Opening at the International Center of Photography in New York on January the 21st, is a solo exhibition by one of China's most innovative contemporary artists, Wang Quingsong.

On view until May the 8th, 2011, 'When Worlds Collide' features both large-scale photographs and video works and is the first U.S. solo show from the Beijing artist.

Initially training as a painter at the Sichuan Academy of Fine Art, Wang Qingsong turned to photography in the late 1990s in order to convey a distinctive and often acerbic vision of Chinese society during the country's current economic boom.

Working in the manner of a film director, he stages elaborate scenes involving dozens of models on enormous stages. His large-scale colour photographs combine references to classic Chinese art with ironic nods to China's new material wealth and rapidly growing consumer culture.

Curated by Christopher Phillips, the exhibition will include approximately fifteen of Wang Qingsong's photo works, as well as a screening room featuring a selection of his recent videos.

In addition, a series of documentary videos will allow visitors to follow step-by-step the artist's production of several of the major works that will be on view.