Li Lin
8 Oct
Li Lin’s Disappearing Landscape is one of the 798 Photo books I picked up. The book is divided into two parts – Wetland, frames of disappearing natural wetlands, and Artificial Landscape, frames of what will conceivably replace them. The more conventional landscapes of Wetland are interesting, but I really like the strangeness of the Artificial Landscapes, which was shot in Dongying city in Shandong province at what looks to be one of those cheesy amusement parks so characteristic of China.
The introduction by Liu Shuyong is also printed in an English version. The translation is a little awkward sometimes, but my Chinese is not so great, so it will have to do:
Artificial Landscape is a sarcastic photographic series that criticizes the artificial garden scenes installed in modern cities. The reinforced concrete structures imitating traditional gardens are mixed with [nationalist] dreams of political power blocs, and the dependence of commercial capital to the will to power. The crude, childish artificial landscape reflects people’s shallow understanding of Chinese characteristics.
I would say that despite the nationalism and the cheese, while more jaded folks are critical, there is a bit of naive enthusiasm and hopefulness in the reception some people give to these places. He goes to a bit of an extreme – the essay is titled “The Spawning of ‘Flowers of Evil,’ ” which, I have to admit, is an arresting turn of phrase.
If you are ever in Beijing you should pick up some of 798 Photo’s books. I think there are some slight tone and color problems with some of the prints but the shorter ones go for around 100 RMB, which is $13-15, so I can’t complain.
