Iconic China

Luca Campigotto's journey in China begins with a search for a mythical past and arrives at the chaotic present of the megacities.

The photographs collected in 'Iconic China' present an image of the soul of a country in which extraordinary futuristic skylines of cities projected into the future blend with traditions and atmospheres that stretch back thousands of years: the silences and the remoteness of the Great Wall; the archaeological miracle of the unearthed terracotta army; the ancient quietness of the rivers in the south; the dazzling whirlwind of unstoppable urbanisation.

Campigotto's large-format images transform themselves from view to vision: the classic and contemplative look borrowed from great nineteenth-century photography comes to terms with the contemporary world, immersing itself in the colours of the urban night. The precision of the compositions-always imbued with references to paintings and the cinema-and a skilful use of light, bring order to the vastness and complexity of the scene.