The Art of Advent: Day Thirteen

By Dawn Lui

As the winter draws in the hours of light, especially in Scotland, dwindle; leaving the house after four in the afternoon one is greeted only with darkness. Whilst you might be lacking in vitamin D, hopefully this article might restore some brightness.  

 Although lesser known as an art photographer in the West, Fan Ho’s mastery of light and composition made him one of the most influential photographers in Asia. Born in Shanghai, Fan Ho migrated to Hong Kong during the Chinese civil war with his family. After acquiring a twin-lens Rolleiflex camera at the age of eighteen, he started his journey as an art photographer. One of his trademark elements in his work was his usage of composition and his ability to capture urban landscapes with his own aesthetic.

Fan Ho, Recollection of Wan Chai. Courtesy Blue Lotus Gallery.

Fan Ho also delves into experimental photography, utilizing light to create atmospheric scenes unexpected of a seemingly ordinary colony of the East. One of his most famous works, Hong Kong Venice captured in 1962, expressed the unique hybridity of Hong Kong not only through his perfectly named title, but through its light and location. Capturing a boat sailing through a narrow path of houses, likely shot in the villages of Tai O, a city built on top of the ocean, Fan Ho brilliantly juxtaposes the boat’s passenger with a beaming shroud of light cast from above, separating his subject with the rows of squat houses surrounding him. Opting to use black and white photography, his work beautifully engages with light and shadow, creating a strong atmospheric contrast feastful to the eyes. Therefore, capturing the unique essence of Hong Kong’s colonial history—of survival in a city of clashing cultures.

Fan Ho, Hong Kong Venice, 1962. Courtesy Blue Lotus Gallery