Ian Teh - Traces Dark Clouds - 2011

Ian Teh, a photographer born in 1971 in Malaysia, has been traveling through China for more than ten years and captures people and landscapes in a distinctive way.

Inspired by the enormous visual impact of the rapidly growing Chinese economy, Teh was one of the first foreign photographers to depict the dark side of China's progress – long before many other photographers followed his lead.

In a harmonious interplay of color and light, he creates tranquil images that deliberately mislead the viewer.

On closer inspection, the sprawling, braided landscapes reveal themselves to be industrial landscapes.

Teh portrays the roots of this economic wonder with a mix of earth, sweat and smoke.

Kunsthal showcased in 2012 in an exhibition a portion of Teh's series ‘Dark Clouds’ and ‘Traces’, for which he photographed in various Chinese provinces.

‘Dark Clouds’ depicts daily life in the Chinese coal industry. Steel and coke plants form the backdrop against which Teh captures still images that feel far from realistic. In other photographs, Teh employs a more dynamic visual language; he focuses on workers who seek relaxation after work in a café or during a game of billiards.

In five monumental photographs from the series ‘Traces’, Teh explores the sparsely populated landscapes of China’s inland hinterland. These poor provinces were once lush and green, but ruthless industrial exploitation has unsettled the region’s ecosystem.

Linfen, once lovingly called the ‘Modern city of fruit and flowers’, no longer does that name justice. In the exhibition, portraits of workers interact with panoramic industrial landscapes.

Format 24 x 30 cm, 64p. Book as new. Still in publisher's foil, with the photos removed.