11-05-2025
HKFP Lens: Life above the streets of Hong Kong captured by photographer Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze
Echoing Above, the new monograph by French photographer Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze, offers a fresh perspective on Hong Kong's urban environment, revealing the captivating beauty and fascinating stories that unfold when one simply looks up.
Jacquet-Lagrèze takes readers on a visual journey, inviting them to discover the often-overlooked details above the bustling streets, revealing a hidden world full of life, creativity, and resilience. The striking images celebrate the unexpected treasures of Hong Kong's skies.
A key feature of Hong Kong's skyline captured in Echoing Above is the artistry of bamboo scaffolding, a craft that has long shaped the city's ever-evolving architecture. Crafted by skilled workers, bamboo scaffolding is lightweight, flexible, and cost-effective, embodying a traditional technique passed down through time.
However, due to safety regulations and concerns over bamboo's combustibility and deterioration, its use is gradually being phased out in public projects in favour of metal scaffolding, marking the end of an era for a culturally significant craft that has been integral to Hong Kong's architectural identity for generations.
The city's skyline is alive with vibrant birdlife, offering a surprising contrast to the dense urban landscape. Among the most remarkable inhabitants are tropical wonders like cockatoos, with their elegant crests and playful calls, and the beautiful blue magpies, known for their iridescent plumage and long tails.
Meanwhile, the black kite, a majestic bird of prey, circles effortlessly above as a constant reminder of nature's presence. These birds, easy to spot for those who take a moment to look up, are a testament to the thriving natural world that exists high above the city's streets.
The book also highlights the resilience of trees that grow impossibly from gutters and walls, symbols of perseverance and adaptation.
These urban colonies begin as seeds, often carried by birds, that find footholds in the tiniest crevices. The resulting bursts of greenery remind us of the delicate balance between the concrete and the natural world, and the ability of life to flourish even in the most unexpected places.
This book is not simply a collection of photographs. It is a love letter to Hong Kong, capturing its unique interplay of natural and built environments.
Words by Blue Lotus Gallery.
'Echoing Above', a solo exhibition and book launch by Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze
Venue: Blue Lotus Gallery
Address: 28 Pound Lane, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 11am – 6pm.
Contact: Romain Jacquet-Lagreze
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