Time flies. In what seems like the blink of an eye, the Hong Kong International Photo Festival has been in operation for some fourteen years. In that time, many people and many things have changed beyond recognition. We’ve experienced unrest, a global pandemic, and—most unfortunately—the loss of loved ones. The mixture of joy and sadness cannot be captured in words, but the images will always be imprinted on our hearts.
For more than a decade, FUJIFILM has been a key supporter of our Festival. Since 2013, it’s been fuelling our visual exploration of the theme of ‘home’. Blues Wong and Bobby Sham curated the 2013 exhibition 300 Families, a showcase of twelve HKIPF members and artists’ works at the Hong Kong Design Institute. Blues and Bobby also curated the 2016 exhibition 1000 Families, in which thirteen local and international artists photographed the many meanings of ‘home’ under the sub-themes ‘Happiness’, ‘Love’, and ‘Memory’.
In 2024, we resume our homeward journey. Sincere thanks are due again to FUJIFILM for its support of this project; to the Cultural, Sports, and Tourism Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR and to the Hong Kong Arts Development Council for their continuous support of our organisation; and to Blues Wong for returning for a third time to revisit the theme of ‘home’—this time with co-curator Carol Chow.
From ‘300’ to ‘1000’, we’ve levelled up to the innumerable ‘MEGA’ with ‘Mega Family: Imaging Home’!
Of course, different stages in life naturally give rise to different perspectives, pursuits, and priorities. A lot can change in ten years. Reflecting on the past, the present, and the never-ending process of growth, we see that the world outside reflects our own development and bravely push on!
Chairperson of Hong Kong Photographic Culture Association