Palani Mohan's captivating photographs, taken from diverse corners of the world, weave a poetic narrative of his awe-inspiring journeys.

Reflecting on the project, Palani Mohan shares: "This collection of images is a personal look at places of silence, stillness, and space where I have found peace and meaning. It is a search for the magic and the miracle that lie within the smallest things that surround us. Such moments are just waiting for us to pull at the reins, stop, and take notice.”

Born in India, raised in Australia, and now based in Hong Kong, Palani Mohan credits travel as a cornerstone of his career spanning over three decades. The book, Watch with Wonder, published by Hong Kong University Press, features 107 stunning duotone images spread across 140 pages will be available at the FCC or Blue Lotus Gallery (on and offline).

Venue address: Foreign Correspondents’ Club (FCC), North, 2 Lower Albert Rd, Central (main bar)

Blue Lotus Gallery is excited to announce “Shooting Hoops,” an exhibition and accompanying photo book launch showcasing Austin Bell’s photographic documentation of all 2,549 outdoor basketball courts in Hong Kong. The exhibition will kick off with an opening event; a book launch and signing on January 15 6-9pm and will run through February 23, offering viewers a glimpse into Bell’s exhaustive cataloging of the city’s vibrant sports surfaces.

Upon his first visit to Hong Kong in 2017, photographer Austin Bell was struck by the color and design of the city’s basketball courts—starkly contrasting the bland asphalt surfaces in his native USA. 

Despite living in one of the highest-density cities in the world, most Hong Kong residents can find sports and recreational facilities within walking distance. Surveys have consistently found basketball to be the most popular sport among young people, contributing to small-scale ‘pocket parks’ being the most frequently visited types of open spaces in Hong Kong. 

Intrigued, Bell returned in 2019 with the goal of capturing ALL of Hong Kong courts. 

Opening reception and book signing: January 17, 6-9pm

Gallery address: 28 Pound Lane, Tai Ping Shan

Blue Lotus Gallery is excited to announce the opening of “Voices of the Walls" an exhibition that explores the history and culture of the infamous Kowloon Walled City in Hong Kong through photographs by Ian Lambot, Greg Girard, Bianca Tse and Keeping Lee.

Photographs serve as a vital medium for archiving collective memory and preserving heritage, particularly for places that will eventually disappear, like the walled city. While few ventured there, even fewer thought to document it. However, Ian Lambot and Greg Girard did just that in the years leading up to its demolition, culminating in the iconic book City of Darkness, published by Watermark, which has sold over 20,000 copies to date. This collection not only preserves the heritage of the notorious walled city through photographs and stories but also served as a source of inspiration for future generations of artists, still influencing everything from video games and AI-generated imagery, like that of Bianca Tse showcased in this exhibition, to films such as the latest blockbuster,  ‘Twilight of the Warriors: Walled in.’

Gallery address: 28 Pound Lane, Tai Ping Shan

Over the summer we will be rotating between works we exhibited before or received attention in the last year alongside new works that give a preview of exhibitions that are to come.

Artists currently showing: Fan Ho, Greg Girard, Ian Lambot and Walter Koditek

You can also discover our exciting photobook collection of books published by blue lotus editions and other independent publishers mainly on the theme of Hong Kong. We also prepare a special selection of books on sale.

Gallery address: 28 Pound LaneTai Ping Shan

Yasuhiro Ogawa’s brand new project 'Into the Silence', soon to be released as a Photo-book published by Blue Lotus Editions Hong Kong, captures the rugged yet timeless beauty of Japan’s northern region. Follows the testament of Matsuo Bashō's journey through the northern provinces of Japan in the 17th century, as recounted in his travelogue "The Narrow Road to the Deep North,” ("Oku no Hosomichi”).  Ogawa set out on a journey through the Tōhoku region like Bashō did, with his camera in hand.

Ogawa captures the rugged beauty of the landscape, from snow-covered mountains to misty forests but also includes mondain house formations, deserted roads and glimpses of wild oceans, often shot through foggy windows on a train in motion. Through his lens, Ogawa reveals a world that is both remote and timeless, a world in stillness and motion.

Opening Reception: 15 March 2024 at 6 pm - 8 pm (The artist will be present)

Gallery address: G/F, 28 Pound Lane, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

Stefan Irvine's photo-book and solo exhibition, "Abandoned Villages of Hong Kong", published by Blue Lotus Editions, is an invitation to explore the forgotten corners of this vibrant city, and to discover the haunting beauty that lies hidden within its parks and islands.

For centuries before the colonial era, Hong Kong's population dwelled in isolated villages, subsisting mainly on farming or fishing. When better opportunities arose during the 1960s, many villagers found work in restaurants overseas or in the urban factories of Hong Kong. Meanwhile, their countryside houses - sometimes entire villages - were simply abandoned and left to be reclaimed by nature. Stefan's photographs breathe new life into the crumbling facades and overgrown relics, allowing readers to witness the enduring charm of these abandoned homes.

Opening Reception: 12 January 2024, 6 pm - 8 pm

Talk with Stefan Irvine: Sunday 28 January 2024, 11:30 am

Gallery address: 28 Pound Lane, Sheung Wan

Renowned photographer Palani Mohan invites you to embark on a mesmerising journey through his latest photo book and exhibition, titled 'Watch with Wonder.' The exhibition will be held at Blue Lotus Gallery from November 17th to December 10th, 2023. Palani Mohan's captivating black and white images, taken from various corners of the world, weave together a poetic narrative of his awe-inspiring travels.

Palani Mohan shares his perspective on the collection, stating, "This book of images is a personal look at places of silence, stillness, and space where I have found peace and meaning. It is a search for the magic and the miracle that lie within the smallest things that surround us. Such moments are just waiting for us to pull at the reins, stop, and take notice.”

As you turn the pages, you will find yourself immersed in the magnificent Louvre Museum in Paris, exploring Cambodia's awe-inspiring Angkor Wat, traversing the desolate wilderness of the Arabian Peninsula's Empty Quarter, joining tribal gatherings in Papua New Guinea, and contemplating the timeless, preternatural otherness of Kashmir's Dal Lake, the Australian Outback, northern India's lunar-like Ladakh region and even Hong Kong’s waters.

Talk with Palani Mohan: Saturday 25 November 2023, 11am

Gallery address: G/F, 28 Pound Lane, Sheung Wan

Blue Lotus Gallery is pleased to present an intimate photographic exhibition by Andrew Eldon titled "Tribe" opening 27 October. This vibrant series offers a rare glimpse into the world of the Suri, a semi-nomadic tribe inhabiting the remote Omo Valley of Ethiopia.

Through vivid portraits and cultural scenes, Eldon's lens captures the grace and splendor of Suri life and traditions before they are irrevocably altered by modernisation. His images reveal the tribe's distinctive practices of body modification and adornment. Women wear large clay lip plates and both men and women engage in ritual body scarring—testaments to the Suri's unique concepts of beauty and identity. Eldon's photographs also unveil the Suri's elaborate floral headdresses and face painting, artful preparations usually reserved for special occasions.

Beyond aesthetics, the exhibition invites viewers to understand the daily rhythms and values of Suri life. Their semi-nomadic pastoral existence revolves around cattle herding and subsistence farming on ancestral lands. Family and community are central pillars for the Suri, with polygamy commonly practiced and major decisions made collectively by village elders. While life is difficult by modern standards, Eldon's images radiate the Suri's infectious joy and camaraderie.

Eldon's photographs capture a culture on the cusp of transformation. The Ethiopian government has begun leasing Suri lands to international mining and agricultural companies, carving roads through once-isolated terrain. The exhibition becomes a meditation on the impermanence of indigenous cultures amidst the unstoppable tide of globalisation.

Opening reception: Friday 27 Oct 2023 from 6-8pm

Related Events: Talk Andrew Eldon: Saturday 4 November, 11:00-12:30

Gallery address: 28 Pound Lane, Tai Ping Shan

The closure of Hong Kong's iconic Kai Tak Airport in 1998 was a significant moment in the city's history. To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the airport's closure, Blue Lotus Gallery is pleased to announce a special upcoming exhibition ‘Goodbye Kai Tak and Thank You’.

Featuring photographs by Canadian photographer Greg Girard and Hong Kong photojournalist Birdy Chu, the exhibition offers a unique perspective on the airport's history and legacy.

"We are thrilled to present 'Goodbye Kai Tak and Thank You,' an exhibition that pays tribute to the airport's legacy and its impact on Hong Kong's cultural identity," said Blue Lotus Gallery founder Sarah Greene. "Through the works of local and international photographer Greg Girard and Birdy Chu, we hope to offer a fresh perspective on Kai Tak's history and commemorate its closure in a meaningful way.

Opening reception: 29.06 from 5pm

Gallery address: G/F, 28 Pound Lane, Sheung Wan

In this group exhibition we explore 'the streets of Hong Kong' through the lens of various photographers. The oldest photo is a panoramic view of Hong Kong in the late 1800's, followed by an experimental take on street photography by Fan Ho, Hong Kong's iconic neon signs as captured by Keith Macgregor, Wan Chai at night by Greg Girard, this city's poetry found in Hong Kong's street signs by Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze, a contemporary stylistic approach by young Jason Au and finally Kistler's seductive deep hue scenes of today's Hong Kong.

Gallery address: 28 Pound Lane, Sheung Wan

The exhibition “Hong Kong Modern Architecture of the 1950s-1970s” is a thematic exploration of post-war modern architecture based on Walter Koditek’s book of the same title at Blue Lotus Gallery. By combining photography and research, Koditek creates a comprehensive overview of architectural design during that transformative period.

In the post-war decades, Hong Kong architects, many of them having migrated from China or studied overseas, embraced modern principles when forced to face the problems of housing shortage, mass construction and limited budgets in the British colony. Although economic efficiencies often prevailed over design, their buildings were rooted in their time and place, reflecting the local climate, social values, materials, technique and use in an often unique and pragmatic fashion.

As Koditek documents and captures building facades for this project, he invites us to notice the different designs stemming from the international Modern Movement and how it has been adapted to suit local needs and conditions. Each facade, uniformly framed and composed, draws our attention to architectural details that are often overlooked, as well as the variety of appropriations that transformed their modern characters over time. The arrangement of facades, ranging from famous landmarks to mundane structures that dominate Hong Kong’s cityscape, presents an underlying relationship between these built forms.

With this exhibition and book, Koditek’s project not only serves as a visually compelling record of modernist architectural heritage found in the city, but also as a reminder and call to buildings that are on the verge of disappearance or redevelopment.

Gallery address: G/F, 28 Pound Lane, Sheung Wan

The creator's journey is always a difficult one with its twists and turns, but every creator has its own way of embarking on their unique path. Fan Ho, an internationally renowned photographer who captured Hong Kong in the 50’s and 60’s, devoted his life to evolving his craft. His own artistic journey started as early as 1945 and he was over time inspired by different schools and styles to eventually come to his own unique style.

This journey is documented in Fan Ho’s latest photo-book 'Photography. My Passion. My Life.’ published by We Press in 2021. A highlight of the book is the essay 'My Quest', in which he recollects his past works and reflects on his personal interpretations of aesthetics, poetics, philosophy and synergy. This journey will also be expressed in Fan Ho’s latest exhibition at Blue Lotus Gallery inviting photography enthusiasts to explore and pursue the wonders of photography through Fan Ho's lens.

Gallery address: 28 Pound LaneTai Ping Shan

“Thirty-six Views of Lion Rock” by Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze is the first photo-book published by Blue Lotus Editions, the newly established publication arm of Blue Lotus Gallery. The book will be the first in a series of visual stories on Hong Kong as curated by Sarah Greene. Along with an exhibition under the same title, the book will be launched together in September at Blue Lotus Gallery.

Lion Rock is not just any mountain, it’s Hong Kong’s most famous peak laden with symbolism and meanings that are evolving over time. Inspired by Hokusai’s important woodblock series “36 Views on Mount Fuji” which was created in 1830, Romain set out to capture Hong Kong’s famous peak in a similar yet contemporary fashion, in order to express the many faces of this legendary mountain top.

The Lion Rock is featured in each of the photos, some in a far distance obscured by high rise buildings, traffic or bustling markets. In other images, it is more prominent, far removed from the urban jungle, oozing peace and tranquility. Some photos are shot at the break of the day, others during the blue moment at dusk. In short,  “Thirty-six Views of Lion Rock” reads like a letter to the mountain that Hongkongers know and love so well.

Related Event:
Live Artist Talk with Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze
Sunday 18 September 2022, 2pm: Meet at the gallery. RSVP at kozaf@bluelotus-gallery.com

Gallery address: 28 Pound Lane, Sheung Wan

Let us take you on a trip back to 1980s Hong Kong to relive that intoxicating time when the city seemed full of promise and infinite possibilities. Our journey begins in Canada with a young Greg Girard, then only 18, who was so deeply struck by Eliot Elisofon’s 1962 photograph of the Hong Kong harbour, that he made it his life's mission to get here and see it for himself. He arrived by boat in 1974 and in 1982 decided to settle down in this bustling city. Drawn by Hong Kong's dynamic blend of east and west, Girard spent the 80s roaming through all its many nooks and crannies, capturing Hong Kong as he saw it, raw and very much alive. The period of time helped Girard defend his photography path and became a well-respected artist himself. Blue Lotus Gallery proudly presents HK UNSEEN, photographs by iconic artist that have never been published or exhibited before. 

HK UNSEEN is part of HKIPF Satellite Exhibition 2021 as a collaborator.

Related events:
Zoom Artist Talk with Greg Girard
Saturday 27 November 2021, 11am: Meet at the gallery or log in online

Gallery address: 28 Pound Lane, Tai Ping Shan

‘The Labyrinth’, with a book soon to be published under the same title, is a series captured by rising photographer Christopher Button on his many late-nights spent in the underground stations of Hong Kong, where he transforms some of the city’s most crowded locations into a quiet, dystopian world. Shooting with analogue in an age dominated by digital media, he presents a horror film reminiscent of Kubrick’s cinema that is perhaps relatable to those who also feel trapped during these times of uncertainty.

Christopher Button is an artist and photographer, living and working in Hong Kong. His inspirations are drawn from the city and cinema, particularly the films of Lynch, Kubrick and Tarkovsky. His quiet yet cinematic images look to explore the inner life of his subjects, gently unraveling the confines which surround us all, exposing venerability in darkness and beauty.

Live Artist Talk with Christopher Button
Saturday 11 September, 11am at Blue Lotus Gallery (in collaboration with Central West). Contact christina@bluelotus-gallery.com to register for the live talk

Gallery address: G/F 28 Pound Lane, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

Nude Studies explores the age-old fixation by artists to represent the human body specifically through the lens of three current photographers. All practice within the analog domain and yet their work manifests in unique forms. From the Grand Master of the minimal black & white aesthetic, Michael Kenna breaks new ground by photographing the human figure for the first time but not without his signature style. For colour and the vital female gaze we turn to Au Tze Long whose intimate and deeply personal works move between stories, dreams, ritual and reality, whispering of life’s inherent messiness and pain. Ben Felten’s project on photosynthesis marriages content and technique as his double exposures of plants on nudes come to life through cyanotype printing which are developed in sunlight.

Gallery address: G/F 28 Pound Lane , Sheung Wan

Blue Lotus Gallery proudly presents Japanese photographer Yasuhiro Ogawa’s debut exhibition in Hong Kong: ‘The Dreaming’. The exhibition will feature a selection of about 20 handmade dark room prints.

‘The Dreaming’ is Ogawa’s latest photo-book (published February 2020) comprising a collection of black and white photographs, shot during his travels throughout Asia over the past 30 years. Ogawa visited China (including Tibet), Myanmar, India, Cambodia and other countries. As per publisher Mark Pearson: ‘Ogawa’s photographs succeed in a difficult task: capturing the world as otherworldly and fascinating as it can truly be.’

Gallery address: 28 Pound Lane, Tai Ping Shan

In cities there are millions of unnoticed moments of unexpected beauty occurring in the blink of an eye... existing briefly but then gone forever. The medium of street photography exists to both capture and play with these fractions of seconds where the drama of everyday life plays out and blends with the complex web of the human metropolis.

Over half the world's population live in urban areas with this figure growing constantly. Combined with the exploding accessibility to smartphone cameras,  it is no wonder Street Photography is one of the most popular genres of photography today. However, achieving success within the art form is extremely  challenging. 

Gallery address: 29 Pound Lane Sheung Wan

Wing Shya is a Master when it comes to capturing or amplifying particular human emotions and atmospheres. He pictures the tactile tension that exists between lovers: togetherness, intimacy or the hint of the erotic about to unfold. Or he frames the extreme opposite: the deep longing for love and connection, loneliness and isolation. Either way, there often is a sense of time being suspended. As if reality is slowing down and standing still in time.  There is a strong sense of waiting. Something dramatic is about to happen. 

This quality might stem from when he worked on film sets with Wong Kar Wai when he was only able to shoot seconds before or after scenes. The mood created in these moments, which Wing Shya managed to pin down so skillfully, became his signature style.

Gallery address: G/F, 28 Pound Lane, Sheung Wan