The show, co-presented by Fotografiska and the London-based KT Wong Foundation, was founded on an awareness of how the rich, diverse contemporary art and cultural scenes in Africa have yet to be discovered to the Chinese public.

"Over the years, I have seen the huge development and progress Africa has gone through, with the help obviously of China. But I have noted that there is still not that much understanding about China's culture in Africa, and vice versa," said Lady Linda Wong Davies, founder, and chair of the KT Wong Foundation, who has had a home in Africa for 30 years.

Hence, Davies, a philanthropist and art patron of Chinese descent, decided to initiate and create an exhibition of African photography in China, which she sees as "the easiest and fastest way" to show the Chinese audience what contemporary Africa, beyond animals and starving children, really is.