Sketch
Wang Qingsong, China, 1966, makes large, staged images that are printed in enormous sizes. “Skyscraper” depicts the construction of a fantastic installation of about 35 meters high, with a diameter of 45 meters, built by 40 workers within a month or so in Changping County, 30 miles north of Beijing. The scaffolding iron bars are painted with gold color to make them look shiny and golden under the sunshine. This golden scaffolding signifies the glory/wonder of drastic changes in urbanization drive to urbanize.
Wang Qingsong wanted to analyze how dramatic social changes, in particular, in terms of sky-scraper construction, occur in China and how such construction projects have little to do with happiness of humanity. He chose this location and accidentally found this poor village has been contaminated with pollution resulting in deformities of children. His photo works consistently depict fhis skepticism in the face of such dramatic transformations, involving human intervention in less-than humanistic methods and attitudes. “Skyscraper” is like a Greek god growing magically from a smoky ground and looming high above the earth. The whole process of this scaffolding construction emulates the processes we witness of beginning and finally ending construction of high rises all around us.
Draft 1: 30m in diameter, 36m in height
Draft 2: 37m in diameter, 45m in height
Skyscraper with toothpicks
Shooting location, village in Changping District, Beijing
Front view of 24 meter high
Construction site - Changping County, Beijing
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