Living the city: contemporary everyday in China is a photographic exhibition by Leverhulme ECR Fellow, Dr Federica Mirra, CCVA, College of Art and Design.

The selected photographs portray Chinese cities both as spectacular and ordinary entities. Specifically, they highlight the unprecedented socio-economic changes since 1978, which are still being negotiated in China’s urban space and society. The pictures include still-shots of morning routines and night activities in the city, such as dancing, playing chess, writing calligraphy, as well as LED animated lightshows on kilometric skylines. Whereas the urban daily life attests to everyday, spontaneous, bodily practices, the night-life rhythms are often fast-paced, hi-fi and spectacular. This photographic archive explores the diverse, asynchronous and multi-sensorial experiences that are currently evoked in and by Chinese cities. Finally, it aims to give a more nuanced understanding of the People’s Republic of China as a complex, everchanging and societal entity rather than a monolithic, or even threatening, nation.

On Thursday 20th February, there will be an exhibition opening and reception at Parkside, 5-7pm with welcome speeches by Prof Maxine Lintern, Prof Jiang Jiehong and Dr Federica Mirra. Students, staff and members of the public are very welcome to join!

Funding was kindly provided by the Leverhulme Trust.

Please get a free ticket to help manage numbers and capacity.