Chronicle – A Hong Kong Diary from Tse Ming Chong (1989-2014) Book Launch
Chronicle – A Hong Kong Diary from Tse Ming Chong (1989-2014) Book Launch
1 Jun 2015
Accomplished local photographer cum Principal Lecturer at Hong Kong Design Institute, Mr Tse Ming Chong has recently released his latest book of photographic work titled “Chronicle”, depicting his sentiment towards Hong Kong in the past quarter of a century. The images in Chronicle follow the pulse of Hong Kong, recording the transition of the city and the thoughts of the photographer.
A book launch for “Chronicle” was held by HKDI on May 30 at Causeway Bay eslite bookstore, with Tse Ming Chong sharing his ideas about Chronicle with photographer and design artist Lau Ching Ping. Following the book launch, Tse had a sharing session with the public, including photographers, artists and the like. Along with a photographic exhibition to be held in Sept at Karin Weber Gallery in Central, the event hopes to promote exchange of local creative culture.
“Yet my intention is not to produce a collection of photographic documentary of major political events in Hong Kong. Rather, this book is meant to be a personal album of my photographic art: it not only communicates my own perspective on the development in Hong Kong over the past twenty-five years, but also my conceptual thinking about the art of photography”, Mr Tse Ming Chong shared.
“The motif of Tse’s photos is Hong Kong society and he has used bird-eye view to project his most affective feelings. The artworks are quite experimental as some of the photos are arranged to appear in continuous sequence, using transparent film as output.. This creative technique deserves further investigations and discussions among photography enthusiasts,” Mr Lau Ching Ping said.
Divided into three periods - 1989-1997, 1998-2007, 2008-2014 - Chronicle captured many significant moments during the past 25 years of Hong Kong, from the work Tiananmen (1989), Look Out from My Window (1998 – 2012) to last year’s Occupying Central event City Series II - The Road (2014). The images showcase the ever-changing history of Hong Kong through the crisscross relationships between the city and its people.
As many as 20 artists and friends of Tse enriched Chronicle with their words. They include Dr. Ho Siu Kee, Associate Professor and Programme Director of the Master of Visual Arts at the Academy of Visual Arts of Hong Kong Baptist University, conceptual artist Ching Chin Wai, ceramic artist Fiona Wong, and visual artist Dr Stella Tang. They analysed the images with regard to time, city development or the background of the object in focus, providing additional facades for readers to appreciate the image.
Chronicle is now available in bookstores at the end of May for HK$340.
