Hong Kong through windows: how an eye injury gave this photographer a fresh view on his craft
Ho Pak-kei’s works capture iconic skylines through different perspectives
In a city where most are too busy to appreciate the view from their windows, not to mention the more than 200,000 residents living in the notorious and windowless “coffin cubicles”, photographer Ho Pak-kei, whose works highlight Hong Kong’s wealth inequality, is an exception.
“Whenever I ride a bus, train or when I’m at a restaurant, I always go for the window seat, because being able to see outside gives you a different perspective on society.”
A decade ago, Ho decided to recreate views of the city’s iconic skyscrapers by taking snaps through windows of different locations, documenting enchanting urban landscapes.
“However when I started to look around for backgrounds, I found that the places I’ve gone to capture these pictures were often high-end residential buildings or famous commercial landmarks.”
While such scenes stood out and drew the eye to the famous Hong Kong skyline, Ho says he thought to himself: “How come only the rich are able to enjoy such a view?”