Depressing news from China circulating the media about the earthquake that struck Sichuan province earlier today. More than 12,000 people dead and many more still stuck under rubble. The government is seeking aid from the international community, while rescue teams continue battling storms to save survivors.
(via Reuters)
The individual ceases to exist in Liu Bolin’s Hiding in the City series.
TOP TO BOTTOM, Hiding in the City
© Liu Bolin
China is now in a paradox of adopting capitalist values and economic dreams which exist within an anachronistic communist framework. Within this context of a desperate leap towards a “modern” future, Bolin suggests the disintegration […]
Cai Weidong’s works are infused with traditional and modern influences. In Landscapes and Substances, black and white photographs are heavily manipulated to mimic Chinese scroll paintings.
TOP AND BOTTOM, Details 2 and 5, Landscapes and Substances, 2000 - 2004
© Cai Weidong
He moved on to using mirrors in his photos, which I found to be a […]
I’ve been wanting to post something about Tseng Kwong Chi, the Chinese photographer (actually from Hong Kong), who dressed up as a Chinese diplomat in the 80’s and got invited to all the cool parties by people who didn’t know otherwise.
TOP TO BOTTOM, East Meets West
© Tseng Kwong Chi
Horses Think has posted about the complete […]
Red Guards on Tiananmen Square, Beijing, 1966
© Weng Naiqiang
Hop over to Lens Culture to view 60 photographs from China, spanning 1934 to 2008. This is hosted together with the world’s most comprehensive collection and overview of photography from China, currently exhibiting in Houston, Texas.
[via Lens Culture]
I find Hei Ming’s portraits striking.
top to bottom, Common People
© Hei Ming
top to bottom, Monks
© Hei Ming
However, I think the pictures of the monks are less interesting than the common folk. The people just appear to be more real and genuine.
Portraits of the common folks can be found here and monks, here.
Yan Chang Jiang’s Paper Men series is worth taking a look.
Paper Men series
© Yan Chang Jiang
I stumbled upon Yan’s works from the Chinese Photography website [it’s all in Chinese], where a lengthy write up was given on his current exhibition in Shanghai. The dolls play out a fictional story fabricated by Yan, of which parallels […]
Zhang Peng photographs dolls with frozen expressions, against lush ambiguous backgrounds. With a background in painting, his images are striking to behold.
Guifei, 2007
© Zhang Peng
Red No. 3, 2007
© Zhang Peng
Angel No. 1, 2006
© Zhang Peng
Yi Fan No. 2, 2006
© Zhang Peng
The artist on his works:
In a broad sense, all of my works demonstrate a kind […]
Like many contemporary Chinese photographers, Liang Yue’s work revolves around the rapid changes in contemporary Chinese society. Her Morse Code series is worth a look as it examines the social issue conceptually. The photographs in Morse Code were taken after a sand storm, which blanketed the entire city in a yellowish monotone. She stood at […]