A photographic work is on display at the Marvelous Realism contemporary African photography exhibition in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province on April 25. [Photo by Qi Xiao/chinadaily.com.cn]

An exhibition of contemporary African photography opened in Hangzhou, capital city of East China's Zhejiang province, on Saturday.

The largest of its kind in Asia, the exhibition was initiated by the KT Wong Foundation, and was born out of the recognition that Africa's rich and vibrant contemporary art and culture remain largely unfamiliar to the Chinese public, despite the important and enduring economic and political ties between Africa and China, according to the organizers.

"There's still the idea that contemporary art isn't made on the African continent," said Mary Corrigall, an award-winning art journalist and curator of the exhibition from South Africa.

Photography as a medium is one that is easily understood, she said, explaining why this particular art form has been chosen as the focus.

"As we all play with cameras and photographs ourselves and it becomes a language that is easy to relate to," she added.

Titled "Marvelous Realism", the exhibition borrowed its name from the term coined by Kole Omotoso, a Nigerian novelist, playwright and critic, who used it to illustrate the poetics and politics of African identities forged through a diverse mix of local, regional and international cultural influences throughout history.

Running until November 30, it features dozens of works by 13 established and emerging African artists, including Justin Dingwall, Ayana Jackson and Ruby Okoro, and seeks to present the Chinese audience with an Africa that may have escaped their attention.

It is all the more relevant as 2026 also marks the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, said Phuti Joyce Tsipa, South African consul general in Shanghai, at the opening ceremony.

"The exhibition is a great platform for the Chinese people to understand a different Africa and how the African people perceive their history, their present and their future," she said.

These images can give the visitors a glimpse of what Africa — and in particular South Africa — is really about, she added.

While the event continues, plans are afoot to bring works of Chinese photographers to Africa this year, according to the organizers.

Photographic works are on display at the Marvelous Realism contemporary African photography exhibition in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province on April 25. [Photo by Qi Xiao/chinadaily.com.cn]