China Design Now, which opened at the Victoria and Albert Museum in mid-March, explores the recent virtual explosion of new design in China, concurrent with the 'boom' in Chinese contemporary art, and traces developments in fashion, graphic design, youth culture as well as architecture, right up to the 2008 Olympic stadium. It is an ambitious brief undertaken by Zhang Hongxing, and his museum colleague and co-curator Lauren Parker.
The exhibition's focus is on a dynamic phase marked by the opening up of China to global influences, and developments in three of the major cities undergoing rapid modernisation and expansion, Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. On display is the work of Chinese and international designers in fields as diverse as architecture, fashion, youth culture, graphics and film, photography, product and furniture design and digital media.
Consumerism plays an important part in the new culture, which is constantly transforming itself and transforming China in the process. SR
China Design Now. 15 March–13 July 2008. Victoria and Albert Museum. Entance fees apply. Check with the V&A for the appropriate entrance fees.
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