Hong Jian Paints Vanishing Shanghai Architecture

Artist Hong Jian documents Shanghai's disappearing historic buildings through detailed paintings, capturing both architectural features and the stories of residents. His work focuses on the city's rapid urban transformation, preserving visual records of structures slated for demolition. The paintings depict not just facades but also interior details and personal artifacts, offering a layered view of Shanghai's evolving urban fabric. Hong Jian has been engaged in this project for over a decade, amassing hundreds of works that chronicle neighborhoods like the old city and former French Concession. His practice combines artistic documentation with historical preservation, as many of the buildings he paints no longer exist. The project highlights tensions between development and heritage in one of China's fastest-changing cities.