By: MELISSA BOODOO
Overpopulation is the environment’s inability to support the existing population of humans or other living things.
In my project entitled ‘Over Populated‘, I examine China’s never-ending economic growth through the exploration of colors and architecture. We are able to see a unique insight into their adaptation to the living conditions in which the populace exist. The colors emphasize what would usually be a gruesome reality for most, into something strangely visually appealing. It makes you question what reality really lay behind these overtly decorated architectural walls and if they are just a facade for something much worse. However, what pretty shapes and colors can’t hide forever are the apparent growing numbers.
In my recent visit to China, I was interested in examining and documenting this issue for myself.
The growth of China’s urban population is impressively frightening. For several decades now, it has rightfully earned the reputation of being the most heavily populated country in the world, with its current population topping 1.377 billion people.
The government has implemented multiple rigorous population controls, such as the one-child policy, where families were limited to only having one child after obtaining the rightful birth certificate before the birth of their child. Despite those efforts, the population continues to grow. This made me wonder; how is the rising population affecting living condition in the country?
I found it is getting increasingly difficult to find practical accommodations for people and families to live in, especially in urban cities. On a daily basis, locals face degradation of land and natural resources, harmful populations and pernicious conditions, forcing residents to adapt to such inhumane conditions. In a Wall Street Journal, research firm Dragonomics, estimate that some of the 50 million of China’s 230 million urban households live in a substandard quarters that measure up to be the size of a parking space – most even lacking their own toilet and kitchen. The firm further estimates that in order to keep up, China will have to build 10 million apartments a year until 2030.
As more buildings and structures continue to materialize, it is apparent that the main concern the government has is containing their people over finding effective solutions. They are sacrificing the aspirations of this generation to sustain this upsurge. Consequently, the practicality of a basic living has merely become something unheard of, rather than a way of life.
You can’t hide behind your pretty shapes and colors forever, China. Especially when you have over 1.3 billion people at your doorsteps.
