“NY 10048: The World Trade Center in Early 1990s“, featuring subtle black-and-white images by Hong Kong photographer Gretchen So, opens on Sept 2nd at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club and the Fringe Club in Hong Kong.
HONG KONG, August 1, 2011 — This September, recognizing the ominous 10-year anniversary of the destruction of the World Trade Center in New York, Hong Kong photographer Gretchen So presents her exhibition entitled “NY 10048: The World Trade Center in Early 1990s”
As a stunning tribute to the American Dream, the World Trade Center complex in New York was a popular photography subject. And just when one would think the world has seen the Twin Towers from every possible angle, the black and white images of Gretchen So re-discover them for the audience, yet again, as a powerful reminder of the artistic merit of these glass-and-aluminum-alloy pillars of modern times.
Gretchen So’s photographs of the towers were taken approximately 20 years ago, and they validate the notion that the Twin Towers are never-to-be-forgotten. “It is my hope that this exhibition will guide the viewer to go past the monumental historic prominence of the buildings, and discover their remarkable impact as quiet witnesses of our daily life at the time,” says So.
The photographs reveal the artist’s fascination with the monolithic symbolism of the buildings. Most images feature the towers from remote locations in New Jersey, Queens and Brooklyn, and how the farther she went from them, the more ubiquitous their presence appeared in the skyline. She portrays the buildings not so much as an engineering marvel, but rather as an omnipresent witnesses of modern life in cosmopolitan New York in early 90s, when the Twin Towers were reigning as the symbol of opportunity and success.
So continues, “Having lived in both New York and Hong Kong, I see the strong correlation between the two cities. The street rhythm of Hong Kong resembles the fast pace in New York both visually and emotionally. I truly believe the diverse Hong Kong audience will connect with the images just like I did on location twenty years ago, and appreciate the subtle monochromatic elegance of these photographs.”
Selected photos are being exhibited in Hong Kong for the first time at the following neighboring venues:
2 – 15 September 2011
FRINGE CLUB (The Anita Chan Lai-ling Gallery)
Address: 2 Lower Albert Road, Central, Hong Kong
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 12noon – 10pm
Phone: (852) 2521 7251
2 – 30 September 2011
THE FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS’ CLUB
Address: 2 Lower Albert Road, Central, Hong Kong
Hours: 10am-12 noon & 3pm-5:30pm daily
Phone: (852) 2521 1511
An online preview of the exhibition is also available at GretchenSo.com
About the Artist
Gretchen SO received a Master of Fine Arts degree from Yale University and also holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) in Photography from the University of Manitoba, Canada. She has received awards from numerous organizations, including multiple grants from the Hong Kong Arts Development Council for exhibitions in Asia, Europe and North America, and for compiling the photographs she took six years before and after the handover of Hong Kong to China in two albums. Her works were selected for the Hong Kong Art Biennial ’98 and she was a finalist for the 2008 Sovereign Asian Art Prize. For more information, please visit the artist online at www.gretchenso.com
About The Foreign Correspondents’ Club, Hong Kong
The Foreign Correspondents’ Club, Hong Kong, one of the world’s finest social clubs, is an important media hub, providing a rare neutral platform for an impressive selection of local and international speakers. For more information about the Foreign Correspondents’ Club, please call (852) 2521 1511 or visit www.fcchk.org.
About The Fringe Club
The Fringe Club nurtures local emerging artists by presenting their work and providing them with a supportive and open environment. It engages in cultural heritage work, community outreach, and regularly collaborates with overseas arts organizations to showcase and promote Hong Kong and its artists. For more information about the Fringe Club, please call (852) 2521 7251 or visit www.hkfringe.com.hk.