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A collection of new work by photographer and artist David LaChapelle, is currently on exhibit until July 2nd, and marks his first ever visit and exhibition in Hong Kong. The exhibition entitled “The Raft” features two chapters – with the centerpiece “The Raft of Illusion: Raging Toward Truth II” and its studies and sketches; and three pieces inspired by the film posters of the Chinese American icon Bruce Lee. Both chapters employ the process of collage – “The Raft” in a more traditional cut photographic epic montage of LaChapelle photographs; whereas the “Bruce Lee” collection is created completely in camera with elaborate sets that act as actual collage pieces utilizing extremes of scale, and not digital composites, which are theatrically staged and then photographed whole. There is also an existential itinerary at work here that links these to very different applications of photography. During the opening, LaChapelle explains that his inspiration behind the collection came after his first trip to China in Beijing last year, “With a deep curiosity I wanted to understand as much as I could of its rich cultural history and relationship with the West of the new and the old, the extreme and subtle – its an idea that would take many lifetimes to uncover. Even though I am an American newly introduced to China, I wanted to make pictures specifically for this part of the world from my personal perspective. China touched me in such an intense way and I hope I will journey there more and spend much time in this intriguing awe-inspiring place. With much anticipation I am pleased to be visiting Hong Kong for my first time.” |
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