Plastic Fantastic: Hong Kong ‘Legography’ on show at new exhibition

“Umbrella Movement” by Ric Tse

Never pausing in his childlike creativity, Hong Kong photographer Ric Tse has been recreating iconic city scenes with Lego since the start of the year. With the most up-to-date piece depicting the Sep. 28 police tear gassing of protesters, Tse’s first solo exhibition, launching at Central’s Picture This Gallery today, will bring the topical and loveable together.
 

Panda Fever by Ric Tse

Having shot numerous weddings and family portraits while working as a freelancer for more than 10 years, Tse tells Coconuts Hong Kong why he tuned his well-trained hand to the seemingly juvenile pursuit of “Legography”.
 

Ric Tse, Catch Me If You Can
“Catch Me If You Can” by Ric Tse

Beginning with the quote “All grown-ups were once children… but only few of them remember it by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the author of The Little Prince, Tse says, “I would like to use Lego, which is the symbol of childlike innocence, to capture the spirit of Hong Kong not only through the eye of a photographer, but also through the eyes of children.”
 

Ric Tse, Bamboo Scoffolding
“Bamboo Scoffolding” by Ric Tse
Painstakingly piecing together recreations of everything from the Rugby Sevens to the Red Bull Flugtag and even Hong Kong’s panda invasion, Tse says he picks his tableaux either because of their strong Hong Kong characteristics or their ability to make people smile.

With his work normally focusing on celebrations or ancient customs, Tse is notably mixing in a new strand with his decision to feature arguably the darkest moment of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests. But why?
 

Ric Tse, Fly High
“Fly High” by Ric Tse
“I was in Admiralty on Sep. 28 taking photos of the Umbrella Movement and suddenly came the tear gas, which was just two blocks away from me,” Tse explains. “This was the first time I experienced tear gas and it was unforgettable. I saw that the protesters were peaceful, and wondered why on earth the police were using tear gas on them. I wanted to use Lego to recreate the scene and to help me to preserve the memory and the experience.”

The exhibition will open tonight and run until Nov. 29 at Picture This Gallery, 1308, 13F, 9 Queens Road Central, HK. Admission is free.



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