In 2010, nineteen photographers founded the Hong Kong International Photo Festival to platform exchanges between local and international visual practitioners, showcasing diverse voices through a wide range of public programmes. In what feels like a flash, the Festival has already stepped into its next decade, embracing the future with long-term developments and plans while honouring the past.
As the Festival continues to work to elevate Hong Kong photography towards new heights, it is clear that with the challenges ahead, it is becoming crucial to garner the strength and support from individuals in order to further our plans and make greater progress as an independent non-profit.
To build a source of sustainable revenue, the Festival has taken the initiative to invite ten artists who have made unique contributions to the development of Hong Kong photography to donate one of their iconic works. They are CHAN Dick, Almond CHU Tak Wah, Joseph FUNG Hon Kee, HO Fan, Alfred KO Chi Keung, Holly LEE, LEONG Ka Tai, Wing SHYA, Vincent YU Wai Kin, and Peter YUNG Wai Chuen.
More than a fundraising effort, Hong Kong Portfolio, the Festival’s very first collector’s box-set published in a limited edition of 35, serves as a precious memento of contemporary Hong Kong photography. Each box contains ten 13″ x 19″ prints signed by the artists (or certified by their estates).
The ten photographs selected for this inaugural compilation spans some seventy years, reflecting social and cultural changes, whether through documentary endeavours or personal artistic experiments. While the Hong Kong landscape may not always be recognisable from back then, the question of whether the precious and authentic spirit remains resonates strongly with people in this time. Perhaps it is only by overcoming hardship that we may forge a tenacious vitality and cultivate an unshakeable resolve.
“History is not just a matter of dates. What makes history is what comes before and what comes after the dates that we all remember.” These are the words of the last Governor of Hong Kong Chris Patten at his farewell ceremony on 30 June, 1997. With these photographs as our compass, let us reminisce together on the city’s magnificent past and catch a glimpse of our possible future.
Donate before 1 June to enjoy early-bird benefit
The collector’s box-set is available upon donations of or above HKD 60,000. The box-set will also be exclusively available at HKD 50,000 to early donations made before 1 June 2021. Offer subject to availability.
Donate now at STALL.HKIPF.ORG.HK.
