Zen Foto Gallery is pleased to present Eric’s “Good Luck Hong Kong”, his first solo exhibition with the gallery from January 11 to February 2, 2019. Eric left Hong Kong in 1997 when it was about to be handed back over to China. After spending 20 years in Japan and photographing people from different countries around the world, Eric had a strong urge to focus his lens on where he was born and raised - right up front with the “Hongkongese” people. The exhibition will feature 30 works selected from the photobook under the same title, published by Zen Foto Gallery in November, 2018. Each work is a unique representation of Eric’s momentary, face-to-face encounter with the unique individuals in the city.

Through photographs, new interests arise. For me that curiosity has only strengthened — it has become my living adrenaline now. This adrenaline is born from the pleasure in taking photographs. Walking ahead, step by step, looking and shooting without hesitation — it’s that moment that does it. I can’t get enough of the thrill.

The political and social situation of Hong Kong has changed since those days. But the people there still drift along with their own unique characteristics.

As long as humans are what they are, the essence what we do won’t change.

Come to think of it, my unchanging essence — an unwavering curiosity and a relentless desire to photograph — maybe that too was born in Hong Kong.　

—ERIC (excerpt from "Good Luck Hong Kong")

ERIC｜Born in Hong Kong, 1976, Eric came to Japan in 1997 and learned his photography skills while working at Nishimura Camera, a camera store and photo lab in West Tokyo. In 2001, Eric graduated from Tokyo Visual Arts College and was awarded the Konnica Photo Premio Grand Prize for his series “Chikuseki To Mirai [Accumulation and Future]”. He has also received many other awards including the 19th Hitotsubo Photography Grand Prix for “Ichinichi To Eien [One Day and Eternity]” in 2002, the 2nd Visual Arts Photo Award - Grand Prize for “every where” in 2004 and in 2009, the 9th Sagamihara Emerging Photographer Incentive Award for “Good Luck China”. His main publications are “Good Luck China” (AKAAKA, 2008), “Look at this people” (AKAAKA, 2011) and “Eye of the Vortex” (AKAAKA, 2014).