Description: The book features dream-space photo collages created by Xu Xiaowei. By combining visual representations of objects and places with ready-made images that randomly appear and disappear in contemporary Chinese society, the artist reinvents his memories. The artwork reflects the personal turmoil experienced in the face of rapid changes in Chinese society. Through non-linear and fragmentary stories that unfold in a dystopian fantasy world that is both pre-modern and post-industrial, the artist tries to convey this agitation. Using reconstructed photographs, the artist constructs a space of memory that lies somewhere between the tangible and the absurd.
Brief description: Xu Xiaowei is a celebrated Chinese photographer whose surreal, layered compositions capture the dissonant beauty of contemporary existence. Internationally acclaimed, Xu has been honoured with prestigious awards, including Gold in Press/Fashion at the Prix de la Photographie Paris and the Communication Arts Award of Excellence(2017). In 2025, Leica recognised his singular vision, selecting him as the sole Asian artist for their global brand campaign.
Review Quotes: Through his dreamlike photographic collages, Xu Xiaowei brings together objects, places, and images in contemporary China to reconstruct a fragmented memory. His works convey the disorientation caused by the country's rapid transformations in a visual fiction with dystopian overtones. Through these reconstructed photographs, the artist crafts a suspended space between reality and absurdity, where intimate turmoil surfaces without explanation. Fisheye Magazine, France.
'Xiaowei creates the work in a bid to 'reinvent' his memories, reflecting the personal turmoil often experienced in the face of rapid changes in Chinese society. If you'd like a look at some unusual contemporary art photography, this book is certainly a great place to start.' Amateur Photographer. "From film and digital to AI-generated images, Xu Xiaowei has witnessed the transformation of photography technology firsthand. His works blend traditional symbols with futuristic imagery, exploring the paradox of societal development--tradition as the anchor and the future as the sail, both indispensable. He believes that the "irreplaceability" of photography is returning to humanity itself: empathy, emotional flow, and immediate perception are the core elements that machines cannot replicate." Visionaire China by Jessica and Zou Xunxing