This series of works includes seven photographs and was accomplished at the swimming pool of the International Hotel rented for this occasion. Yang Fudong's work was inspired by special instants where athletes have part of their body coming out from the water in swimming competitions. In these particular struggling yet inconsequential moments, the artist found a certain beauty, and created this series of photographs presenting young women by a swimming pool.

The International Hotel was one of Shanghai's most exclusive consumption venues in the old days. Today, its aura has faded away and has become a symbol of the old Shanghai, which enjoys a unique position in the history of time and space. The backdrop of these girls' actions, the swimming pool in an old hotel, is apparently unable to connect them with reality. Or put differently, they are separated from the outside world and performing in a decontextualized space, resembling the girls in old Shanghai and advertisements. This work, from an inspiring instant to its realization, constitutes a process of women's “beauty” creation. The International Hotel series is trying to establish a form of imaginary male gaze and to render women that look pleasing to men through this imaginary gaze. It uses a documentary style to capture stills from modern city life. The artist refined it to its most moving elements: swimming pool and women in bathing suits, however, the background was changed, instead of a sports competition it became a leisure game, where women's youth and beauty are tantalizingly shown.