For the Shenzhen Biennale 2009, curated by Ou Ning, Charlie Koolhaas exhibited a series of 150 photographs of Lagos, Nigeria, and Dubai, UAE, on a single lightbox.

On the left-hand side are images of Lagos; on the right are images of Dubai. These combinations show contrasts – for example in wealth and lifestyle – and also connections and similarities – in forms and cultural influences. Individually these images show details but when paired together they point to a larger global system and demonstrate the interrelatedness of two different continents.