The closure of Hong Kong's iconic Kai Tak Airport in 1998 was a significant moment in the city's history. To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the airport's closure, Blue Lotus Gallery is pleased to showcase a special exhibition Goodbye Kai Tak and Thank You, hosted by Blue Lotus Gallery founder Sarah Greene. RASHK members have enjoyed several previous visits to her gallery.
Featuring photographs by Canadian photographer Greg Girard and Hong Kong photojournalist Birdy Chu, this exhibition offers a unique perspective on the airport's history and legacy.
‘We are thrilled to present “Goodbye Kai Tak and Thank You”, an exhibition that pays tribute to the airport's legacy and its impact on Hong Kong's cultural identity,’ said Blue Lotus Gallery’s Sarah Greene. ‘Through the works of local and international photographer Greg Girard and Birdy Chu, we hope to offer a fresh perspective on Kai Tak's history and commemorate its closure in a meaningful way.’
The Speaker
Greg Girard is a Canadian photographer (b. 1955) who has spent much of his career in Asia. His work has examined the social and physical transformations in Asia, especially in its largest cities, for more than four decades.
He is the author of several photographic books. City of Darkness Revisited, published 2014, revives an early collaboration with co-author Ian Lambot, and updates their influential book, City of Darkness: Life in Kowloon Walled City (Watermark, 1993).
Based in Shanghai between 1998 and 2011, his photographic monograph, Phantom Shanghai (Magenta, Toronto, 2007), with a foreword by novelist William Gibson, looks at the rapid and at times violent changes in Shanghai as it raced to remake itself at the beginning of the 21st Century. The Independent newspaper UK cited Phantom Shanghai as one the top ten photographic books ever produced.
Programme
Time: 11 am – 12:00 noon, after a Zoom talk by Greg Girard (currently based overseas), members are welcome to view the exhibition, hosted by Sarah Greene (the gallery closes at 18:00)
Admission: In Person at $100 for members, $150 for guests /non-members (20 participants max). Walk-in guests are welcome depending on availability. Cash payment will be collected at the event day. Please prepare the exact payment.
Registration: Please email <membership@royalasiaticsociety.org.hk> and provide your membership number, if applicable, at the time of registration.
Registration will be closed at 12 noon on 14 July 2023.