The planes weaving through the dense high-rises of the old Kai Tak Airport, the dazzling lights reflecting across both sides of Victoria Harbour, the legendary and rare Kowloon Walled City, and the classic moments of Hong Kong’s film industry superstars… These old memories of Hong Kong have become one of the unique highlights that everyone reminisces about in recent years.
Though the neon lights have dimmed, the classics in our memories remain timeless; recently, the night sky of Hong Kong has welcomed a new brilliance, this time shining from the past—internationally renowned photographer Greg Girard’s Hong Kong: Prime Minister has arrived at the M+ façade in the form of large-scale images, projecting the streets of Hong Kong, Kowloon Walled City, and neon night scenes from the 1970s to the 1990s back onto the 21st-century skyline of Victoria Harbour.
Poet of Urban Transformation
Greg Girard was born in 1955 in Canada, renowned for capturing the evolution of urban environments. He began photographing Asian metropolises in the 1970s, gaining significant attention for documenting the now-demolished Kowloon Walled City. His works are part of collections at institutions such as M+ and the National Gallery of Canada. Notable pieces include: Phantom Shanghai (2007) and City of Darkness Revisited (2014).
Cinematic Memories of the City
This time, Greg Girard seems to have unearthed a time capsule, transforming the nighttime spectacle of Victoria Harbour into a cinematic screen showcasing the Hong Kong of the 70s to 90s, bringing back the charm of those bygone days to life every evening.
And Hong Kong: Prime Minister transforms static images into a cinematic visual narrative, showcasing scenes of students, fashion enthusiasts, and office workers on the streets of Central, along with precious imagery of Kowloon City. The flickering neon streets, vibrant nightclubs, iconic moments of Hong Kong film stars, and the unique sight of planes weaving through the dense skyscrapers of the old Kai Tak Airport are all reborn in this masterpiece.
M+ CHANEL’s senior curator Su Xiao-Qi described this as Captivating photography that unfolds dramatic twists and turns, reminiscent of a cinematic experience, all within static images., demonstrating that Hong Kong continues to be a rich source of inspiration for artists.
Creating 《HK:PM is a journey of rediscovery, shared Greg Girard, I feel incredibly honored to bring back footage shot decades ago to the city that inspired it, becoming a part of Hong Kong’s skyline..
He invites everyone to traverse time and space, revisiting the vibrant and storied Hong Kong, to feel and continue the city’s unending rhythm.
Date: July 4, 2025 – September 28, 2025
Location: Exterior Wall of M+ Building
