Hong Cheng: The Hidden Moments
Smile of My Father (2009)
Hong Kong
“For years, I did not know why I could not look directly into someone’s eyes. Maybe I was too shy, or perhaps I simply lacked confidence. In these situations, I would look away and accidentally catch glimpses of their reflection in mirrors or windows. The person would appear completely different from how I’d see them face to face.
Through their reflections, people look fragile yet approachable. There is something more to discover under their skin. They want to be seen, but they are afraid to get hurt. In initially noticing these reflections, I could suddenly feel the emotions and thoughts of their subjects. In my work, I capture people from behind, find their reflection in my lens, and document something they cannot notice of themselves. I try to look at people in another way, hoping to understand them. Maybe then I will understand myself.”
Sei Hong Cheng
Girls Waiting for Gelato (2013)
Bologna, Italy
A Man Admiring Himself (2013)
Hong Kong
On Her Way Home (2018)
Brighton, United Kingdom
Still Walking (2018)
Seville, Spain
Light Tower Waiting for Ships to Pass By (2019)
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Hong is a photographer and an award-winning filmmaker based in Hong Kong and London. He believes that life is like a journey, and what makes it remarkable are those pieces and fragments that come without notice. You can follow his work on www.montagetheatre.wix.com/home.