In The Name of Victoria, a photography and video exhibition by Leung Chi Wo, is part of a project the artist initiated more than twelve years ago. The project revolving around the name Victoria started in 1997, the year the British Colony of Hong Kong was returned to China.

Hong Kong was ceded to Britain in 1842 at the defeat of the First Opium War. It became one of the British colonies under the long and remarkable rule of Queen Victoria, who was then in her early twenties.

Leung described the several projects on Victoria: "In 1997, a small box with a postcard of Victoria Harbour was made in form and concept of a pinhole camera as my contribution to the collaborative project Transaction which was exhibited in both Melbourne and Hong Kong. Its title is From Victoria to Victoria.

Peak of Victoria, a photo sculpture featuring images of the shopping mall at Peak Victoria inside a cracked pyramid, was produced when Hong Kong had just been handed over to the People’s Republic of China, farewell to a colony founded in the time of Queen Victoria.

Ten years later, a new video work titled My name is Victoria has been freshly made to continue the contemplation of this royal name, however in a mix of personal sentiments. Messages from over 40 women named Victoria telling the story about their name, are compiled as a monologue voiced over the mundane scenes shot at my journey walking along Victoria Road from Kennedy Town, the border of Victoria, capital of this former crown colony to Aberdeen where the British landed for the first time."

In-between these works, Leung got a chance to visit the decommissioned Victoria Prison in 2006 and made a series of large format photographs of the empty old goal. He called that series Prison of Victoria.

In The Name of Victoria is part of CONTACT, 2009. Curated by LEE Ka-sing and presented by Chinese Contemporary Xchange. An artist reception will be held on Saturday, May 23, from 2 to 6 pm.

Video: 20 min. 49 sec., 2008