m97 Gallery is pleased to present "Document / Portrait", a group exhibition with works by 12 established as well as emerging photographers living or working in China. "Document / Portrait" will open on September 4, 2007, and there will be an opening reception for the artists on Saturday, September 8, 2007 at 5pm. "Document / Portrait" is a broad look at a diverse range of photographic styles and subject matter depicting the many faces and facets of China each illustrating various aspects of modern Chinese society all through the genre of portraiture. Both urban and rural realities are explored, and traditional Chinese ethnic and cultural symbols are seen alongside documents of China's ever-expanding and often anonymous urban centers. As a cornerstone of photography and painting, the "portrait" has always been approached by artists not only to illustrate a person's appearance, but more often to capture the intangibles of a person's spirit, sentiment, or soul. As a fundamental element of photography, the role of the photograph as a "document" allows the viewer to explore a particular person, place or issue. Working in different regions of China, each participating photographer brings a unique style and point of view focusing on various elements of China's fast-changing society. From Chengdu, Guizhou and Guangzhou to Shanghai and Beijing, "Document / Portrait" explores the many sides and many faces of modern China, at times acting as a true document of a people and a place, but more often than not also illustrating how the individual photographer views and relates to the social and cultural world that their work addresses.