The Marengo Gallery is pleased to present Urbanization and the Rise of the Modern City, a group exhibition featuring five contemporary Chinese artists who address rapid urbanization in China. The exhibit features recent works by Jin Ke, Xu Ze, Luo Jie, Wang Jun, and Xu Yong Kang.
In 1990, only twenty-six percent of the population in China lived in cities, now that number has jumped to fifty-six percent in 2015. Urbanization has lifted thousands out of poverty, but at the same it has destroyed historical sites, created pollution, and led to feelings of emptiness, loneliness, and anxiety in citydwellers. The artists in this exhibit address urbanization’s effects on the Chinese landscape and on individuals living in the city. Many of the artists associate the rise in urbanization and the accompanying economic growth with changing societal values, including a sudden interest in material wealth and power. They are often concerned with urbanization’s impact on tradition, including traditional landscapes, landmarks, and culture.
The exhibit will run June 17 – August 2, 2017. An opening reception for the exhibit will be held Saturday, June 17 from 7-9pm.
