Exhibit 8 presents its first group exhibition in Hong Kong. The exhibition is open to the public and admission is free. The opening reception is on the 5th of February 2014 from 6:30pm to 9:30pm and anyone is welcome to attend. Eight photographers will be exhibiting photographs under the theme ‘SCRAPED’. The purpose of the show is to promote the wealth of photographic talent in Hong Kong and to demonstrate a cross section of this talent, bringing you an eclectic mix of professional and non-professional photographers.

The exhibiting photographers are Jonathan van Smit, Liam Fitzpatrick, Lai Yat Nam, Yolanda van der Mescht, Timothy Cheng, Steve Schechter, Kenny Yung and Scotty So.

Jonathan van Smit is a self-taught photographer from New Zealand who has been living in Hong Kong since early 2008. Taken mostly in Kowloon , Jonathan van Smit’s photographs illustrate the terrifying social power that capitalism has over the multitudes who live in the shadows of Hong Kong 's beautiful, familiar towers. With themes ranging from poverty and marginal housing conditions to drug use and sex, his work has been described as “raw, sometimes shockingly so, but never sensationalist. It’s full of boredom, sadness, loneliness and neglect”. Jonathan’s photographs can be viewed at www.jonathanvansmit.com.

Liam Fitzpatrick was born in Hong Kong and educated at Christ Church, Oxford, where he also participated in his first group photo exhibition. He has variously worked as a kitchen porter, dance-party promoter, theater director, music producer, poet and journalist. He held his debut solo photo exhibition, Kinky Vicious, in September and October 2011, and his photography has been published in Time and Roads & Kingdoms. His work has been described as “uniquely panoramic and [] devoid of the crowds and peopled streets that usually define today’s representations of Hong Kong”. Some of Liam’s photographs can be viewed at www.flickr.com/photos/liamfitzpatrick.

Cinematographer/photographer/visual artist and Hong Kong native Lai Yat Nam is renowned for his series of watermelon photographs taken in the Ngau Tau Kok Lower Estate and his renegade underground series taken in the MTR. His photographs have been exhibited in galleries around Hong Kong. The bulk of his work “show[s] a spectrum of unguarded moments of city life”. He is a co-founder of Photo Now and his work can be viewed at www.laiyatnam.wordpress.com.

Hong Kong-based fine art, street and portrait photographer Yolanda van der Mescht was born in South Africa. Her work has been featured in various publications and online showcases. She is also the spokesperson for Open Show, an international photography advocacy agency, in Hong Kong. Her work has been described as “intriguing… [her photographs] could be stills from an art house movie; as if there’s a bigger story behind each scene to be revealed”. Her work can be viewed at www.yolandavandermescht.com.

Timothy Cheng is an Associate Creative Director at Ogilvy & Mather and has won numerous awards at among others, Adfest, Effie, Longxi and Kam Fan. He is a co-founder of Photo Now and makes regular contributions to the Hong Kong art and design scene. His photographs can be viewed at www.flickr.com/photos/yhtomitc.

Born and raised in The Bronx, Steve 'Spike' Schechter has been calling Hong Kong home for more than 16 years. His career includes working with Stanley Kubrick and managing bands that performed at NYC's legendary CBGB, as well as more than a quarter of a century doing the corporate IT schtick. Steve has written and photographed for a wide spectrum of print and online publications and is a partner at PASM Workshop. Steve's photos can be viewed at www.spikesphotos.com.

Kenny Yung was born and raised in Hong Kong . He has been a devoted street photographer since 2009. Yung recently joined a group formed by local artists, which concerns itself with documenting the development of the Northeastern New Territories . Kenny’s photographs can be viewed at www.500px.com/filmoholic.

Image: © Yolanda van der Mescht
Man on the Bridge, Johannesburg
2012
Digital print
41.7 x 26.9cm