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Natural habitat

Hong Kong-based French artist Sylvain Holtermann is showing a collection of his photographic works in a group exhibition titled Hong Kong Resonance: A Trio of Artistic Expressions. The artist's fascination with Asia prompted his move to Hong Kong in 1995. The change of scene also coincided with a shift in Holtermann's artistic approach.

"It was a very difficult time for me, and it took me years to reestablish a photographic practice I felt comfortable with. I switched from black-and-white to color photography, from film to digital, and, overall, I guess my work gained in maturity," Holtermann says. While the exact role played by Hong Kong in shaping the new aesthetic, he went on to embrace would be hard to define, but the artist "cannot imagine what my work would be today if I were living somewhere else".

For Hong Kong Resonance, which is expected to "reflect the city's vibrant soul", Holtermann decided to "focus on the natural elements in our urban landscape".

"Hong Kong is usually portrayed as a busy and noisy city, but I wanted to show its quiet side and offer visitors a calming experience. In these photographs, human presence is either invisible or reduced to a trace, and we are left with a swimming platform, a concrete path or a watch tower," says the artist.

"After nearly 30 years living here, I am still moved by the city's iconic skyline, and vibrant street life," he says. "However, the 'exotic varnish' that fascinates travelers has faded a bit. And that's a good thing because it lets me cast a different eye on things." Holtermann says that lately, it's the great contrast between Hong Kong's high-density urban spaces and its natural surroundings that fuels his creative outpourings.

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