SAN FRANCISCO, CA.- Corden|Potts Gallery is presenting Asian Markets, a series of new photographs by Peter Steinhauer. The exhibit runs from July 24 through September 16.

While Asian markets generally serve similar purposes, they are unique in the way each is woven deep into the fabric of the culture where it exists. For decades, or even centuries, markets have been a focal point for people of villages and cities to obtain food as well as transact various forms of trade but, almost equally important, they have been places for socializing. The markets are bustling and full of energy with people moving everywhere, talking, laughing and yelling prices back and forth while moving boxes and crates. There is the ever-present sound of knives hitting chopping blocks, cutting meat or fish and the clanking of metal scales. The sounds of a market can be overwhelming and, yet, are part of the total experience.

For the last year, Peter Steinhauer has been traveling to the central markets of Asia in an attempt to capture each market’s continuously throbbing heartbeat and exciting atmosphere. He has accomplished this with his stunning large-format photographs, which are accompanied by sound clips recorded in the markets where he made his photos.

The sounds are available as an app that gallery visitors can download to their phones and listen to while they view the exhibit. These sounds present the cacophonous, dynamic atmosphere particular to certain markets to provide visitors with a more complete appreciation of the true Asian market experience.

Each image is taken from the same vantage point–8 feet off the ground–giving the viewer a unique perspective to view the markets. Initially, the viewer’s eye is drawn to the bottom half of the image where all the “action” is. Then once viewers have a feel for the chaotic scene unfolding, their eyes are able move to the top half, which shows the unique structure of the building where each market is housed.

With the increasing development of Asia, the land where these markets are located has become more and more valuable. As a result the markets are fast disappearing, being torn down to make way for large apartment complexes or corporate business towers that will yield far more profit for the city.

In this ambitious project, Steinhauer presents the essence and energy of these Asian cultural centers.