Some cities feel like layered tapestries of time—always in flux, never finished, and constantly reshaped. Hong Kong is one such city: a dynamic metropolis where the past, present, and future converge in transformation. Its disorienting urban topography mirrors the lives of its inhabitants, who navigate an environment of continuous construction, expansive land reclamation, and stark contrasts between desolate spaces and densely populated districts.

Born and raised in Hong Kong during its colonial era, I witnessed firsthand the profound changes that accompanied the city’s handover to China in 1997. This moment—marking the end of 150 years of British rule and the beginning of a new era under the principle of “One Country, Two Systems”—left an indelible imprint on my creative work, instilling a sense of precariousness and impermanence.

Evolving Territories: Hong Kong in Transition (1994–2000) is a visual chronicle of Hong Kong during these pivotal years, capturing the rupture between two eras. It explores how urban spaces function as both stages and catalysts, where residents move, adapt, and ultimately become agents of change. This photographic journey traces the physical and symbolic fragmentation that defined Hong Kong’s identity at the time. More than a critique of turn-of-the-century urbanization, the project serves as both a historical document and a candid portrait of a city caught between its colonial past and an uncertain future, yet continuously reinventing itself.

Related content: Zolima Citi Magazine article about this project

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