Wai Hang Siu
United Kingdom
Clean Hong Kong Action
2019-2021
Activist and photographer Wai Hang Siu felt powerless in the face of Hong Kong’s turbulence when his camera was not welcomed by protesters who feared their images would turn against them if they found a way to the authorities. Siu’s photographs became liabilities, leading him to protect the people featured in his photographs by punching holes in their faces in an act that reconciles his dual role of photographer and protester. His eliminating gesture functions as a means to conceal their faces, while pointing at the violence and power of Hong Kong; a city that places its people at the heart of the problem.
