A formidable new wave of Chinese musicians is taking Beijing by storm. Revolving around four venues spread across the city, a burgeoning group of performers are working outside government-controlled media channels, and in the process, capturing the attention of the international music community. They now constitute a fresh, independent voice in a country renowned for creative conformity and saccharine Cantonese pop. In Sound Kapital, photographer Matthew Niederhauser captures the energy of the personalities and performers at D-22, Yugong Yishan, 2 Kolegas, and Mao Livehouse. These revolutionary Beijing nightclubs remain at the core of the city’s creative explosion by hosting an eclectic mix of punk, experimental, rock, and folk performances. There is no doubt that these musicians will continue to break ground within Beijing’s nascent artistic landscape, helping to push the boundaries of an already expanding realm of independent thought and musical expression in China.

This exhibition celebrates the publication of Sound Kapital: Beijing’s Music Underground (Powerhouse Books, 2009). Copies of Sound Kapital are available through Govinda Gallery. Original limited edition prints of Matthew Niederhauser’s photographs are available, for the first time, to collectors through the gallery.

Matthew Niederhauser will be attending the opening and signing copies of Sound Kapital.