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Photographs that contain scenes of buildings would generally be considered as a generic tool for memory or photographic record to most of us. To So Hing-keung, however, it can be an effective medium of art for communicating his feelings about our city.
Excellent in mastering post photographic manipulation, So Hing-keung is able to produce photographs which have two-dimensional and three-dimensional elements tactfully mixed and foreground and background interplayed to reveal a new perspective of the geographic environment of Hong Kong and explore a complex sense of space.
If you wish to further explore So Hing-keung's unique photographic art, go and visit the Exhibition Hall of Hong Kong Film Archive between tomorrow (January 29) and February 26. Over 30 works by So will be featured at an exhibition entitled "Reconstructing a City: Photography by So Hing-keung".
Hong Kong is undoubtedly a city with small space. The intense pressure and tension caused by the competition for space between lives and buildings have intrigued So in his photographic exploration which in result delivers new perspectives of our living environment through his works, and this is where the theme of the exhibition "Reconstructing a City" comes from. By means of post photographic manipulation, So is especially fond of mixing images of plants and buildings which can always inspire viewers to re-think the relationships between lives and their environment.
So has been practising photography for more than a decade and has long been deviated from usual photo-taking style. It is So's practice to give his works a further dimension with the application of various forms of post photographic manipulation, such as double exposure, superimposition, chemical and physical manipulation of negatives and positives, collage, direct sketching and scratching, in expression of his heartfelt feelings towards the city. For example, the use of double exposure showing both the images of plants and buildings in one single photo is a way to express a competition for living space; the application of scratching is the artist's way to demonstrate dissatisfaction towards the reality and an expression of anger; coloring a new photo in brown-yellow creates an obsolete sense, thus soliciting viewers' thought in respect of the value of an existing object and its future.
"Reconstructing a City: Photography by So Hing-keung" is the second solo exhibition organised by the Art Promotion Office (APO) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department under the Artists in the Neighbourhood Scheme. The Scheme is also a partnership project with the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) Corporation aiming at promoting local visual arts and bringing to the community high-quality local art exhibitions, thus achieving the purpose of "art-in-the-neighbourhood".
To facilitate groups and schools visits, free-guided tours will be organised by the APO for the "Reconstructing a City: Photography by So Hing-keung" exhibition. Interested parties may contact the Community Art Team of the APO on 2521 3008. Those who wish to share So's experience of artistic creation are welcome to visit the website at http://www.artistneighbourhood.info/.
Hong Kong Film Archive is situated at 50 Lei King Road, Sai Wan Ho. Its exhibition hall opens from 10 am to 8 pm daily and closes on every Thursday (expect public holidays) and the first two days of the Lunar New Year. Admission is free.
End/Tuesday, January 28, 2003
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