Tag: Urban

PHOTO ESSAY : HONG KONG SOLITAIRE


TEXT & PHOTO: PATRICK KASINGSING

(For Thai, press here

Hong Kong captivates me like no other city. From my first visit in 2017 to my most recent stop last September, this 1,108km² pocket of contrasts keeps pulling me back. Every trip feels like uncovering another layer, where something familiar is always just a little different. It’s a place where glass-and-steel skyscrapers soar above streets that still hold the grit and character of another time, where the sharp edges of a modern “Asia’s World City” soften into traces of its past as the Fragrant Harbor.

Hong Kong hums with urgency: fast, loud, relentless. But every so often, it pauses, exhales, and shows you its quieter side, rare moments that I wanted to capture in this series. A solitary figure standing in the shadow of towers; a woman in green, lost in her own thoughts along the Avenue of Stars; a Yau Ma Tei street stirring awake as the day begins. These quiet moments, nearly missed amidst the city’s rush, are the ones I always seem to gravitate toward, the small, human glimpses that, to me, make up the real Hong Kong.

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Patrick Kasingsing is an art director, photographer, writer, and Philippine architectural heritage advocate. He founded @brutalistpilipinas and @modernistpilipinas, platforms celebrating the country’s architectural legacy, and launched Kanto.PH, an online magazine covering design and culture in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. Previously creative director of architecture magazine BluPrint, he revitalized its identity and oversaw creative direction for multiple One Mega Group titles. As art director of adobo magazine, his contributions to its rebrand earned a Philippine Quill award. Patrick’s writing and photography has also appeared in publications from Birkhäuser Verlag, Braun, DOM Publishers, PURVEYR, and Vogue Philippines among others.

instagram.com/patrick_kasingsing

PHOTO ESSAY : SPECTRUM OF SOLITUDE: A TAPESTRY OF URBAN LIFE

TEXT & PHOTO: CHEVAN LIKITBANNAKON 

(For Thai, press here

In “Spectrum of Solitude,” a captivating series of photographs, the lens delves into the intricate dynamics of urban existence, capturing moments of connection, introspection, and cultural immersion amidst the backdrop of parks, museums, and bustling streets. Each image is a brushstroke in the larger canvas of urban life, revealing the nuanced interplay between solitude and companionship, culture and art.

The series opens with scenes of people basking in the warmth of companionship, laughing, and sharing stories in the verdant embrace of city parks or cozy cafes. Friends and lovers alike find solace in each other’s company. Their joy is palpable against the backdrop of urban landscapes. Yet, interspersed among these moments of camaraderie are glimpses of solitary figures lost in thought amidst the hustle and bustle of city life. These solitary moments offer a poignant counterpoint to the vibrant energy of communal gatherings, inviting viewers to contemplate the beauty of introspection and self-discovery.

As the series unfolds, cultural immersion takes center stage, with photographs capturing the diverse tapestry of traditions and expressions that define urban landscapes. From the hushed halls of museums, where art and history intertwine, to the vibrant streets pulsating with the rhythms of different cultures, each image is a testament to the richness of human experience found within the city’s embrace.

“Spectrum of Solitude” is more than just a collection of photographs; it is a visual symphony that celebrates the multifaceted nature of urban life. Through the lens of street photography, viewers are invited to explore the delicate balance between connection and solitude, culture and art, discovering beauty in the everyday moments that shape our urban experiences.

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With a background in filmmaking, Chevan Likitbannakon is a Thai-Egyptian passionate visual storyteller, particularly through the visual arts – painting, photography, music videos, and filmmaking. There are fleeting moments where I glimpse the essence of the subject(s) I capture. That is the story I tell. And I become part of that story by being behind the camera and documenting that particular moment. It could be a feeling, or a thought, or a look, that is revealed in the captured moment – one that was perhaps previously unseen. 

chevan.myportfolio.com

 

ZILLUSTATION

TEXT & PHOTO: ZILLUSTATION

(For Thai, press here

My interest and passion for the beauty of built structures since an early age have motivated me to travel to different cities and discover their unique charms. Memories have been transformed into architectural/map drawings interlaced with elements of painting. Unusual perspectives capture different urban landscapes in broader and more detailed views.

The work’s concept stems from a desire to explore into the astonishing births of cities, their history profoundly anchored and evolving over time, shaping every aspect of their existence. Particular focus is placed on architecture, which serves as an archive of a place’s past, present, and future.

Much like humans, cities develop their own distinct identity, characterized by unique features and beauty. The essence of this creative process lies in the endeavor to construct perspectives that enable the depiction of a place with great thoroughness and detail.  Using a pen, each line is drawn, one by one. The recreation of a city through each stroke of a pen feels like revisiting the city’s birth and growth through the passing course of time. 

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Karoon Jeamviriyasatean, an independent artist and owner of ZilluStation Studio who conveys his love and passion for cities and urban spaces through his fascinating pen strokes.

facebook.com/Karooncity
instagram.com/zillustation