Exhibition report: RE/VER/SE(E)

In the heart of the Hong Kong photography scene, where visual culture manifests in countless forms beyond the familiar street photography, an exhibition titled "ЯE/VEЯ/SE(E)" by soft.groundprod emerges as a thought-provoking exploration of visual perception. The cleverly styled title—a fusion of "reverse" and "seeing"—immediately signals the exhibition's intent: to challenge our conventional ways of interpreting images.

As someone who has spent years documenting Hong Kong through a camera lens, I found myself drawn to this collective showcase that promises to disrupt the familiar patterns of seeing that we photographers often take for granted - particularly one that uses alternative photography techniques. What happens when artists deliberately invert our expectations? How might we grow when forced to abandon our visual comfort zones?

This exhibition presents a fresh perspective on photography in Hong Kong, inviting viewers to explore alternative ways of seeing and interpreting their environments. It invites us to question not just what we see, but how we see—an essential consideration for anyone serious about visual arts or photography.

Deconstructing visual information

Photographer/curator Helen Leung focuses on questioning how we process visual information, combining silk screen techniques with photographic bitmap formats to present images in their rawest form. The deconstructed image is then rebuilt through its basic CMYK layers—the fundamental colour components used in printing. Through this deconstruction and reconstruction process, Leung invites viewers to consider the building blocks of visual representation that we typically don’t notice. She also draws inspiration from pinhole cameras to add complexity to her presentation, which evolves throughout the exhibition, creating a dynamic experience that changes with each viewing (during the day).

Questioning authenticity

Hong Kong photographer Ray Leung presents an installation that questions image authenticity through a deceptive mini "glamping" set-up. Using Polaroid images to represent reality, his simple arrangement creates a sense of disorientation as you sit observing the scenes he has crafted. The familiar comfort of a camping environment is subtly undermined by visual inconsistencies that challenge our perceptions.

The work deliberately blurs the line between representation and reality, inviting us to question not just what we're seeing but the process of seeing itself. By incorporating elements like night sky imagery and photographs of Polaroids in the process of developing, Leung creates a multi-layered experience that unfolds in real time.

Through this immersive approach, the work challenges how we process and experience visual information—compelling us to become conscious of the assumptions and shortcuts our brains make when interpreting imagery in our increasingly media-saturated world.

Memory and imperfect reproduction

Finally, photographer Jeremy Cheung's work continues his recent exploration into memory, extending upon his exhibition "Lost in Yamanote." Instead of photography, he has opted to draw using memories of a lost roll of film from a day trip. This novel use of the medium (pencil on film) subverts our expectations of perfect reproductions of what he saw, instead presenting us with potentially inaccurate sketches. By embracing the imperfections of memory and manual reproduction, Cheung creates a more intimate connection between the viewer and his experience, highlighting how our recollections inevitably transform reality.

Reflections on visual perception

I left the exhibition with a heightened awareness of how I consume images. In today's social media landscape, where images bombard us and AI-generated content proliferates, we often forget the simple experience of viewing an image. This photographic exhibition's focus isn't on the images themselves but on our relationship with them—how we perceive and process visual information.

Exhibition details

I definitely recommend paying the show a quick visit:

Venue: CRASH, Room 303 JCCAC in Shek Kip Mei, Hong Kong

It is a short walk from MTR Exit C, Shek Kip Mei Station.

Dates: 28th February - 4th March, 2025

Opening hours: 12-7pm; it is recommended to message soft.groundprod on Instagram before visiting.