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In your eyes, what kind of city is Hong Kong? Here, skyscrapers tower majestically. Here, traditional buildings are dotted throughout. Here, Eastern and Western traditions intertwine, and new and old cultures coexist. And here, every building, neighbourhood and the people who call this city home tell a unique Hong Kong story.
British photography artist Emily Allchurch has travelled extensively across Asia for years, drawing creative inspiration from her journeys. Throughout her career, she has created numerous works connected with Hong Kong and held three solo exhibitions in the city. Recently, Emily was invited back to Hong Kong to create a new piece – “Link: 20 Years Together” to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the listing of Link REIT. The resulting artwork is now exhibiting at Link Sustainability Lab.
Emily’s new work showcases her signature photo-collage technique, presenting the vibrant character of Hong Kong communities. She explains that these works typically take around four months to complete, with one to two months dedicated to meticulous planning, followed by approximately two months of creation. “To perfectly capture the theme of this work, I took hundreds of photographs of different subjects and scenes at diverse angles, then reconstructed them to create the final artwork.”
Emily likens her creative process to assembling a puzzle or building models with Lego bricks: “Each photo I capture contains various elements. The creative challenge lies in extracting the necessary components – for instance, the best angle of a building and the most distinctive side of an advertising sign – and then adding people, flora, fauna and other elements, blending them to express the urban and human stories I wish to convey.” All these steps are undertaken before finalising an artwork on the computer.
Born and raised in the United Kingdom, Emily is passionate about Asian culture and, as such, has studied traditional Chinese paintings and calligraphy. “I particularly admire Along the River During the Qingming Festival by Song dynasty master Zhang Zeduan. This painting encapsulates snippets of people’s lives from that time and has influenced my career.”
To bring the theme of “Link: 20 Years Together” to life, Emily spent over a week photographing various locations in Hong Kong. She explored Link’s iconic properties across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories and traversed the city’s characterful streets and alleyways, capturing authentic local life through her lens. “My art showcases the everyday moments of Hong Kong people. I knew I had to experience this city personally and engage with locals to create a work that truly represents this place, so as to show the connections Link has built with this city over the years.”
During her trip, Emily visited Link’s office tower, The Quayside, and Link shopping malls, including Lok Fu Place, Temple Mall and Stanley Plaza. She noted that, unlike other retail destinations known for their high brand similarity and low distinctiveness, Link’s malls not only feature unique small businesses but also impressive architectural styles. “Temple Mall, for example, incorporates elements from the nearby Wong Tai Sin Temple in its exterior and interior, which is quite eye-catching.”
Another remarkable characteristic of Link malls is their vibrant atmosphere. “I could sense that residents from nearby neighbourhoods see the mall as a true community hub. On weekdays, you’ll find people mailing letters at the post office, visiting clinics and, most importantly, picking up ingredients from the fresh mart – an essential part of daily life at many Link malls. What’s more interesting is that the malls take on a different character on weekends – many young people come to dine and shop, creating a bustling, lively scene.”
Beyond being captivated by the architecture, Emily was touched by the people she met. “Local residents often showed interest in my work. I took the opportunity during these brief exchanges to understand local perspectives.” In particular, she appreciated the assistance from Link staff: “Everywhere I went, they enthusiastically offered creative suggestions or guided me to hidden photography spots unknown to outsiders. For example, at Temple Mall, while I would typically shoot from certain angles outside the building, staff members brought me to the mall’s rooftop. Standing there provided a completely fresh perspective!”
Emily’s works, known for their stunningly intricate details, have been collected by museums worldwide, including the Tokaido Hiroshige Museum in Japan, the Minneapolis Institute of Art in the United States, the Manchester Art Gallery in the UK and the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco in Monaco. Her new piece will be officially exhibited at Link Sustainability Lab. The exhibition will run for a limited time, so don’t miss this opportunity to appreciate the delicate artistry of her creation up close.
