Life in Chinese cities under the magnifying glass

Waschkau's In the CIty 'Beijing'(2012, pigment on wood) is showcased. [Photo by Zhang Xingjian/chinadaily.com.cn]

A cross-national exhibition featuring life in Chinese cities opened at the German Embassy in Beijing on June 12.

Titled "Daily life in China's metropolitans through Chinese and German perspective", the exhibition brings together two artists' work - Chinese painter Huang Min and German sculptor and painter Detlef Waschkau - and explores their different understanding and feeling towards Chinese cities.

The celebrated Waschkau is known for his unique carving and painting, featuring the urban living environment and its dynamics and mobility. He has had many exhibitions in Germany, China, Japan and Turkey.

"I portray people's lives in Beijing and Nanjing. People have a different way of life here," Waschkau said. He first came to China in 2011 and this is his sixth visit to Beijing.

Waschkau's creations are distinctive in a way that tell stories through a mixture of short sequences of layered images. In his works, each scene consists of smaller parts with color changes, yet the whole is consistent and complete, allowing viewers to experience time within the city.

"It's not just to put different pieces together. That's not the idea. It's showing all of the place, of the work, " Waschkau said. He has brought 13 works to the exhibition.

Constructed in Waschkau's style, Huang's works are more practical and focus on realism.

Huang presents two series of works: Hei Qiao (Black Bridge) and Blue and White Porcelain series. The works vividly portray common people's lives under rapid urbanization, exploring the relationship between people and the environment.

"I like to draw the environment that I am familiar with, the places I stay and the people I meet." Huang said when explaining her work. Hei Qiao, a village in southeastern Beijing, is home to many migrant workers. It also attracts many startup artists with its cheap rent and low living expenses.

"I have been staying in Hei Qiao village for seven years. The life scene in Hei Qiao is like an epitome of the development in Chinese society. It's diversified and inclusive," Huang said. "Though the living condition in the village is not that good, it brings something new to you every day, which is fresh and inspiring."

Huang started to learn painting when she was five years old and has staged a string of exhibitions in China and Germany since 2006, being highly commented by German media.

"We not only need to look forward, we need to look back," Huang said in the hope she could freeze-frame some cultural heritage that could be lost in the fast pace of urbanization.

The exhibition will open until July 24.