對許多人來說，家是容身之所；對毛利人酷兒藝術家J Davies而言，家更是一種情感的依歸。此心安處是吾家，藝術家現時在香港的展覽《Home (Away From Home》，藉著在家與離家拍攝的親密影像，既記錄當代酷兒的生活面貌，同時也探索他們的親密關係與家的歸屬感。
家的不同定義
展覽標題《Home (Away From Home》可以分為兩部份去解讀，但探索的同樣是情侶或朋友間的情感。Home是指藝術家在家中以及在墨爾本拍攝身邊朋友的親密時刻，他們或擁抱或依偎，有的在嬉戲或親熱，記錄著澳洲酷兒的日常。至於Away From Home則是在世界各地旅行時的記錄，例如作品中有一幅在越南拍攝的一張亂成一團的床，即使相片不在家中拍攝，卻能令J Davies感受到家的儀式感及安全感。「我與朋友的親密關係，令我覺得有一種家的感覺。當時我和三個朋友住在一起，他們的床都在樓上，每天早上我們都會在這張床上討論當日的行程。床變成一個聚會場所，見證我們的親近關係。」
Sereyrath的作品向來關注環保及社會不公等議題，她從研究報告得知，2018年竣工的水力發電大壩工程Lower Se San 2 Dam，導致多個村落被摧毀淹沒，不但迫使數千名村民搬遷，由於大壩阻止魚類洄遊等原因，生活在河流沿岸的原住民賴以生存的漁業資源也大幅減少，而且他們的生活環境只會越來越差。
對觀者而言，這個展覽或許也是一種「沉浸式體驗」，當人們進入房間後，溫度會發生輕微的變化，藉此帶出溫度對人類心理影響的訊息。只是，作為觀眾的我們，在展場的「溫室」效果下，頂多只是感覺比較侷促，甚至是流汗。然而對生活在當地的村民而言，他們所面臨的困境，更關乎生存環境。「如果溫度持續升高、情況繼續惡化的話，那麼它將改變那裡所有的一切。」 或許，這正如她為展覽撰寫的詩句所言：When the sacred sun reaches the sacred river, we will know we are not in control。
Sereyrath Mech《When the Sun Reaches the River》 @ 【香港國際攝影節2023衛星展覽】
Boogie Woogie Photography & PhotogStory are pleased to present “Capturing Life: The Photography of Willy Ronis,” a solo exhibition by the renowned French photographer at the Loft in Wong Chuk Hang from 16 September to 21 October 2023.
Willy Ronis (1910-2009) was a pioneer of humanist photography, a movement that emerged in post-war France, seeking to document the human condition with authenticity and empathy. Inspired by his surroundings, Willy Ronis masterfully captured everyday life’s essence with his artistic vision.
Place de la Concorde, Paris 1952, Courtesy of Boogie Woogie Photography.
Throughout his long and prolific career, Ronis left precious visual memories of France in the twentieth century. Focused on documenting Parisian life and people’s joy and sorrow, he developed a unique style characterized by his deep sensitivity and ability to find poetry in the mundane. From the bustling streets of Paris to the intimate moments between lovers, Ronis’ images offer a glimpse into the universal human experience.
This carefully curated exhibition of Ronis’ most iconic works is a rare selection from the private collection of Stephane Kovalsky, Ronis’ grandson. It showcases Ronis’ remarkable talent for composition and storytelling. Each photograph is a testament to Ronis’ unwavering curiosity about the world and his ability to find beauty in unexpected places.
Le Nu Provençal, 1949The Little Parisian, 1952.
“Le Nu Provençal” is perhaps Ronis’ most famous photograph. The image is renowned as an intimate and respectful portrait of his wife Marie-Anne Lansiaux at their home in Gordes, Provence, taken in the summer of 1949.
Shot at the top of the Colonne de Juillet in 1957, “Lovers at the Bastille” portrays a loving couple standing out against the panorama of Paris, their joy captured by the photographer during a serene post-rain afternoon. Ronis’ photographs transcend the boundaries of time and place, inviting us to reflect on the universal themes of love, joy, and resilience.
In this exhibition, we invite viewers to appreciate the fleeting moments in our lives. May Ronis’ photographs serve as a timeless reminder that a profound and extraordinary beauty is waiting to be discovered within the fabric of everyday life.
ImagesCourtesy of Boogie Woogie Photography and the S.Kovalsky collection
About Boogie Woogie Photography
Boogie Woogie Photography was founded in Hong Kong in 2016 to promote photography in Asia. The mission is to act as a platform for galleries, collectors, companies, and photographers aiming to develop photography projects in Hong Kong and Asia.
PhotogStory is an online Photography platform and Guest Curator based in Hong Kong. We focus on stories of local and international photographers and stories behind classic photos.
致力於推廣攝影藝術的Boogie Woogie Photography與香港攝影平台「顯影 PhotogStory」在黃竹坑畫廊空間呈獻法國攝影師Willy Ronis個展《Capturing Life: The Photography of Willy Ronis》，展期由2023年9月16日至10月21日。
Place de la Concorde, Paris 1952, Courtesy of Boogie Woogie Photography.
Willy Ronis (1910-2009) 的攝影生涯從1926年橫跨至2001年，即使在91歲高齡時仍在拍攝，他最廣為人知的座右銘是「我外出時從來不會不帶相機，即使去買麵包亦是 (I never, ever went out without my camera, even to buy bread)」，持續拍攝的動力背後，可見他對生活的熱情，以及對世界的好奇心。
1948至1950年，他是首位為美國著名雜誌《LIFE》拍攝照片的法國攝影記者。1951年底至1952年初，在紐約現代藝術博物館 (MoMA) 舉行的《Five French Photographers》展覽，展出當時最重要的五位法國攝影師，包括布列松及Robert Doisneau，Willy Ronis的名字也赫然在目，可見他的重要地位。
Le Nu Provençal, 1949The Little Parisian, 1952.
作為二戰後法國人文主義攝影的先驅之一，Willy Ronis擅於在平凡中發現美感與詩意，從熙熙攘攘的街道到戀人之間的親密時刻，記錄法式生活的浪漫與優雅。他有多幅代表作，尤其以「買麵包的小男孩」與「巴士底廣場的戀人」最廣為人知。1952年拍攝的《The Little Parisian》，照片捕捉一位身穿短褲恤衫及毛衣背心的小男孩抱著法式長棍麵包跑過，天真可愛的男孩面帶微笑，感覺無憂無慮。
另一幅標誌性作品是1957年拍攝的《Lovers at the Bastille》，將巴黎戀人互相依偎的畫面定格下來，展現出巴黎的浪漫一面。相片同時記錄當時的城市景觀，他們身處巴士底廣場七月柱觀景台，背景是巴黎的鳥瞰景觀，遠處正是花都的地標——巴黎聖母院及巴黎鐵塔。展覽現場另一幅攝於1949年的《Le Nu Provençal》，也是其經典照片之一，捕捉其全裸妻子Marie-Anne Lansiaux在普羅旺斯家中的親密瞬間。
Lovers at the Bastille, Paris, 1957. Courtesy of Boogie Woogie Photography.
Hong Kong Stories, A Photography & Photobook Exhibition
Photography was introduced to the world in 1839, and Hong Kong became British Empire’s colony in 1841. The coincidence and proximity in time connect photography to Hong Kong’s history. To a certain extent, photographic images construct our impression of Hong Kong. Especially in the 20th century, when many Hong Kong and foreign photographers roamed or passed through Hong Kong, they captured the city’s appearances differently.
PhotogStory is pleased to present “Hong Kong Stories,” a group exhibition of old Hong Kong images, along with more than 50 old Hong Kong photo books by multiple Hong Kong and international photographers, as clues to connect Hong Kong’s stories in the 20th century.
Everyone sees and feels the city from their perspective. Hong Kong is a vibrant city under the lens of the late photographers Yau Leung and Ngan Chun Tung in the 1960s to 1970s. The fleeting moments captured by the French New Wave set photographer Raymond Cauchetier in 1954 reflect people’s simple life. Their photographs left a critical testimony of the precious era.
Hong Kong Stories
Date: 1 August – 17 September 2023
Time: 11am – 8pm
Site: House by Kubrick, 5/F, Cityplaza, Tai Koo
About PhotogStory
PhotogStory is an online Photography platform and Guest Curator based in Hong Kong. We focus on stories of local and international photographers and stories behind classic photos.
PhotogStory is pleased to present “A Revelrous Heterotopia – The South Stand of Hong Kong,” a solo exhibition by Hong Kong photographer Chun Wai at Kubrick in Yau Ma Tei from 3 July to 30 August 2023.
The Chancellors, cardinal, batman, court nobles, disheveled policemen, Snow White, and a lame ballet dancer will be on stage at Kubrick bookstore, surprisingly.
Chun Wai’s photo project – A Revelrous Heterotopia – The South Stand of Hong Kong, is elegant and absurd. For more than 20 years since 1995, he recorded diligently the snippets of life that transpired in the Hong Kong Sevens. With his rigorous visual senses, each captured moment was examined for its inner meaning and metaphor.
The photographer cleverly used the cold background of the concrete wall with a medium gray scale color tone, slowly pushing the inner tension of the image. The hilarious character roles and the comic-style visual element as if they come from an indefinite time and space.
The exhibition is accompanied by the homonymous photo book at the Kubrick bookstore.
The book contains over a hundred portraits and three essays that provide readers with different perspectives, exploring issues such as the reverse thinking inspired by the origin of rugby, the association between the phenomenon of raving fans and the meaning behind the “Carnival Culture” proposed by the former Soviet literary theorist Bakhtin, the relationship between photography and theatre and the language and thinking of photography.
A Reverlous Heterotopia -The South Stand of Hong Kong is a light-hearted, humorous collection of photographs and a photo essay presenting a different thought.
A Revelrous Heterotopia – The South Stand of Hong Kong
Date: 3 July – 30 August 2023
Time: 11:30am-10pm (Every day)
Address: Kubrick, Shop H2, Prosperous Garden, 3 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
秦偉曾多次獲頒人權新聞獎。已出版作品包括《異域狂歡》、《時間的漫遊》、《另一段的地平線》、《在天堂之下》及《板間人生》。作品獲香港大學美術博物館、香港文化博物館、法國Mulhouse市政府、阿根廷薩塔爾當代美術館（Museum of Contemporary Art of Salta，Argentina）收藏。
Born in Hong Kong and educated at the École supérieure des beaux-arts de Mulhouse in France, photographer Chun Wai’s perspective lies in his humanistic vision and macro-historical framework in interpreting the changing world. His project covered a vast area in the region, including Hong Kong. His work is full of a sorrowful yet romantic mood and reveals his personal landscape. The phantasmagorical image like a rhythm poem of a stray, is a unique work of art.
About PhotogStory
PhotogStory is an online Photography platform and Guest Curator based in Hong Kong. We focus on stories of local and international photographers and stories behind classic photos.
At the occasion of the French May Arts Festival 2023, Boogie Woogie Photography & PhotogStory are pleased to present “French+,” a group exhibition at the Loft in Wong Chuk Hang from 4th May to 3rd June 2023 together with the prestigious Kraemer Gallery from Paris presenting 18th-century French museum quality furniture and decorative art.
+ means more and extra, which also denotes infinite possibilities. French+ is not just about French art but also language, culture, and lifestyle.
The exhibition comprises eleven French photographers and artists’ artworks. It is our first time exhibiting paintings with acclaimed Monaco-based expressionist painter Philippe Pastor. Using living matter, its transformation through time and immediate surroundings, combining soil, pigments, minerals, and plants of all kinds, Philippe Pastor represents his vision of life, environmental destruction, and Man’s involvement in society.
We are also happy to be representing Elsa Jeandedieu, Hong Kong-based muralist. On view is a personal tondo, inspired by the Mediterranean Sea, made of plaster and copper leaves.
Florence Levillain’s creative and humorous photos are eye-catching among the photography artworks. She takes the French expressions as inspirations and literally turns the metaphor phrases into pictures. This imaginative photography series aims to raise awareness of the lyricism and humor of French language metaphors.
Florence LevillainFlorence Levillain
Additionally, French+ can be interpreted as a diverse photography style, like Sabine Weiss’s Dior dress, Willy Ronis’s Paris impression, Raymond Cauchetier’s Hong Kong journey, and Thierry Cohen’s surreal starry sky images, which represent the rich and unique French photography culture.
FRENCH+
Date: 4 May – 3 June 2023
Time: 2-7pm (Wednesday – Saturday)
Address: The Loft, 8/F, E. Wah Factory Building,
56-60 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Wong Chuk Hang.
About Boogie Woogie Photography
Boogie Woogie Photography is a company founded in Hong Kong in 2016 to promote photography in Asia. The mission is to act as a platform for galleries, collectors, companies, and photographers aiming to develop photography projects in Hong Kong and Asia.
About PhotogStory
PhotogStory is an online Photography platform and Guest Curator based in Hong Kong. We focus on stories of local and international photographers, and stories behind classic photos.
Thierry Cohen, Courtesy of Boogie Woogie Photography
Artists Profile
Bogdan Konopka (b. Poland, 1953-2019)
Born in Poland and an immigrant to Paris in 1989, Bogdan Konopka has been photographing cities he visits or lives in from Europe to China. His images are immediately recognizable whether the subjects are a fragment of nature or an interior space. Using large format or pinhole cameras, Konopka pays close attention to the quality of his photographs. His hand-made gelatin silver prints on chlorobromide paper are mostly contact prints, which have the same size as the original negative to achieve perfection. Konopka’s work was collected by Musée National d’Art Moderne and Centre Georges Pompidou, etc.
Elsa Jeandedieu (b. France,1983)
Hong Kong-based French muralist and visual artist Elsa Jeandedieu has been spreading her creative talents and bringing her beautiful, unique texture artworks and wall murals to spaces from Hong Kong, Shanghai, Paris, Italy, and beyond. Her inspiring energy and creativity have resulted in commissioned wall designs, artworks, and luxury art pieces for many high-profile clients, including CHANEL and Victoria’s Secret. Elsa moved to Hong Kong in 2008 and launched her eponymous atelier, Elsa Jeandedieu Studio, in 2015, where she now heads up a team of dedicated artists.
Florence Levillain (b. France, 1970)
Florence Levillain began an independent career as a reportage photographer in 1994. She explores various territories ranging from the business world to the streets of the suburbs. She works for the press (Liberation, Le Monde, Paris Match, etc.) and carries out numerous reports abroad on social issues. She won the Kodak Prize in 1999 for reportage on women working at night in Rungis, a commune in the southern suburbs of Paris. Florence Levillain’s work has always focused on rediscovering the universes close to everyone but unknown or forgotten by many. Her new work, “au pied de la lettre,” is an unusual series of photographic works that aims to raise awareness of the lyricism and humor of French language metaphors.
Isabelle Boccon-Gibod (b. France, 1968)
Lives and works in Paris, Isabelle Boccon-Gibod was trained as Engineer in France (Ecole Centrale Paris) and the U.S. (Columbia University, NY). Her life has mixed art and industry throughout her career. Having first worked on collages and installations, she elected photography twenty years ago as her core medium. She attended the Photography School of Brussels, Belgium. Her work is project-based, photography offering the means to explore specific territories. She likes to employ ad-hoc techniques. Her work is collected by Centre Pompidou, Paris.
Jacques Henri Lartigue (b. France,1894-1986)
Known for dynamic photographs of car races and fashionable ladies, Lartigue made a decisive departure from the stiff formality that characterized early photography to capture joyful, carefree scenes of bourgeois leisure. Born into affluence, he documented the excitement of the final years of the Belle Epoque with a gimlet eye and photographed the wealthy vacationers on the French Riviera from the 1920s through the 1960s. Lartigue’s work was underappreciated until the Museum of Modern Art exhibited his photographs in 1963.
Patrice Bodenand (b. France,1958)
Born in France in 1958, Patrice Bodenand made his career in the textile industry, which gave him the opportunity to travel and the desire to discover other countries and cultures. He immigrated to Hong Kong in 2000, then to Mauritius Island and to China, in Qingdao, to return and finish his career in Hong Kong. “What is exciting in photography is to capture a precise moment to fix it in time, even without chronology, but just for memory, individual or shared.”
Philippe Pastor (b. Monaco, 1961)
Philippe Pastor was born in Monaco. He works between Monaco and Spain. Committed to the environment, Philippe Pastor has developed a personalized vision of nature through his work, translating Man’s interaction with the planet. Since 1990 his work has been recognized at Venice Biennale and has been shown around the world. He is the official artist of the Monaco Pavilion at the Universal Exposition EXPO Milano 2015.
Raymond Cauchetier (b. France, 1920-2021)
Raymond Cauchetier was the most famous photographer of the French New Wave. His first photographs were taken in his thirties while serving in the French Air Force press corps in Indochina. Cauchetier traveled through Hong Kong in 1954 and stayed for one week. He left a bouquet of memories, a little yellowed but always authentic.
Sabine Weiss, Chez Dior, Paris, 1958 Courtesy of Boogie Woogie Photography
Sabine Weiss (b. Switzerland, 1924-2021)
Sabine Weiss decided to become a photographer when she was eighteen, during a time when being a photographer was not a common profession, especially for a woman. Sabine Weiss apprenticed under photographers Frédéric Boissonnas and Willy Maywald, and Vogue hired her as a photo reporter and fashion photographer in 1952. Robert Doisneau discovered her photography and asked her to join the humanist-leaning photo agency Rapho, allowing her to work and travel for many other publications such as Time, Life, Newsweek, and Paris-Match.
Thierry Cohen (b. France, 1963)
Thierry Cohen has been a professional photographer since 1985 and a pioneer in the use of digital techniques. He lives and works between Paris and Monségur, close to the Atlantic Coast. Since 2006, he has devoted most of his time to personal work. Thierry is interested in the impact of human activities, particularly on nature. His works are held in private and public collections and regularly exhibited in New York, Los Angeles, and Paris.
Willy Ronis (b. France, 1910-2009)
After selling his first photograph to the newspaper L’Humanité in 1935, Willy Ronis worked as a press photographer. Ronis always linked his personal experience to his work, which also developed and grew through contact with friends and family: portraits of Marie-Anne, his wife (including the famous Le Nu provençal), his son Vincent, his cats, his friends (Robert Capa) and personalities he met (Sartre, Brassaï, etc.) express the same poetics of the universal as the rest of his work.
