SHANGHAI CORNERS

I've been living in Shanghai for several years and have been exploring the city extensively, photographically documenting the architecture of the old neighborhoods and the new areas where people now gather. From these photos I have been creating a series of linocut prints that attempt to capture the essence of life in Shanghai.

Shanghai is a vibrant urban community, whose architecture and lifestyle remained relatively static from the early to late 20th century. Its old architecture is uniquely international in its designs, mostly combining Art Deco and British style rowhouses with Chinese designs. The Shikumen, or stone gate house, is uniquely Shanghaiese and the accompanying lanes formed tight knit communities inside city blocks. The recent, rapid modernizations of the city has seen most of the old residential neighborhoods and lively accompanying commercial areas disappear. While some of these residential areas have been revitalized, most are now gone.

Longhua Pagoda, a black and white linoleum block
print depicting the pagoda at Longhua Temple in Shanghai by artist Nicholas Brown.

Longhua Pagoda
linoleum block print
image: 12" x 9" (30.5cm x 23cm), paper: 15" x 11" (38cm x 28cm)
edition of 100
©2024 All rights reserved.

Wukang Moments, a black and white linoleum block
print of a scene in front of the Wukang Mansion / Normandie Apartments in Shanghai by artist Nicholas Brown.

Wukang Moments
linoleum block print
image: 12" x 9" (30.5cm x 23cm), paper: 15" x 11" (38cm x 28cm)
edition of 100
©2024 All rights reserved.

Afternoon on Anfu Lu, a black and white linoleum block
print of a scene on Anfu Road in Shanghai by artist Nicholas Brown.

Afternoon on Anfu Lu
linoleum block print
image: 12" x 9" (30.5cm x 23cm), paper: 15" x 11" (38cm x 28cm)
edition of 100
©2024 All rights reserved.

Shanghai Starbucks Roastery, a black and white linoleum block
print of the Starbucks Roastery in Shanghai by artist Nicholas Brown.

Shanghai Starbucks Roastery
linoleum block print
image: 12" x 9" (30.5cm x 23cm), paper: 15" x 11" (38cm x 28cm)
edition of 100
©2024 All rights reserved.

Wisdom Longevity & Prosperity, a black and white linoleum block
print of the fountain in Xiantindi in Shanghai by artist Nicholas Brown.

Wisdom, Longevity
& Prosperity 1
linoleum block print
image: 12" x 9" (30.5cm x 23cm), paper: 15" x 11" (38cm x 28cm)
edition of 100
©2024 All rights reserved.

A Lilong Long Gone, a black and white linoleum block
print of a scene inside a Shikumen neighborhood in Shanghai by artist Nicholas Brown.

A Lilong Long Gone
linoleum block print
image: 12" x 9" (30.5cm x 23cm), paper: 15" x 11" (38cm x 28cm)
edition of 100
©2023 All rights reserved.

Anfu Lu Stroll, a black and white linoleum block
print of a scene on Anfu Road in Shanghai by artist Nicholas Brown.

Anfu Lu Stroll
linoleum block print
image: 12" x 9" (30.5cm x 23cm), paper: 15" x 11" (38cm x 28cm)
edition of 75
©2023 All rights reserved.

Cité Bourgogne, a black and white linoleum block
print depicting the front gate of the Cité Bourgogne neighborhood in Shanghai by artist Nicholas Brown.

Cité Bourgogne Promenade
linoleum block print
image: 12" x 9" (30.5cm x 23cm), paper: 15" x 11" (38cm x 28cm)
edition of 100
©2023 All rights reserved.

Egg, a black and white linoleum block
print of the front of the Egg cafe in Shanghai by artist Nicholas Brown.

Egg
linoleum block print
image: 12" x 9" (30.5cm x 23cm), paper: 15" x 11" (38cm x 28cm)
edition of 75
©2023 All rights reserved.

Jiahan Lu Za Huo Dian, a black and white linoleum block
print of a shop and looking down Jiashan Road in Shanghai by artist Nicholas Brown.

Jiashan Lu Za Huo Dian
linoleum block print
image: 12" x 9" (30.5cm x 23cm), paper: 15" x 11" (38cm x 28cm)
edition of 100
©2023 All rights reserved.

Back to the Bund, a black and white linoleum block
print of a scene on the Bund with the Pudong skyline in the background in Shanghai by artist Nicholas Brown.

Back to the Bund
linoleum block print
image: 12" x 9" (30.5cm x 23cm), paper: 15" x 11" (38cm x 28cm)
edition of 100
©2022 All rights reserved.

Fangbang Lu, a black and white linoleum block
print of a shikumen house on Fangbang Road in Shanghai by artist Nicholas Brown.

Fangbang Lu
linoleum block print
image: 12" x 9" (30.5cm x 23cm), paper: 15" x 11" (38cm x 28cm)
edition of 75
©2022 All rights reserved.

Jianbing Corner, a black and white linoleum block
print of a scene dipicting a jianbing shop on the corner of Yongkang and Xiangyang Roads in Shanghai by artist Nicholas Brown.

Jianbing Corner
linoleum block print
image: 12" x 9" (30.5cm x 23cm), paper: 15" x 11" (38cm x 28cm)
edition of 100
©2022 All rights reserved.

Jiashan Lu Fish Market, a black and white linoleum block
print depicting a fish market and several other shops on Jiashan Road in Shanghai by artist Nicholas Brown.

Jiashan Fish Market
linoleum block print
image: 12" x 9" (30.5cm x 23cm), paper: 15" x 11" (38cm x 28cm)
edition of 100
©2022 All rights reserved.

Jiqing Li, a black and white linoleum block
print of a scene inside the Jiqing Li neighborhood in Shanghai by artist Nicholas Brown.

Jiqing Li
linoleum block print
image: 12" x 9" (30.5cm x 23cm), paper: 15" x 11" (38cm x 28cm)
edition of 100
©2022 All rights reserved.

Shanghai Stroll, a black and white linoleum block
print of a scene inside a shikumen neighborhood in Shanghai by artist Nicholas Brown.

Shanghai Stroll
linoleum block print
image: 12" x 9" (30.5cm x 23cm), paper: 15" x 11" (38cm x 28cm)
edition of 100
©2022 All rights reserved.

Shikumen Home, a black and white linoleum block
print of a scene inside a shikumen neighborhood in Shanghai by artist Nicholas Brown.

Shikumen Home
linoleum block print
image: 12" x 9" (30.5cm x 23cm), paper: 15" x 11" (38cm x 28cm)
edition of 100
©2022 All rights reserved.

View Over Yongkang, a black and white linoleum block
print depicting the view from the Ming Yuan apartments looking south over Yongkang road in Shanghai by artist Nicholas Brown.

Xima Jie, a black and white linoleum block
print depicting a shikumen building with a small balcony on Xima Street in Shanghai by artist Nicholas Brown.

Wenmiao Lu Shikumen, a black and white linoleum block
print depicting a shikumen house on Wenmiao Road in Shanghai by artist Nicholas Brown.

Yongkang Queue 2022, a black and white linoleum block
print depicting waiting in line for their covid test on Yongkang Road during the pandemic in Shanghai by artist Nicholas Brown.

Yongkang Stroll, a black and white linoleum block
print of looking down Yongkang Road in Shanghai by artist Nicholas Brown.

Yulin Lu, a black and white linoleum block
print of a butcher shop in an old building in the Hongkou neighborhood of Shanghai by artist Nicholas Brown.

Zhangjia Long, a black and white linoleum block
print looking down Zhangjia Alley between IAPM and Middle Fuxing Road in Shanghai by artist Nicholas Brown.

Jiashan Lu, a black and white linoleum block
print of a scene on Jiashan Road in Shanghai by artist Nicholas Brown.

Jiashan Lu
linoleum block print
image: 12" x 9" (30.5cm x 23cm), paper: 15" x 11" (38cm x 28cm)
edition of 50
©2020 All rights reserved.

Tina's Unny Shop, a black and white linoleum block
print the Sunny Jadite shop on Fangbang Road at Yuan Garden in Shanghai by artist Nicholas Brown.

Tina's Sunny Shop
linoleum block print
image: 12" x 9" (30.5cm x 23cm), paper: 15" x 11" (38cm x 28cm)
edition of 60
©2019 All rights reserved.