China crisis

Like the rest of his generation, artist Weng Fen is experiencing first hand a cultural revolution in his native China. And with this comes a whole new set of cultural ideals - global values and trends subsumed by the country - which Fen treats with distinct scepticism. He photographs a family unit proudly achieving their aspirations - to be healthy, educated, successful, fashionable - in other words, to be the perfect modern family. And yet there is something lacking. They are a prototype family. Their stony expressions and rigid poses render the whole thing ridiculous, impersonal and ultimately unfulfilling. For Fen, at least, it seems that new generation China is not all it's cracked up to be.
Holly Kyte