Hong Kong photographer Lau Chi-Chung's conceptual series "After School" is about the gap between the city's education system and the real lives of its students. Growing up in Hong Kong, "the teacher was the authority," says Lau. "But after leaving school we've taken years to realize that much of what we might've learned is wrong."
Lau Chi-Chung - 'After School' —
Hong Kong photographer Lau Chi-Chung's conceptual series "After School" is about the gap between the city's education system and the real lives of its students. Growing up in Hong Kong, "the teacher was the authority," says Lau. "But after leaving school we've taken years to realize that much of what we might've learned is wrong."
Lau Chi Chung
Currently an university student in Hong Kong, Wingla Wong began taking photos when she was 13, and is interested in merging people with natural landscapes. "If I'm photographing a girl in nature, I see her as a tree or a stone or a wave," she says. "I like looking at things that other people don't really notice."
Wingla Wong —
Currently an university student in Hong Kong, Wingla Wong began taking photos when she was 13, and is interested in merging people with natural landscapes. "If I'm photographing a girl in nature, I see her as a tree or a stone or a wave," she says. "I like looking at things that other people don't really notice."
Wingla Wong
Hong Kong photographer Benny Lam created this series to illustrate the cramped quarters -- sometimes called "shoebox homes" -- for the city's poorest residents. "In the photos you can see the physical space," says Lam, "but if you could experience the smell and the temperature, you would feel like it was hell."
Benny Lam - 'Trapped' —
Hong Kong photographer Benny Lam created this series to illustrate the cramped quarters -- sometimes called "shoebox homes" -- for the city's poorest residents. "In the photos you can see the physical space," says Lam, "but if you could experience the smell and the temperature, you would feel like it was hell."
Benny Lam
As a public housing tenant, Hong Kong photographer Dustin Shum turned his lens on buildings similar to his own home. "We are forced to have an emotional attachment to these buildings, but a lot of them aren't built as a quality home, and inside there are a lot of social problems," says Shum, who is also the founder of The Salt Yard, a local independent art space.
Dustin Shum - 'Blocks' —
As a public housing tenant, Hong Kong photographer Dustin Shum turned his lens on buildings similar to his own home. "We are forced to have an emotional attachment to these buildings, but a lot of them aren't built as a quality home, and inside there are a lot of social problems," says Shum, who is also the founder of The Salt Yard, a local independent art space.
Dustin Shum
Singapore-based photographer Wei Leng Tay created pictures of Hong Kongers inside their homes to "reach out and see what other people were doing with their lives, and how they were handling the spaces and stresses of living in Hong Kong," she says. "The work helps me make sense of... our personal lives and the multiple roles we play."
Wei Leng Tay - 'Hong Kong Living' —
Singapore-based photographer Wei Leng Tay created pictures of Hong Kongers inside their homes to "reach out and see what other people were doing with their lives, and how they were handling the spaces and stresses of living in Hong Kong," she says. "The work helps me make sense of... our personal lives and the multiple roles we play."
Wei Leng Tay
When Hong Kong's massive Occupy protests took over city streets in 2014, Hong Kong photographer Johnny Gin began creating images of demonstrators' homemade barricades as a "vernacular expression of protest culture." For Gin, the structures showed "how adaptive Hong Kong people are, in terms of making the best out of a very bad situation."
Johnny Gin - 'Architecture of Insurgency' —
When Hong Kong's massive Occupy protests took over city streets in 2014, Hong Kong photographer Johnny Gin began creating images of demonstrators' homemade barricades as a "vernacular expression of protest culture." For Gin, the structures showed "how adaptive Hong Kong people are, in terms of making the best out of a very bad situation."
Johnny Gin
"I just go out and walk around by myself and try to catch portraits of people on the street who attract my attention," says Turkish photographer Akif Hakan Celebi, who took this picture in Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Akif Hakan Celebi - 'Kowloon Express' —
"I just go out and walk around by myself and try to catch portraits of people on the street who attract my attention," says Turkish photographer Akif Hakan Celebi, who took this picture in Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Akif Hakan Celebi
Singapore-based photographer captured passengers as they moved through the narrow gaps between Hong Kong's subway trains and and platform doors. The compilation documents "the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong," Chong says.
Weilun Chong - 'Please Mind the Gap' —
Singapore-based photographer captured passengers as they moved through the narrow gaps between Hong Kong's subway trains and and platform doors. The compilation documents "the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong," Chong says.
Weilun Chong
Hong Kong photographer Alfred Ko says his work is motivated by a concern over mankind's "over-materialistic" civilization and its "constant search for untapped resources." A veteran of the city's photography scene, Ko helped found the Hong Kong International Photo Festival seven years ago.
Alfred Ko - 'Slow Decay' —
Hong Kong photographer Alfred Ko says his work is motivated by a concern over mankind's "over-materialistic" civilization and its "constant search for untapped resources." A veteran of the city's photography scene, Ko helped found the Hong Kong International Photo Festival seven years ago.
Alfred Ko
Self-described "amateur photographer" Jonathan van Smit says he initially arrived in Hong Kong from New Zealand with a perspective "some might call Orientalist." Now, his work conveys his anger over the "economic marginalization" of Hong Kong's downtrodden, he says.
Jonathan van Smit - 'City of Dreams' —
Self-described "amateur photographer" Jonathan van Smit says he initially arrived in Hong Kong from New Zealand with a perspective "some might call Orientalist." Now, his work conveys his anger over the "economic marginalization" of Hong Kong's downtrodden, he says.
Jonathan Van Smit
Show co-curator and Hong Kong photographer Tse Mingchong documented the empty roads of downtown Hong Kong as they were blocked off by protesters the 2014 demonstrations. "A viewer can construct their own story about what happened," he says.
Tse Mingchong - 'The Road' —
Show co-curator and Hong Kong photographer Tse Mingchong documented the empty roads of downtown Hong Kong as they were blocked off by protesters the 2014 demonstrations. "A viewer can construct their own story about what happened," he says.
Tse Mingchong
"Two dimensions define the image of Hong Kong: its vertical urbanity and its horizontal conformity to the water," says Germany-based show co-curator and photographer Andres Müller-Pohle. This series, taken half above and half below the water surface, aimed at "bringing these two dimensions together."
Andres Müller-Pohle - 'Hong Kong Waters' —
"Two dimensions define the image of Hong Kong: its vertical urbanity and its horizontal conformity to the water," says Germany-based show co-curator and photographer Andres Müller-Pohle. This series, taken half above and half below the water surface, aimed at "bringing these two dimensions together."
Andreas Müller-Pohle
French photographer Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze was shooting on a Hong Kong rooftop when he noticed a tree "growing out of nowhere," inspiring this photo series. Jacquet-Lagrèze says the plants reminded him of the city's people, living with "perseverance, diligence, and independence."
Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze - 'Wild Concrete' —
French photographer Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze was shooting on a Hong Kong rooftop when he noticed a tree "growing out of nowhere," inspiring this photo series. Jacquet-Lagrèze says the plants reminded him of the city's people, living with "perseverance, diligence, and independence."
Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze
U.S.-based photographer Peter Steinhauer was awestruck by Hong Kong's building "cocoons," referring to the colorful exterior wrappings used in renovation work for the city's high-rise structures.
Peter Steinhauer - 'Cocoons' —
U.S.-based photographer Peter Steinhauer was awestruck by Hong Kong's building "cocoons," referring to the colorful exterior wrappings used in renovation work for the city's high-rise structures.
Peter Steinhauer
German-born photographer Michael Wolf says his architectural images of Hong Kong are "metaphors for life in megacities."
Michael Wolf - 'Architecture of Density' —
German-born photographer Michael Wolf says his architectural images of Hong Kong are "metaphors for life in megacities."
Michael Wolf