Sino Group's 'Art in Hong Kong' presents an intriguing photo exhibition and book release, both of which originated from a love for the vast country, China, and from the convergence of two perspectives on photography as a tool to transmit memory. 'Time Stamps: The Forgotten China' will be held in Central Plaza in Wanchai and Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre in July.
Four years ago, 50 original photographs of 1902 China were found in the Turin family house of Luigi Piovano. Piovano was Captain of an Italian military expedition that travelled to China in 1901 to help the Qing Emperor control the Boxers' Uprising. A century later, Stefano Mangini, photographer and author of 'Restless Travellers: from China to Italy by Motorcycle' undertook a two-year project to review and study the Piovano photos. The results are astonishing photographic parallels of timeless views and unchanged aspects of beautiful China, presented in a unique exhibition.
This is a déjà vu journey across two centuries, recording the stories of two Italian travellers, photographers and explorers, and how they saw the Middle Kingdom 100 years apart. Though taken in two different historical periods (1902 to 1905 and 2002 to 2007), these original photographs illustrate many amazing aspects of China still flourishing after a century.
Following extensive work, the old prints have been restored to their original beauty and printed in a large format to expose fascinating detail and highlight parallels with the modern photographs.
The text, written by historian Giulietta Iannone (great grand-niece of Piovano) and sinologist Beatrice Cavalleri (long time resident in Shanghai) will take the book's readers and visitors to the exhibition through a unique time-journey of surprising similarities and striking contradictions.
First Stop
30 June - 20 July 2009
9am - 9pm
1/F Lobby, Central Plaza, 18 Harbour Road, Wan Chai
Free admission
Cocktails
30 June 2009 (Tuesday) 7pm
1/F Lobby, Central Plaza
Second Stop (Full Collection)
22 - 31 July 2009
10am - 9pm
Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre, 7A Kennedy Road, Central, Hong Kong
Free admission
Grand Opening
22 July 2009 (Wednesday) 7 pm
Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre
Organised by Sino Group's 'Art in Hong Kong'
Supported by the Consulate General of Italy in Hong Kong
Venue sponsored by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Sponsored by Cyan Tsoi, Bernard Choi, Joanne Choy and BC&P Consulting
About the Artist
Stefano Mangini was born in Italy and studied in Florence and New York. From there life took him to live and work in several cities around the USA, India, China and Hong Kong.
In his heart he has a passion for photography that reflects his way of the restless traveller. His new book 'Restless Travellers: from China to Italy by Motorcycle' covers his extended travelling and photographic experience in China and leaves his mark on the sand for future generations.
