Acclaimed contemporary Chinese photographer Hai Bo will have his trademark landscape photography displayed at Pace Gallery in Hong Kong from July 29 through September 14 — his first solo show in the city.The gallery will showcase eight pieces, of which seven belong to his signature “Northern Series.” A ghostly and foggy landscape is a hallmark of the photographs exhibited, all of which depict the scenery of Hai Bo's hometown in Northeast China.The artist’s maternal uncle is another key feature in this series, such as in “2008-1,” where the old figure appears to step out of the shadows. These subjects are mostly found in his later works, when he set out to research certain historical changes among his friends and family. In this series, Hai Bo documented past memories of his uncle, recording his transformation from a wild and strong character to a quiet man.The work “Fable” from the “Photographic Diary” series will also be showcased, infused with Hai Bo’s trademark poeticism as he uses scattered fragments to record memories, “effecting a recollection of memory with a light hand.”The artist is recognized for capturing the passing of time, whether in nature or with friends and family members in his later works, showing people in various stages of life. Through his photographic documentation, he seeks to restore the past by showing what endures rather than what has changed.Consequently, his work is not a cultural history but a personal one. Hai Bo began photographing his native village in the North East of China in 1982, expressing its desolate beauty in his own unique style. Looking back to his earlier works, the landscape represented seems vast and deserted: a reaction to the rapid change in society that transformed his hometown from a rich agrarian land to a modernized one. Throughout his photographs, one can sense an emotional resistance to change. “Their today is our tomorrow. In the end, we all belong to the dust,” says Hai Bo.“Hai Bo” will run from July 29 through September 14 at Pace Gallery.
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