Place and community are explored in Andi Schmied’s ‘Jing Jin City’ series about a largely unpopulated Chinese development an hour from Bejing and Sofia Valiente’s ‘Miracle Village’ that connects with the individual aspect of sex offenders ostracized from society.
Developed in 2002 and considered a ‘new city’, the three thousand luxury villas and entertainment complexes of Jing Jin form the background to Schmied’s photographs that document how aspirations often run dry. Valiente’s series hits a more controversial tone. By befriending some of the sex offenders who live in the specially created community of Miracle Village - legislation doesn’t allow them to live in close proximity to children – Valiente captures the lives of those struggling to start over.