Hong Kong Stories: Connected with Hong Kong
Dusk Till Dawn
10/12/2024
內容
CONTENT
監製：Pang Kai Kwong
10/12/2024
相片集
Hong Kong’s night view is world renowned. For some, the night view they love is the glamourous and dazzling scenes of the ciyt’s bustle and hustle; for others, the atmosphere they yearn for is the unique, tranquil and elegant vibe of streets and lanes. Andrea Björsell, a Korean photographer from Sweden, who has lived in Hong Kong for seven years, is captivated by the images of Hong Kong –fascinating yet unobtrusive and often overlooked snapshots in our daily lives.
In the early days of the COVID outbreak, when everyone was idle at home and worried, Andrea took her camera and walked alone on the streets of Central and Sheung Wan late at night. Wandering around and relaxing, she took pictures which capture the essence of Hong Kong's character. A young lady’s waiting at a laundromat as a getaway, an office worker passing by calmly on a rainy and foggy night, a woman alone under a brilliant neon sign … are all the most charming Hong Kong in Andrea's eyes.
At the start, Andrea just wanted to express her depressed mood through roaming photography. Later on, she realized that with the daily photo, she had unknowingly documented the ups and downs of her moods, as well as the changes of the city. She then decided to kick-off a 100-day project "100 Days" , and was introduced to a local artist, Sin Sin-man. Sin curated Andrea’s first solo exhibition in Hong Kong and brought her work to a wider audience.
The images from the "100 Days" were made into a book, with Andrea’s mood notes. Now, let’s read her love letter to the city…
集數
EPISODES
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Dusk Till Dawn
Hong Kong’s night view is world renowned. For some, the night view they love is the glamourous and dazzling scenes of the ciyt’s bustle and hustle; for others, the atmosphere they yearn for is the unique, tranquil and elegant vibe of streets and lanes. Andrea Björsell, a Korean photographer from Sweden, who has lived in Hong Kong for seven years, is captivated by the images of Hong Kong –fascinating yet unobtrusive and often overlooked snapshots in our daily lives.
In the early days of the COVID outbreak, when everyone was idle at home and worried, Andrea took her camera and walked alone on the streets of Central and Sheung Wan late at night. Wandering around and relaxing, she took pictures which capture the essence of Hong Kong's character. A young lady’s waiting at a laundromat as a getaway, an office worker passing by calmly on a rainy and foggy night, a woman alone under a brilliant neon sign … are all the most charming Hong Kong in Andrea's eyes.
At the start, Andrea just wanted to express her depressed mood through roaming photography. Later on, she realized that with the daily photo, she had unknowingly documented the ups and downs of her moods, as well as the changes of the city. She then decided to kick-off a 100-day project "100 Days" , and was introduced to a local artist, Sin Sin-man. Sin curated Andrea’s first solo exhibition in Hong Kong and brought her work to a wider audience.
The images from the "100 Days" were made into a book, with Andrea’s mood notes. Now, let’s read her love letter to the city…10/12/2024收看 -
Black Beauty
Throughout history, Black people have experienced various forms of unfair treatment, with Black women's rights particularly under the spotlight. In today's society, the world is placing more emphasis on diversity, and the promotion of "beauty" and feminine charm is no longer dependent on skin color or race - anyone can become a representation and interpretation of "beauty". We are seeing more and more models and actors of different races appearing in advertisements and films, and Jemima Joy Gbadago's presence can also be seen in Hong Kong.
Joy is a Hong Kong-born Black model, theater actress, and photographer. Reflecting on her life that has been marked by the challenges of her race, she hopes to use her work to showcase the diverse concept of beauty, demonstrating that a black skin can also enjoy a colorful life.
Joy's father is from Nigeria and her mother is from the Philippines. They met while working in the catering industry in Hong Kong and initially planned to settle in the Philippines. However, after giving birth to Joy and her brother, they decided to seize the boundless business opportunities in Hong Kong and brought the family back, just as Joy was about to start kindergarten.
Joy's Nigerian father gave her African ancestry, a dark brown complexion, and a head of thick, curly hair. Looking back, she felt that her uniqueness made her not fit in with Hong Kong from a young age, and she experienced a lot of boycotts and bullying. Joy believes that although Hong Kong is known as an international metropolis, some local people have not yet broken through the barriers of skin color, so she constantly reminds herself to broaden her horizons. She decided to go to South Korea to study for a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry. On the university campus, she realized that she needed to take the initiative to bring about change and remove people's prejudices, so she returned to Hong Kong to pursue a Master's degree in Modern Asian Studies.
Although Joy's parents, influenced by the Asian culture of wanting their children to succeed, have always opposed her pursuing an artistic career, she believes that her photography, stage performances, or photographic works can showcase a kind of "beauty" that is beyond the stereotypical social framework. She wants to convey to the public that Black people are still striving to occupy a place on the stage of Hong Kong and the world.
While the global anti-discrimination movement has never ceased, Joy says that the status of the white community is still supreme, and she still feels that her own brown-black skin makes her inferior. Especially when she attends model or theater auditions, the cold treatment she sometimes receives can be suffocating. Therefore, she decided to pick up the camera herself, inviting a group of female friends of different races, ages, body shapes, and skin colors to different corners of Hong Kong, together showcasing this diverse "beauty". Outdoor enthusiast Joy hopes to use her lens to capture the scenery of Hong Kong, while also presenting the beauty of different models in the photos. Gradually, she has gained attention on social media and within the Black community. Recently, Joy has also actively participated in community activities related to women's and Black people's rights, such as cultural exchanges or teaching drama and African music in local schools, hoping to help Hong Kongers understand and accept different cultures and races.
The integration of diverse cultures and races is a key to Hong Kong's future development, and it requires the efforts and participation of everyone. Joy hopes to continue to inspire more people through her own story and works, to experience the diverse "beauty", to accept and understand different cultures and races, and to make Hong Kong more open and inclusive, achieving a harmonious society.03/12/2024收看 -
The Indian Emperor’s New Clothes
Raja Daswani is an Indian born and raised in Hong Kong. Translated homophonically into Chinese, his name means “emperor”, portraying his extraordinary life in Hong Kong.
In the early 1950s, Raja’s father and grandfather emigrated from India and opened a tailor shop in Tsim Sha Tsui. With their business sense and fluent English, the business went on track. At the age of 18, Raja started to take care of the tailor shop and later invested in properties, walking through storms over the years. This Indian emperor built his own tailoring empire in Hong Kong. Is this the success of the natural business acumen of the Indians, or a reward of his hard work and persistence?
Despite his Indian descent, Raja regards himself a Hongkonger. Always grateful for what he has, he thinks he has a responsibility to give back to the people in Hong Kong. He set up Feed Hong Kong, a non-governmental organization, in 2020, giving out meals and daily supplies to local underprivileged groups. He is determined to contributing both his money and efforts for a good cause.26/11/2024收看 -
The Road Not Taken
Ali came from Chad in Africa.
Before, Ali did not speak Chinese or English and he never thought of coming to Hong Kong. Now, Hong Kong became where he pursues his dream.
Ali was stranded at the airport for seven days upon arrival in Hong Kong in 2017. In this completely unfamiliar city, the university student who spoke only French and Arabic decided to take the road not taken: self-learning Chinese and English, studying a distance degree course by a UK university, volunteering for various organizations, and even marrying a Hong Kong woman.
Step by step, he integrated into Hong Kong. Yet he never forgot his homeland.
On another road not taken, Ali gave up his stable job in a big recreation club and works as construction worker. He hopes to save enough money and start a mineral trading company in Hong Kong, providing training and job opportunities for young people in Africa. The unfamiliar place has become home.
They are Africans. They are Hongkongers, They are also earth citizens.12/11/2024收看 -
Keep on Dancing
Dancing is a sport and leisure. It can also be a self-discovery journey.
On weekdays, Arya Jackson is an Indonesian domestic helper.
On Sundays, Arya puts on her dance costumes and takes up another role – leader of an Indonesian dance group, the Jackson Dancer. All six members of the group are “Indonesian helpers”. They came from different dance groups and were even competitors on stage before. Yet, their talents have brought them together.
Arya has left her home in Indonesia and started working overseas for over 20 years. She came to Hong Kong 17 years ago. To Arya and the dancers, Hong Kong is the place where they work. It is also the place where they have spent most of their youth.
Here in Hong Kong, they have found another way of life, a space and a stage that is not available back home. They also get to learn afresh and even promote the culture of their homeland.05/11/2024收看
