Rong Rong
Rong Rong (China, 1968) is a contemporary photographer renowned for his evocative black-and-white images documenting Beijing's East Village art scene in the 1990s. His work captures the raw essence of urban transformation and the avant-garde performances of that era. In 2007, he co-founded the Three Shadows Photography Art Centre in Beijing, China's first institution dedicated to contemporary photography.

What is East Village Art?
In 1981, Patti Astor opened the first art gallery in New York City's East Village, helping to launch the careers of various artists and musicians. The gallery started small but quickly gained popularity, contributing to the emergence of art movements such as Neo-Expressionism and Street Art in the area. The East Village became a hub for these new artistic expressions. However, the gallery closed in 1985 due to waning interest.