[Concurrent] Michael Kistler, a photographer traveling to Hong Kong in the United States
Yes, I am a foreigner, I did not grow up here, this is not my birthplace.
But I feel that this is a very easy city to accept me. For me, I really feel that Hong Kong is my home.
[Explanation] A single-lens reflex camera, a backpack, sometimes climbed up skyscrapers to take panoramic views of the city, and sometimes shuttled through the streets and alleys to capture the atmosphere of the small city.
For American photographer Michael Kistler, after seven years in Hong Kong, exploring and documenting every corner of Hong Kong has become his daily routine.
Looking for the right angle, waiting for the moment of light and shadow, the moment you press the shutter, you also capture the unique beauty of this city.
[Concurrent] Michael Kistler, a photographer traveling to Hong Kong in the United States
Bruce Lee is a well-known celebrity in Hong Kong, and I have always been a fan of his movies.
You can take photos from a certain angle, and you can also take photos of the dense buildings in Hong Kong.
If we are lucky, we may be able to photograph a taxi.
This (photo) is very typical of Hong Kong to me. It (collects) many elements, the colors of Hong Kong, (Bruce Lee) such an idol, this red taxi, so just such a small photo, For me, it brings together the beauty of this city.
[Explanation] Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, after living in Tokyo, Japan for ten years, Michael, who loves oriental culture, brought his wife and daughter to Hong Kong, China to settle in Hong Kong.
Having worked in the banking industry and as a university teacher, photography was only Michael's daily hobby in the previous years.
When he first arrived in Hong Kong, he was fascinated by the diverse urban cultural landscape, so he made up his mind to record the unique beauty of this city, and his full-time photography career began for the next seven years.
[Concurrent] Michael Kistler, a photographer traveling to Hong Kong in the United States
Here you can see the traditional Man Mo Temple in Hong Kong, behind all these colorful Hong Kong traditional buildings, this is another good example, a very unusual building, so I think the contrast between tradition and modernity, The contrast between East and West is very obvious in this neighborhood.
[Explanation] Dazzling neon billboards, iconic double-decker trams and red taxis, reflective street puddles, building glass curtain walls and shop windows... Different from the black and white style of some street photographers, Michael's works prefer to use bright colors and rich light and shadow to express Hong Kong's vitality and diverse impressions.
[Concurrent] Michael Kistler, a photographer traveling to Hong Kong in the United States
Internationalization, diversification, and excitement, one of the keywords that touches me the most is full of vitality.
In general, the people are very friendly and kind.
Hong Kong is a very, very safe city.
In every corner of the city, no matter day or night, you don’t have to worry about your safety, which is also very important.
[Explanation] Seven years are not short or long, but it is enough for the American photographer to regard Hong Kong as his "second hometown".
He walks through the streets and is familiar with everything here, every street and every scene.
Whether it is the exhibition halls and art galleries all over the neighborhood, or the newly built landmark museum on the shore of Victoria Harbour, Michael is full of confidence in the future of Hong Kong's art.
[Concurrent] Michael Kistler, a photographer traveling to Hong Kong in the United States
I have been to the M+ Museum in West Kowloon three or four times, and I like it very much.
I believe that there are many Hong Kong artists who bring the cultures of Eastern and Western countries into their works.
I think we live in a place that establishes a close connection between these two cultures, blending them together, not separating them.
Over time, this will affect your work subtly.
[Explanation] In addition to the strong artistic atmosphere, Michael is also happy to see Hong Kong's new urban positioning as a "regional intellectual property trading center" in recent years.
In September 2021, the world's first physical NFT gallery landed in Hong Kong.
This new concept called "non-homogeneous tokens" has blossomed in Hong Kong and will have a transformative impact on the future of global art transactions and the protection of independent artists' copyrights.
[Concurrent] Michael Kistler, a photographer traveling to Hong Kong in the United States
I think (non-homogeneous token NFT) is a very interesting area.
I think the first significant advantage is to increase exposure.
I think that in the city of Hong Kong, the further development of technology is inevitable.
Hong Kong's rapid development and coordinated development with the world have given us artists a platform to try things that are at the forefront of technology and at the same time increase the exposure of our works. I think this is a "win-win" situation.
【Explanation】Creating endlessly and walking, this photographer from across the ocean travels all day long in Hong Kong, a city where east and west meet, and old and new. He uses light and shadow to record the development and changes here, and allows the world to witness Hong Kong. Unique beauty.
Reporter Fan Siyi from Hong Kong
Editor in charge: 【Luo Pan】