8 August, 2014
(Press release is sent by Cultural Connections on behalf of the Hong Kong International Photo Festival.)
Hong Kong International Photo Festival – Art Photography Biennial Celebration
International Collections from World-renowned Masterpieces
to Women Photography on Oppression
Local Perspective from a Historical Chapter to a Survey of Contemporary Creations
(8 August, 2014) The much looked-forward biennial festival and single most important event in the field of art photography in town, “Hong Kong International Photo Festival” will be held from September to October 2014. With the great successes from the previous editions such as “Reflection and Refraction Daido Moriyama” (2012) and “First Photographs of Hong Kong” (2010), Hong Kong International Photo Festival 2014 (HKIPF 2014) is widely anticipated by local photography lovers and the arts and culture industry. The Festival announced details of this year’s programmes today at their press conference.
The overarching motif of HKIPF 2014, “Now Becoming Then”, illustrates the idea that through photography moments from the past could be captured and revisited. Mr. Alfred Ko said in his welcoming speech, “‘Now Becoming Then’ highlights how the nature of photography enables human beings to transcend time and space.”
Four Thematic Exhibitions Spanning a Wide Geographical and Temporal Spectrum
With such a theme in mind, the festival is proud to present four major exhibitions which falls under four different categories: “Works by Master”, “Asian Vision”, “In Search of Both Regions” and “Hong Kong Contemporary”. At the press conference, the curators introduced the content of the exhibitions as well as offering a glimpse of a few works that will be exhibited.
1. “Works by Master” – In Light of India: Photography by Raghu Rai
World-renowned Indian photographer Raghu Rai is one of the very few Asian members of Magnum Photos. Through his lenses, multi-layered and intense images of the old and new India are captured.
2. “Asian Vision” – Voice of Tacitness: Asian Women Photography
A collection from women photographers from over ten developing countries across Asia, ranging from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan to Armenia, who strived to use their cameras to record and illustrate the injustice in women’s lives from their countries under great repression.
3. “In Search of Both Regions” – Tradition/anti-Tradition: Departed from Hong Kong “Photo Pictorial” Magazine…
Through the retrospect of Hong Kong Photo Pictorial which was first published fifty years ago, “Photo Pictorial” is the only local photography magazine that could be circulated to Mainland China. With its 16-page insert showcasing the avant-garde photography of Hong Kong, the magazine has influenced local and Mainland photographers across generations.
4. “Hong Kong Contemporary” – Twin Peaks: Contemporary Hong Kong Photography
Eight local photographers each showcase two outstanding series of works, which demonstrates the brilliant and a wide range of practices in Hong Kong photography.
Talks by Renowned Masters and Rich Programmes of the HKIPF Flare
Apart from the four major exhibitions, there will be two master talks. Martin Parr, also a Magnum photographer, is famous for his satirical, humorous social documentary. He will discuss his long career in photography and explains changes in his practices over time. Ven. Chang Lin, previously the renowned portrait photographer Alain Yip, will share his philosophy of “Zen in photography” after embracing his monastic life.
The always popular “Hong Kong International Photo Festival Flare” comprises a series of exciting activities at the Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre, such as the Flea Market in which everyone hunts for their best loved second-hand cameras, and five mini exhibitions plus more talks and workshops.
The Festival also joins forces with other organisations in presenting three “Collaborative Exhibitions”. Ten other organisations will participate in the Festival’s “Collateral Events”, and there will also be a dozen of “Line-up Events”. During the two-month Festival period, photography exhibitions and activities will be spread across the territory, in the hope of fostering a photographic atmosphere in the city and promoting the art of photography.
Appendix 1: Hong Kong International Photo Festival 2014 Programme Highlights
| Date | Venue | Time | |
| In Light of India: Photography by Raghu Rai | 28 Aug – 21 Sept | ArtisTree, Taikoo Place | 10:00 – 20:00 Admission Free |
| Master Talk by Martin Parr | 7 Sept | Lecture Theatre, Hong Kong Central Library | 19:00 – 20:00 |
| Tradition/anti-Tradition: Departed from Hong Kong “Photo Pictorial” Magazine… | 13 Sept – 26 Oct | HKDI Gallery, Hong Kong Design Institute | 10:00 – 20:00 Admission Free Closed every Tue |
| Twin Peaks: Contemporary Hong Kong Photography | 4 Oct – 3 Nov | 1/F, Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Shatin | 10:00 – 18:00 (Mon, Wed to Fri) 10:00 – 19:00 (Sat and Sun) Closed every Tue |
| Hong Kong International Photo Festival Flare | 4 Oct – 31 Oct | Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre* | |
| Voice of Tacitness: Asian Women Photography | 19 Oct – 2 Nov | Pao Galleries, Hong Kong Arts Centre | 10:00 – 20:00 Admission Free |
| “From a Photographer to a Monk” – Master Talk by Ven. Chang Lin | 25 Oct | Y-Theatre, Youth Square, Chai Wan | 20:00 – 22:00 |
* Some events will be held at other venues, for further details please refer to the announcements on the website of HKIPF2014 (www.hkipf.org.hk).
Appendix Two: About the Highlighted Programmes
For more high-res photos: http://goo.gl/1TimQ7
In Light of India: Photography by Raghu Rai
Traffic at Chawri Bazar, Delhi, 1964
Mother Teresa in Her Prayer, Kolkata, 1995
“In Light of India: Photography by Raghu Rai” features 100 works by renowned Indian photographer and photojournalist Raghu Rai. Impressed by an exhibit of his work in Paris in 1971, Henri Cartier-Bresson nominated Rai to join Magnum Photos in 1977. By capturing a complex and multi-layer spectacle before the artist’s eyes, India was portrayed as
a multi-layer and culturally diverse country. Rai’s works convey an awe-inspiring impression of “seeing a world in a grain of sand”.
Curator:
Leon Suen
Tradition/anti-Tradition: Departed from Hong Kong “Photo Pictorial” Magazine…
Hei Ming, “Yin Ren” (1959) and “Yin Ren” (2009)
Through the retrospect of Hong Kong “Photo Pictorial” which was first published fifty years ago, this exhibition endeavors to examine the transformation of photography in Hong Kong and Mainland China in the last half a century. By observing and comparing the works of photographers from the two regions, we can find similarities and differences on the ideas and topics of the images as well as the mutual influence between two regions. All participating photographers are leading figures of their generations. A review of their early and recent works allows us to grasp the changes in their expression formats and concepts.
Curator:
Joseph Fung
Participating Artists (Hong Kong):
Chak Wai Leung, Chung Man Lurk, Kan Hing Fook, Alfred Ko Chi Keung, Lau Ching Ping, Lee Ka Sing, Leong Ka Tai, Mak Fung, Tchan Fou Li, Holly Wong, Blues Wong Kai Yu, Leo K.K. Wong, Wong Wo Bik, Yau Leung, Vincent Yu Wai Kin
Participating Artists (Mainland China):
An Ge, Bao Kun, Gu Zheng, He Yanguang, Hei Ming, Hu Wugong, Li Jiejun, Liu Yang, Liu Zheng, Lu Yuan Min, Mo Yi, Rong Rong, Wang Miao, Wang Wenlan, Yong He
Twin Peaks: Contemporary Hong Kong Photography
Ng Sai Kit, work from the “here, once, I , happen to see” series, 1992.
Ng Sai Kit, work from the “Re-Representing Scenery” series, 2013.
Through two series of works by each of the eight selected active local photographers or groups, this exhibition seeks to showcase some of the very outstanding works in Hong Kong photography and art, and certain tendencies underlying their growth and developments.
The photographers or artists are selected because of their remarkable achievements and active involvement in Hong Kong photography art circle and with certain conceptual categories such as “then and now”, “medium and approach”, “professional and personal”, etc., in the hope that the exhibition will bring out the very brilliant, and at the same time a wide range of practices in Hong Kong photography.
Curators:
Dr. Edwin K. Lai
Blues Wong Kai Yu
Ho Chun Yu, Jerry
Participating Artists:
Anothermountainman
Martin Cheung & Topaz Leung
Almond Chu
Joseph Fung
Ng Sai Kit
Ringo Tang
Leo K. K. Wong
Vincent Yu
Voice of Tacitness: Asian Women Photography
Laura Boushnak, work from the “I Read I Write: Yemen – Access to Education”
Phyu Mon, work from the “Hope”
The curatorial blueprint of “Voice of Tacitness” focuses on the cutting-edge creativity and generous humanism demonstrated in the artists’ creation. It introduces the works of 13 female photographers from 11 Asian countries where women’s freedom of expression is restricted due to gender inequality; sometimes even their personal safety is at risk. With differing visual languages and narrative styles, these photographers present an array of works addressing various social issues. Their personal experiences and social scenery are interwoven in these works.
Curatorial Director
Chun Wai
Curators:
Taslima Akhter
Carol Chow Pui Ha
Ellen Leung Hoi Yan
Participating Artists:
Taslima Akhter (Bangladesh)
Nazik Armenakyan (Armenia)
Poulomi Basu (India)
Farida Batool (Pakistan)
Laura Boushnak (Palestine)
Gohar Dashti (Iran)
Rena Effendi (Azerbaijan)
Shadi Ghadirian (Iran)
Farzana Hossen (Bangladesh)
Phyu Mon (Burma)
Sophal Neak (Cambodia)
Kat Palasi (Philippines)
Farzana Wahidy (Afghanistan)
Exhibition Co-ordinator:
Ho Po Shan
Master Talk by Martin Parr
Born in 1952 in Epsom, Surrey (England), Martin Parr is a renowned photographer, president of Magnum Photos, photography book collector and author. Parr is famous for his satirical, humorous social documentary on modern life. He recently won the Honoree in Achievement in Documentary at the Lucie Awards 2014. Hong Kong International Photo Festival joins hands with Blindspot Gallery to present a public talk riding on the opening of Parr’s first solo exhibition in Hong Kong featuring his recent Hong Kong project, alongside selections from two of his iconic past series. In the talk, Parr is going to discuss his long career in photography and explains how both the world of photography and his practice have changed. Also, the signing for the newest art book titled “Hong Kong Parr” will take place after the seminar.
Speaker: Martin Parr
From a Photographer to a Monk
What made Alain Yip, renowned portrait photographer of over three decades, gave up all his worldly assets and embrace monastic life? How has his style of photography changed after he became Ven. Chang Lin? Let us take a look at what “Zen in photography” is all about.
Speaker: Changlin Fashi
Hong Kong International Photo Festival Flare
The Hong Kong International Photo Festival Flare is getting more exciting than ever! Alongside the latest works by multiple =photography groups which cover a variety of buzz topics, there are also seminars that draw almost a hundred attendees, a series of workshops, the annual Photo Equipment Flea Market, as well as the instant photo-taking counter on the L2 Terrace. A mixture of artistic appreciation and causal fun plus loads of surprises! Spend two days with us to check it all out – it’s well worth it!