PRINTS: Shanghai Shikumen

I've been living in Shanghai for several years and have been exploring the city extensively, especially the remaining old lane neighborhoods, known as Lilongs or Longtangs. These communities are built around Shikumen houses, or stone gate houses, which are uniquely Shanghainese. The surrounding lanes formed tight knit communities inside city blocks, but the recent, rapid modernizations of the city have seen most of these old residential neighborhoods and lively accompanying commercial areas disappear. While some of these lilongs have been refurbished, most are now gone. From some of the photos I've taken I've been creating this series of linocut prints.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Wenmiao Lu Shikumen, a black and white linoleum block
print depicting a shikumen house on Wenmiao 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.