The hidden truth of existing visual culture as the creative force driving contemporary urban planning of the world and photography reaching beyond the documentary aspects of the medium.

Now that advertising equals models equals planning equals reality, it’s the transformation of authenticity and it’s manifestations that is more truthful to the human condition than the objects it depicts. That is, the non-human scale of the global city, zapping through the diversity of the subject matter, aesthetically pleasing or ‘problematically beautiful’, seemingly devoid of human presence.

It is in the creation of SimCity, a plausible and at many times disruptive microcosm of our contemporary existence. It is both now and here, we recognise it, we relate to it and we live it. If it is a document, than one time rather than place.

Part of the program is a round table discussion Imagingin the Future with Ma Yansong (architect), Martijn the Geus (Professor of Architecture and Technology of Xinhua University), Lin Tong (Professor of Photography of CAFA Beijing), Bas Vroege (Paradox) and myself, hosted by Jingya Li of the Department of Architecture and Design of Beijing Jiaotong University.