The speed of change in technology, architecture, industry, and lifestyle in China has been matched by extraordinary developments in the arts. Embracing modern technologies and a widespread openness to the history of Western art has combined with Chinese traditions and concerns to forge new forms of expression. The authors examine the different modes of production, artist groups, market systems, and infrastructures that shape artistic production in China and make it unique in today's world. With Chinese art now increasingly dominant in auction houses and exhibition spaces across the globe, The Real Thing is a vital guide for all those interested in Chinese art today. This first extensive survey of 21st-century Chinese art includes works by Xu Zhen, Wang Gongxin, Zhou Xiaohu and, Geng Jianyi, among others; each artist has contributed their own designs and art over 5 or 6 pages, creating a unique collection of works.