Blue Lotus Gallery is excited to announce the opening of “Voices of the Walls" an exhibition that explores the history and culture of the infamous Kowloon Walled City in Hong Kong through photographs by Ian Lambot, Greg Girard, Bianca Tse and Keeping Lee.

Starting on 17 October, the exhibition will run until 1 December 2024 and offers an opportunity to delve into the rich visual history of his once-controversial urban enclave.

Photographs serve as a vital medium for archiving collective memory and preserving heritage, particularly for places that will eventually disappear, like the walled city. While few ventured there, even fewer thought to document it. However, Ian Lambot and Greg Girard did just that in the years leading up to its demolition, culminating in the iconic book City of Darkness, published by Watermark, which has sold over 20,000 copies to date. This collection not only preserves the heritage of the notorious walled city through photographs and stories but also served as a source of inspiration for future generations of artists, still influencing everything from video games and AI-generated imagery, like that of Bianca Tse showcased in this exhibition, to films such as the latest blockbuster, ‘Twilight of the Warriors: Walled in.’

Originally established as a military outpost during the Song Dynasty, Kowloon Walled City transformed into a haven for refugees after World War II, leading to its rapid growth. For decades, it existed in a largely ungoverned state, with minimal oversight from the Hong Kong government or Chinese authorities. At its peak in the 80’s, Kowloon Walled City housed approximately 30,000 to 50,000 residents in just 6.4 acres, making it one of the most densely populated places on Earth. The settlement was characterized by high-rise buildings constructed closely together, often with little regard for building codes. These structures typically ranged from 8 to 12 stories high, with some reaching up to 14 stories. Narrow, labyrinthine alleyways wound through the city, often barely wide enough for pedestrians. The residents developed a self-sufficient community, complete with shops, small factories, restaurants, and services, including schools and dentists and medical facilities, along the brothels, dance parlours, gambling places and opium dens, all within the confines of the walled city.

Living conditions were often cramped and unsanitary, with limited access to basic services like water and sewage systems. The lack of formal governance led to challenges, but it also fostered a unique system of informal social order, with local gangs and triads playing significant roles.

In the years since 1994 demolition, the Walled City has attained a kind of punk immortality and a visual aesthetic showing a modernist dystopia mixing filth, darkness, and haphazard concrete construction and overcrowding into a single unsettling yet irresistible brew that is often used in art, literature, video games and movies such as the recent blockbuster “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In’.

According to Sarah Greene: “This exhibition showcases a remarkable collection of photographs that illuminate the stories of its residents. 'Voices of the Walls' underscores the significance of remembering Kowloon Walled City as a testament to human ingenuity and adaptability. It celebrates the spirit of those who lived there while highlighting the vital role of photography and books in preserving heritage in a constantly evolving city like Hong Kong, for generations to come.”

Highlights of the exhibition include:

A collection of photographs capturing the essence of life in the Walled City by Greg Girard and Ian Lambot, authors of City of Darkness. So far unseen silver gelatine prints by Keeping Lee and so AI generated imaginary work by Bianca Tse inspired on the Walled City .

Join us for the preview on 16 October from 6-8 pm, where guests will have the chance to meet Ian Lambot. Admission is free and registration is not required.