After Opportunity

Since the Handover, the Hong Kong SAR government has emphasised the phrase ‘Opportunities Everywhere’ over and over again in hope that the people of Hong Kong will embrace these opportunities. In 2018/19, WMA decided on ‘Opportunity’ as the theme of its annual WMA Masters. The works of the seven finalists reveal different tints and shades within different layers of society, offering seven perspectives from seven artists.

Time provides distances which offers a meta point of view. From summer to winter, in 2019 Hong Kong experienced an earth-shattering protest movement. In reviewing the word ‘Opportunity’, the contours of history at any point now has brand new meaning. Looking in from whichever angle, this movement is doubtlessly interwoven with the people who live here.

After Opportunity centres on the curatorial concept of exhibition on paper, featuring seven photobooks of varied designs and binding styles to explore the notion of ‘Opportunity’ in Hong Kong in different dimensions. Through interviews, letters and research findings, the publication also examines a variety of social issues that emerged and intensified between the handover in 1997 and the year 2019, presenting an upfront portrayal of the reality of ‘opportunity’ in the city.

The book invites readers to reread the complex relationship between Hong Kong and opportunity in the last twenty years from a bird’s-eye view and with a meta perspective. In this box of work created by photographers, students and the elderly, may you experience for yourself how books respond to time.

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Artist:
Pierfrancesco CELADA, CHEUNG Nga Ling, Cynthia, Jolans FUNG, Sharon LEE Cheuk Wun, Saskia WESSELING, Beatrice WONG, YIP Kin Bon

Editor-in-chief:
Sandy LEE

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Box Size: 245 × 320 × 40 mm
Pages: 11 books, 330 pages in total
Binding: Various
Printing: Offset printing
Publication Year: 2020
Language: Traditional Chinese, English
Edition: First Edition

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回歸以來，特區政府多次強調，這個城巿仍然「機遇處處」，希望居於此地的人「把握機遇」。2018/19年，WMA就以「機遇」為年度攝影比賽主題。7份大師攝影獎的入圍作品，揭示了社會不同層面的陰暗色調，帶來了7個藝術家的視角。

時間帶來距離，也是另一種後設。2019年由初夏走至嚴冬，香港經歷了一場翻天覆地的抗爭運動。再視「機遇」這個詞語，歷史脈絡的任何一點也產生了全新的意義。無論從哪個角度觀看，這場運動都與居於此城的人緊密地連繫著。

《機遇之後》以「紙上展覽」為概念，收錄7本設計及裝幀各異的攝影集，以藝術角度探討社會不同階層所面對的「挑戰」和「機遇」；同時透過蒐集、整合訪談、書信和資料，爬梳由1997年開始醞釀，以至2019年升溫的社會議題。

本書邀請觀眾以俯瞰的視野、後設的概念，重看這20年來，香港與機遇之間複雜難解的關係。在這盒由攝影師、學生、老人共同書寫的作品中，親身經歷書本如何回應時代。