HONG Kong photographer South Ho Siu Nam will present his solo exhibition “Over Mountain Over Sea” at Blank Canvas in George Town from Sept 6 to Nov 23, marking the gallery’s first photography showcase at its new premises on Lorong Soo Hong.
The exhibition draws similarities between Hong Kong and Penang, two island cities surrounded by sea and mountains.
For Blank Canvas founder KY Leong, whose life and work have long been rooted in both Penang and Hong Kong, the project carries a meaningful cause.
“South Ho was a natural choice to mark this milestone.His ability to capture fleeting urban details with quiet sensitivity makes him an ideal artist for this moment,” he said.
During several visits to Penang at the gallery’s invitation, Ho explored the streets of George Town, observing the town’s charm, temple architecture, ferry terminals, and heritage shopfronts.
His works draw inspirations from funicular trains and ferries to bamboo blinds and shrines.
In an artist statement, Ho described his impressions of Penang, and the personal touch he has for the heritage city .
“When I arrived in Penang, time felt suspended, as if the city had paused in an earlier era,” he stated.
Coming from Hong Kong, he said the two cities are like distant relatives meeting after decades apart, saying their cultures were similar.
Ho added that while his journey to Penang was by air, he felt the deeper symbolism of travel between the two places.
“Whichever the era, people have always had to move over mountains and over seas,” he said.
Born in 1984, South Ho has exhibited internationally at various institutions including Hong Kong’s M+, London’s Saatchi Gallery, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Seoul’s National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei.
He also participated in the 2024 Yokohama Triennale.
“Over Mountain Over Sea” will open with a reception on Sept 6 from 6pm to 8pm.
On Sept 7 at 2pm, Ho will join Leong in an artist talk to share the exhibition’s creative process.
Admission is free, with the gallery hours from noon to 7pm, Thursday to Monday.
Story by Edmund Lee