Photo Journal Monday: The Arkutect
All text and images by: The Arkutect
I spent a few weeks there amid protesting in Hong Kong during the summer of 2019. It was a little intense. The Hong Kong citizens were against mainland China to keep their independence. I was initially very reluctant to embark on this trip and considered canceling in hopes of visiting after things had calmed down.
After a few conversations with acquaintances who reside in Hong Kong, I decided that it was safe to travel, so I continued making plans for my journey. With what was being portrayed by news sources, I wasn’t sure what to expect upon arrival. I initially had a list of must-see structures that I wanted to capture but was captivated by the color and lines visually everywhere. It changed my whole perception and the course of my trip.
For the first few days, I couldn’t photograph anything. I took the opportunity to sit and admire the beauty of this place. Despite the ongoing protests, it was calm and local citizens were kind and respectable. Once I got acclimated, I started to explore and found places that didn’t pop up on my list. Getting lost in the maze of ongoing residential buildings was endless. I was very intrigued by the facades, lines, and colors that became my focus.
My style has always been very abstract and offsets, focusing mainly on what stands out to me. It was important to me to find my voice as an artist and make people see what I see above all the noise and chaos. If you tilt your head and look up, you’ll see the beauty in things that don’t ask for attention, and that will always be my focus as an artist. Hong Kong has unquestionably changed me as a person, and I’m glad I was able to experience it.
For more on The Arkutect’s work, check out his Instagram @thearkutect
