Thames Town

Situated just outside Shanghai, Thames Town is a gated community designed in the style of an English village. With China constantly in a state of change and with construction booming, this is one of many new developments that have sprung up on the outskirts of large cities.

Thames Town in 2008 was eerily void of any people — apart from a few security guards in ill-fitting uniforms. The shops were empty, their window displays faded and fallen apart from lack of care. These are images of a full-scale model town. Is it a ghost town with a history? Does it await a vibrant future? Has something just happened or is something about to?

About the Artist:

Liz and Max Haarala Hamilton are London based professional photographers. Liz was born and grew up in Finland and Max in Oxford, England. They met at Camberwell college of Arts in 1997 where they studied photography and spent many hours in the darkroom together. Some years later they started collaborating on commercial portraits, editorial photography and fine art projects.

Liz and Max travel as much as possible for their photography, but are also working on a number of long-term projects in London. Their work has been exhibited both in the UK and abroad and has been short-listed for various awards such as the Fuji Film Distinctions Award, AOP Open and the Foto8 Summer Show.