Evening News was named last month as the professional in charge of the exhibition.

His plan divides the city's history into four distinct stages: its ancient past, its emergence as a commercial and industrial hub in the early 20th century, its revival as a vibrant city in modern times, and its role as a leader in China's decadeslong process of reform and opening-up.

"I like Xue's plans for the halls," says Tang Keke, former president of the Wuxi Historical Society. "The narrative is compelling and the concepts are clear. I'm also impressed by his incorporation of comics and animated elements in the design."

With over 30 years of journalistic experience, Xue believes his background in the arts and varied expertise make him well-suited to the role of curator.

"The job requires both a deep knowledge of the city and a keen aesthetic sense. I know my hometown well, I'm confident of my writing and photography skills. All this, coupled with my college fine arts major, will work in my favor," he says.

That said, Xue acknowledges that being a curator is a more complex job than he initially anticipated. The role encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, including managing the collection of exhibits, exhibition planning, and coordination with different parties.

"You have to be both sensible and sentimental, dealing with art, numbers, and people," he says. "I've always embraced every challenge, sorted things out, and expanded my experience."

He feels that the task of being in charge of the exhibition will add another stage to his transition and growth from a photographer, to print journalist, multimedia journalist, general manager of a newspaper, and now curator.

Key to success

Studying for a fine arts major in college in 1991, Xue set his sights on becoming a news photographer. Two years later, he was hired as a graphic editor by the Wuxi Daily. Although it wasn't the role he originally applied for, he maintained a positive perspective.

After six years in the graphic department, Xue became a reporter in 1999, and began documenting everything happening in the city, with a firm belief that media should serve its role providing public information.

One of his most successful photography projects was a series that focused on construction workers on the Wuxi section of the Shanghai-Nanjing intercity railway in 2009.To capture the most touching moments, Xue visited different construction sites and spoke with the hardworking laborers he considers the unsung heroes of the country.

The photographs received national recognition in 2010, winning a silver award at an annual competition held by the China Photojournalists Society.

Exploring frontiers

Since the 2010s, he has shifted his focus from on-site reporting to academic research, publishing nearly 50 articles and theses on media communication development and trends. His successful endeavors in this new area led to his appointment as deputy head of the Wuxi All-Media Communication Association, and earned him a guest professor position at the Wuxi Taihu University.

"A reporter is a witness to news and historical events, while a media scholar observes and reflects on the communication industry," he says.

When asked what drives him to adapt, Xue cites American photographer Ansel Adams (1902-84), a leading landscape photographer and environmentalist.

"I remind myself that I'm still young compared to Adams, and I'm striving to leave a meaningful impact in the fields I pursue."

Yan Weijue contributed to this story.

China Daily