NEON SIGNS OF HONG KONG - Rainer Torrado, Photographer

#87b (208 Queen's Rd W, Sai Ying Pun. March 2015) Hong Kong, 2015

2019-2014 EYE CARRY THE NIGHT

« Eye Carry The Night is first and foremost an innovative and vivid depiction of Hong Kong; its over-empowered and constantly changing urban architecture is the most accurate scene for architect-turned professional photographer Torrado's study. Systematic portraits of the city in between two ages, methodic mapping via one of its most visible symbols, brilliant - and infinite - attempt to document the city's quickly dying modernity

Yet, Torrado's series addresses much deeper issues of urban, cultural and social identity. Neon signs being replaced by LEDs are a powerful, and somewhat melancolic, metaphor for the rapid evolution of the globalised cities and their local fabrics. The transformation of the landscape epidermis, conceived as the visible dimension of more dramatic changes, forces the observer to reconsider her set of values and inner identity. Though, by shooting neons from below (or from above), Torrado leaves us a comforting answer: and what if these global changes beautifully shot by him were a mere issue of perspective? »