PARISIAN PASSAGES by Jean-Baptiste Millot is an exquisite photography exhibition featuring the exquisite glass-covered shopping arcades that debuted in 19th-century Paris. These passages weaved gracefully through the bustling city, leaving a lasting imprint on its culture, art, and architecture.
Steeped in history, the Parisian passages are a treasure trove of the past. Its architecture showcases a blend of neoclassical, Art Nouveau, and Belle Époque styles, exuding an air of elegance and sophistication of its time. Each passage boasts distinctive architectural traits, showcasing the craftsmanship and meticulousness of the era.
The passages offer a unique historical perspective, enclosed in covered walkways, adorned with mosaic floors, and bathed in enchanting light. The ornate decorations, rich historical significance, eclectic array of shops, and architectural diversity create a charming and poetic atmosphere.
Millot skillfully captures the passages’ timeless allure, using light and mirrors to create a unique visual experience.
Parisian Passages Exhibition period: From 21 May 2024, 11am-7pm (Tuesday to Sunday) Venue: f22 foto space, Shops BW11 & BW13, The Peninsula Hotel, Tsim Sha Tsui.
每天早上天微亮，他帶著兩部相機遊走巴黎街頭，露天的小餐館、牽著小狗的途人、街頭畫家、在地鐵車廂閱讀的乘客、牆上的塗鴉等，一一定格在他的黑白菲林裡。Laurence也喜歡拍攝當地的建築物，雨天的凱旋門街景、途人在羅浮宮外快步流星，令人想起布列松1932年的名作《Behind the Gare Saint-Lazare》。最令人印象深刻的一幅巴黎鐵塔的照片，冬日的枯枝與地標巴黎鐵塔形成對比，恍如靜態版的電影畫面。攝影師刻意選用暖色調相紙，將菲林影像沖曬成黑白銀鹽相片，感覺就如上世紀的懷舊風景。
遊歷巴黎後，他深刻感受到巴黎人的生活態度，「香港人普遍工作壓力大，我們經常說work-life balance，但法國人卻是放慢腳步去享受生活。」身為攝影師，同時在中環碼頭經營攝影畫廊Laurence Lai Gallery，日常生活固然忙碌，因此這次巴黎之旅也令他感觸良多。
Photographer Laurence Lai’s first visit to France was in 1991. It was a short stay, and his memories have become fuzzy. He always wanted to spend more time truly appreciating and immersing himself in the local culture. Finally, he embarked on his journey through Paris earlier this year.
Laurence wandered around some of Paris’s major landmarks and captured urban landscapes. He also photographed people and buildings on the streets. He noticed that the French have a great sense of style—men and women dress impeccably! Whether sitting in a café or public transportation commuters, they exuded a unique fashion culture. This city deeply captivated him!
He carefully selected some of his favorite works for this exhibition. The iconic Eiffel Tower, the historical Arc de Triomphe in the rain, and the snow-covered quaint streets are all black-and-white silver gelatin prints handmade in the darkroom. The warm-toned museum-grade cotton fiber paper emphasizes the historical context of the artwork and his emotions.
Echoes of Space 黑 白 間
Date: now till 12 May 2024
Time: 1pm-7pm(Tues-Fri) , 11am-7pm(Sat-Sun)
Site: Garome, 902, Bonham Centre, 79 Bonham Strand, Sheung Wan
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】
