Aftershock is a new exhibition of contemporary British art selected especially for China which the British Council is presenting in Guangzhou and Beijing. It provides audiences with the first opportunity to see major works by 12 of the most significant artists of the generation which came to prominence during the early-mid 1990s, a period which saw British art re-emerge as a dominant force on the world stage. Spanning the years 1990-2006, Aftershock will tell the story of how Britain experienced a revolution in contemporary art. During this period art became a hotly debated topic in the media as young artists injected glamour into the British art world; the art market flourished and audiences for contemporary exhibitions multiplied, culminating in the phenomenal success of Tate Modern, London's first museum of international modern art which opened in 2000.The title of the exhibition refers to this recent legacy and its ongoing effect. It also reflects the fact that a decade on, despite shifting political and social change, the work of the 12 selected artists retains the power and authority to contribute to contemporary debate, and to this end the exhibition includes both iconic works from the 1990s and new work made in the past year.Aftershock will provide a focus for discussion and debate as audiences in China are invited to engage in the success story of contemporary British art and how this cultural transformation has had a significant influence on the international art scene. A fully illustrated catalogue will be published to accompany the exhibition, and a programme of lectures and supplementary activities will be organised in conjunction with the showings in Guangzhou and Beijing.