Wing Ka Ho Jimmi (b. 1993) is a photographer based in Hong Kong and the UK. His works document historical landscapes and portraits in the community, investigating the political issues and social changes. His latest project, 'So close and yet so far away' documents Hong Kong society through diverse personal identities and geographic locations. Utilizing the classical genres of portrait and landscape, he identifies and questions the identity crisis associated with the socio-political situation in Hong Kong.

'So close and yet so far away'

2020 - Ongoing
The project originates from the contemplation of self-identity, exploring the relationship between memory and identity.
It is a series of conversations among Hong Kong people about the history and future of the city and the social-political environment.

In search of documents contemporary Hong Kong society through diverse personal identities and geographic locations. 'So close and yet so far away' consists of two chapters. The first chapter, 'So Close and yet', mainly tells about the border and politics leftover from the undeniable Sino-British history, which became the inseparable relationship between the two cities. I tried to capture the portrayal and metaphors of daily life. The image is in a peaceful state, but hidden behind Hong Kong society, it is experiencing a complex tension and political environment.

In the second chapter 'So far away', I have started to investigate Hong Kong society based on its changes in history, explore the shifting identities and memories of the Hong Kong community, and convey the emotions of Hong Kongers.

After the social movement, the Hong Kong government criminalized speech from activists and enforced patriotism education to children; the city's autonomy behavior is close to terrorism. In 2021, the UK government's offer for settlement, more than 90,000 people started a new life in the UK with the BNO immigration program.

The experience of Hong Kongers fleeing to the UK after the clampdown of the Chinese government, especially in the context of their history of colonialism with the UK, is interesting but heartbreaking. Hong Kong is caught between two worlds, colliding. An outpost of colonial capital brokerage and trade - once ruled from afar compared to the locality of China's humongous state-capitalist beast, hungry for more power on the world stage as the West declines. There are seemingly no remains, no commemoration, no memory, but colonial history remains influential in this city.