upcoming new york exhibition evolution showcases the work of yang zhang, a renowned director of documentaries about china’s underground music. marking the first time yang’s artworks go on display in the US, the show brings together films and photographs from the past two decades that offer a glimpse into the country’s underground scene, and capture the survival and growth of the musicians that make it.

yang zhang captures china's underground music scene in films and photographsyang zhang, miserable faith: no! (不), 1999, archival inkjet print, 40 x 28 in (101.6 x 71.5cm), ©2018 yang zhang, all rights reserved

 

 

a musician himself, yang zhang began to document aspects of china’s underground music scene in a time when society did not pay any attention to non-mainstream genres. his films have become synonymous to the passion of the country’s young generation, while they also serve as windows, through which people can witness the true nature of underground music.

yang zhang captures china's underground music scene in films and photographs - 1screenshots via yang zhang’s latest documentary china youth today

 

 

curated by xiaojuan xie, the evolution exhibition brings together two documentaries, post-revolutionary era​​ (1997-2002) and china youth today (2015 and 2017), which will be shown for the first time, along with 21 pieces of related photography artworks. shot almost two decades ago, post-revolutionary era captured the persevering spirits of the struggling underground musicians in beijing at the time, as well as their unshakable faith in their pursue of music. the documentary was regarded to be the best representation of china’s underground rock & roll community in the early 21st century, despite its temporary suspension of international release between 2002 and 2004. edited by yang’s sister in 2001, the film condenses 5,000 hours of video footage the artist shot while working and living with local rock & roll bands and musicians in shucun, the central hub of beijing’s underground music community.

yang zhang captures china's underground music scene in films and photographs - 2

 

 

premiering during the evolution exhibition, china youth today follows the tracks of chinese rock & roll band miserable faith, which was also featured in ​post-revolutionary era. capturing the way the band has evolved and matured over the years, the film highlights their shift from aggression and cynicism to a more people-oriented approach. the name, ​china youth today, encompasses a vision that yang and the miserable faith share, in which people can remain true to their original aspirations and work together to solve common problems under a difficult macro-environment.

 

 

evolution is on at 333 5th, # 4F, new york, from 16 to 22 november 2018. the exhibition is produced by yiwei zhang, organized by ning wang, and sponsored by ning gallery.

yang zhang captures china's underground music scene in films and photographs - 3 yang zhang captures china's underground music scene in films and photographs - 4 

 

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: sofia lekka angelopoulou | designboom