Morning Sun // Press
| "Untypische Eindrücke der boomenden und sich wandelnden Magacitys Shanghai und Peking" |
| Die Welt, 08/2008 |
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| "Morning Sun wirkt wie eine Insel der Ruhe in Zeiten steter Veränderung". |
| Die Welt, 08/2008 |
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"Schon die normale Buchhandelsausgabe ist empfehlenswert, weil gut gestaltet und verarbeitet; und wer noch einmal 24 Euro drauflegt, der bekommt ein wahrhaft bibliophiles Objekt: Kapiteltrenner aus blutroter Pappe sind mit atemberaubend feinen Stanzungen versehen, die wiederum Teil der folgenden Bildseite wiedergeben. Die feine Ironie der Veredelung liegt darin, dass diese kleinteiligen Ornamente zwar an fernöstliches Kunsthandwerk erinnern, tatsächlich aber ein Hightech-Produkt sind, nämlich ausgeschnitten mittels Laser." |
| Andreas Langen, Photonews 04/08 |
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| "Andreas Körner´s photos are an eye-opener and reveal his almost obsessive love for detail." |
| ARtinvestor, 03/2008 |
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Morning Sun
/// Shanghai – Beijing
Our project illuminates the different facets of two Chinese cities in flux – Shanghai and Peking, both on a path to becoming booming megacities. Thereby, we were not so interested in the spectacular surface: the conspicuous architectural eyesores of the “higher-faster-bigger” modernisation mania. Rather, we were keeping track of our personal perceptions, enjoying chance encounters and discovering life on the fringes, all of which give an insight into the by-products of social change in China. We traced the fine cracks that emerge at the dividing points between tradition and a belief in progress, between state-regimented family and unconstrained consumption. It is a moment of artificiality, reflected in everything. For example, the colourful, paradisiacal billboard panoramas that take the place of actual urban landscape. A projection screen for enthusiasm and motivation, they portray their vision of a bright new world and camouflage the stark landscapes of never-ending building sites.
This is a vision that remains entirely untarnished by Western scepticism, which serves to undermine, with a social conscience, our faith in prosperity and our desire for luxury. In China, you’re still allowed to dream. From Gucci and Prada, to BMW and Nike – everything is achievable. But what do all the young, hopeful Chinese make of this? They are the representatives of a new generation, yearning for adventure and giving a human face to the productive chaos. With euphoria and hope, they throw themselves into what is for them a wholly new world. Everything Western is modern, and is accepted, copied and expanded. Their own culture is disappearing into souvenir shops, is being blended with Kentucky Fried Chicken, and is becoming a global supermarket.
That Shanghai is threatening to sink into the sea under the weight of the skyscrapers, or that Peking will soon be choking through an eleven hour-long rush hour is little more than a marginal concern, if noticed at all. Today, the city is home to over two million cars. Already in 2002, there were 16,782 traffic jams while the average speed of traffic in the city was just 15 km/h. The local population joke that the journey to and from the workplace takes longer than the work itself.
Over the next ten to fifteen years, Shanghai wants to increase its population by five million. It is a Mecca for Western architects, who, stricken with gigantomania, are allowed to play God, as well as contribute to the urban vision of the 21st Century. All those that dare to jump onto this high-speed train will be carried along. We do not know what will happen at the end of this crazy journey, but we know one thing for sure: China will change us all – whether we want it to or not.
As an old Chinese saying goes, “To hurry is a mistake”.
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