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Since the early 1990s the Western world looks astonished at China s multifaceted and vivid contemporary art. The rapid progress of development and the divides and tensions this sometimes brings about have resulted, among other things, in contemporary Chinese visual art revealing itself in recent years as a field of highly exciting artistic diversity. Artistic urban photography is particularly inseparable from these social transformations as regards its choice of motifs and visual language. The modern city in the 21st century can be observed and described from many very different perspectives. Out of this abundance of possible perspectives, three terms were elaborated, each to cover specific facets: City Moves, City Ruins and City Plays. By reference to works of several selected Chinese artists it is being analysed how the topics city, changes in the urban structure and attendant transformations are reflected in contemporary Chinese photography. This book is aimed at all who are interested in gaining insight into today s urban China and in visual art as mode of expression of everyday life experience.

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Schmatzberger, Alice
Art historian, biochemist. Independent writer, lecturer, and consultant with a focus on China. Current area of research in art history: Notions and depictions of the Self in contemporary photography art in China. Regular visits to and stays in China since 2008. Co-founder of ChinaCultureDesk (www.chinaculturedesk.com).

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