2016 / Fine Art / Abstract

China (flat-pack2)

  • Photographer
    Tony McAteer

Cultivating an aspirational consumerism and tapping into the wealth of the affluent urban population is a key feature of Chinas economic development. This work looks at the wholesale remodelling of Chinese cities into hubs of commerce. The photos look through the hoardings of city centre demolition and construction sites. The hoardings with their bright, consumerist aesthetic and symbols of a new aspirational lifestyle, tightly crop the details of demolition and reconstruction taking place behind.

Both thrilling and frightening, massive growth of cities is one of the global features of our time. Working as an architectural photographer since 2000, I've become engrossed by urbanism - its structures, narratives and transformations. For my commercial work I have photographed many high profile construction projects around the world. These include: 1 World Trade Centre, NY / The National Museum of Qatar, Doha / BBC Broadcasting House, London / BBC Media City, Manchester / Hoglands, Grade 1 listed restoration of Henry Moores former home & etching studio.