Japan 311 (2011)
Hong Kong
www.vincentyu.ne

As a photo-journalist, Vincent Yu benefits from the handy iPhone and has used it to capture the recent Japan earthquake aftermath, the resulted ‘Japan 311’ series is a selection from thousands of snapshots. Unlike the relax and casual practice of iPhoneographers, these heavy images bear a grandeur perspective achieved as taken by a tradition medium format camera; the techno-friendliness of the mobile phone releases the burden of the photographer while working in an unpleasant environment. French philosopher Roland Barthes once published “The Empire of Signs” (1970) to decipher the symbols as seen from the Japan lived culture; with the flair of Japanese photographers shooting the relics in the post-war Nagasaki and Hiroshima, Vincent Yu has succeeded to address Japan’s present catastrophic condition and manifests it into iPhone photos under a canopy of discontented symbolic images.

Biography

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Vincent Yu has worked as a photojournalist covering major news events across the Asia-Pacific region since 1985. As a close observer of Hong Kong’s rapid development, Yu has acquired a special sensitivity towards its ever-changing cityscape. In particular, he is interested in documenting disappearing heritage and architecture as well as communities affected by these changes.

His works have been recognized by many honours, including the 2004 National Headliner Awards, 2010 World Press Photo Awards 3rd Prize “People in the News” single category, 2013 Picture of the Year Awards Award of Excellence “ Photographer of the Year “ and numerous Hong Kong Press Photographers Association Annual Awards. His works are collected by the Hong Kong Heritage Museum.
 
[ Part of the IPA HONG KONG & TAIWAN SHOWCASE ]