Bei Jing Contemporary & Imperial

In three decades of visits to China, celebrated photographer Lois Conner has witnessed firsthand the monumental physical transformation of the country. Nowhere is this change more dramatic than in the capital city of Beijing, the subject of Conner's remarkable new book Beijing: Contemporary and Imperial. Conner's breathtaking black-and-white panoramas reveal an ancient city in thrall to change, where the lingering splendor of a dynastic past is cast into shadow by rising concrete and steel. Juxtaposed against the ancient ruins from the Gardens of Perfect Brightness, the ultra modern "Bird's Nest" National Olympic Stadium embodies all the ambitions of a rapidly ascending China. And yet, amid all the bustle and spectacle, quietly contemplative images of city life emerge, as if rescued from another era. Rich in tone and flawless in detail, Conner's photographs capture all the complexities and contradictions of this fascinating modern metropolis.

"Over 30 years of visiting China's capital, Bay Area photographer Lois Conner has traced its astounding historical profile in remarkable black-and-white panoramic pictures, enriched by a fine Australian China scholar's concise essay." - San Francisco Chronicle

"Lois Conner's riveting new book Beijing: Contemporary and Imperial is the culmination of her 30 years of visits to China. Its 156 pages contain 91 duotones, presented on 15" x 7.5" pages, which accentuate the panoramic views of ancient ruins, such as the Gardens of Perfect Brightness and the recently constructed ultra modern 'Bird's Nest' National Olympic Stadium. Given the age of this city, this wonderful pictorial survey does make obvious the clash of the modern with the ancient-it remains to be seen which will still be standing as Chinas leaps exponentially forward." - The Daily Beast

Lois Conner is a Guggenheim Fellow whose photography is included in major museums worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art, SFMoMA, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Sackler Gallery, and the National Gallery of Australia. She currently teaches photography at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY.