Echoes of Defiance
by Hong Kong Affairs Association of Berkeley
April 8 - May 1
Opening Reception
April 9, 2-5 pm
Closing Reception & Photographers Sharings
April 30th 12-1 pm
April 8 - May 1
Opening Reception
April 9, 2-5 pm
Closing Reception & Photographers Sharings
April 30th 12-1 pm
Echoes of Defiance
As millions of voices filled the streets to demand democracy and defend judiciary independence, the city of Hong Kong – usually more well known for being a financial hub – experienced a summer of uprising like never before in 2019. It was a defining year that not only consolidated the Hongkonger identity but also united the city’s people in their collective trauma, leading to communities being established overseas as more are choosing to depart due to a worsening political climate.
With an increasing amount of arrests, political crackdowns, and erasure of records, these are the fragments of evidence of how ordinary people of Hong Kong stood up to the authoritative communist Chinese government. These photos are the echoes of Hong Kong’s defiance and of what the city used to be.
“Echoes of Defiance” is a student-run photo exhibition project jointly curated and presented by four student photographers and the Hong Kong Affairs Association of Berkeley. Through the lenses of four young Hong Kong photographers, the exhibition brings you back to Hong Kong’s defiance in 2019 and walks you through the drastic change in recent years. We hope to illuminate stories and ideas that go beyond mainstream media coverage and provide a space for communities to discuss journalism and matters around Hong Kong.
Featuring photographers Katherine Li (@this_is_katt), Kong, Michael Ho (@michaelho_photography), and Mo (@momomopixs1226).
Support the exhibition and the work of HKAAB: Venmo @hkaaberk
Contact: hkaaberk@gmail.com
About Hong Kong Affairs Association of Berkeley
We are a group of students at the University of California, Berkeley who are concerned about the political situation in Hong Kong. We have devoted ourselves to the founding of the Hong Kong Affairs Association of Berkeley (HKAAB) in 2019. HKAAB strives to raise awareness among students and the general public for issues related to democracy and human rights in Hong Kong and provide a platform for intellectual and cultural exchange in Hong Kong affairs. Over the past three years, we hosted a variety of events, including community outreach, academic panels, documentary screenings, art exhibitions, and rallies. We also work with local and international organizations on various advocacy projects.
Contact: hkaaberk@gmail.com
Follow us on Facebook/Instagram/Twitter @hkaaberk
https://www.instagram.com/hkaaberk/
As millions of voices filled the streets to demand democracy and defend judiciary independence, the city of Hong Kong – usually more well known for being a financial hub – experienced a summer of uprising like never before in 2019. It was a defining year that not only consolidated the Hongkonger identity but also united the city’s people in their collective trauma, leading to communities being established overseas as more are choosing to depart due to a worsening political climate.
With an increasing amount of arrests, political crackdowns, and erasure of records, these are the fragments of evidence of how ordinary people of Hong Kong stood up to the authoritative communist Chinese government. These photos are the echoes of Hong Kong’s defiance and of what the city used to be.
“Echoes of Defiance” is a student-run photo exhibition project jointly curated and presented by four student photographers and the Hong Kong Affairs Association of Berkeley. Through the lenses of four young Hong Kong photographers, the exhibition brings you back to Hong Kong’s defiance in 2019 and walks you through the drastic change in recent years. We hope to illuminate stories and ideas that go beyond mainstream media coverage and provide a space for communities to discuss journalism and matters around Hong Kong.
Featuring photographers Katherine Li (@this_is_katt), Kong, Michael Ho (@michaelho_photography), and Mo (@momomopixs1226).
Support the exhibition and the work of HKAAB: Venmo @hkaaberk
Contact: hkaaberk@gmail.com
About Hong Kong Affairs Association of Berkeley
We are a group of students at the University of California, Berkeley who are concerned about the political situation in Hong Kong. We have devoted ourselves to the founding of the Hong Kong Affairs Association of Berkeley (HKAAB) in 2019. HKAAB strives to raise awareness among students and the general public for issues related to democracy and human rights in Hong Kong and provide a platform for intellectual and cultural exchange in Hong Kong affairs. Over the past three years, we hosted a variety of events, including community outreach, academic panels, documentary screenings, art exhibitions, and rallies. We also work with local and international organizations on various advocacy projects.
Contact: hkaaberk@gmail.com
Follow us on Facebook/Instagram/Twitter @hkaaberk
https://www.instagram.com/hkaaberk/
About the Photographers
Michael Ho
I am Michael Ho, a seventeen years old photojournalist who was born in Hong Kong. I was raised in mainland China and Hong Kong. In 2019, at the moment of the Hong Kong protests, I started to become a photojournalist. In September 2020, I stopped studying and left my school for a full-time photojournalist career opportunity. I took a lot of photos about the Hong Kong protest, National Security Law, COVID-19, and other topics in the past three years. My photos have been featured on different news organizations, like The Guardian, CNN, Hong Kong Free Press, NBC news, and more. In July 2021, I decided to move from Hong Kong to California and begin a new chapter of my life.
Follow Michael’s work on Instagram @michaelho_photography.
Katherine Li
I’m Katherine Li — a first-year student at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism for the narrative writing stream. Originally from Hong Kong, San Francisco Bay Area is my new home for now.
Back in Hong Kong, I have spent my undergraduate years studying journalism and running a student journalism magazine, as well as working for the New York Times Hong Kong bureau when the local pro-democracy protests broke out. It was a harrowing experience for my entire city, but that has given me conflict coverage knowledge and a deeper understanding of politics in China. Most importantly, I’ve learned the value of journalism, how the press acts as a line of defense in a place where authorities are seeking to alter history as they please, which has inspired me to pursue further journalism studies.
At Berkeley, I’m looking to build upon my existing knowledge and gain a broader international perspective as a journalist. I’m also looking forward to exploring investigative reporting and to delving deeper into photojournalism. Knowing my own empathetic and observant nature, I hope to bring more stories to life through my words and photography.
Follow Katherine’s work on Instagram @this_is_katt.
Mo
Born in Hong Kong, came to America as a film student, returned home during the 2019 protests. Initially wanted to document the movement but ended up a rioter/protester on the frontline after witnessing police brutality. Now in exile from “home” and seeking asylum in America.
Follow Mo’s work on Instagram @momomopixs1226.
Kong
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Kong picked up their father’s Sony A55 at a young age and started to snap around the world.
Currently working as a freelance photographer for portraits, landscape, street photography, and social movements, Kong tries to make a difference in the world through their lens.
I am Michael Ho, a seventeen years old photojournalist who was born in Hong Kong. I was raised in mainland China and Hong Kong. In 2019, at the moment of the Hong Kong protests, I started to become a photojournalist. In September 2020, I stopped studying and left my school for a full-time photojournalist career opportunity. I took a lot of photos about the Hong Kong protest, National Security Law, COVID-19, and other topics in the past three years. My photos have been featured on different news organizations, like The Guardian, CNN, Hong Kong Free Press, NBC news, and more. In July 2021, I decided to move from Hong Kong to California and begin a new chapter of my life.
Follow Michael’s work on Instagram @michaelho_photography.
Katherine Li
I’m Katherine Li — a first-year student at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism for the narrative writing stream. Originally from Hong Kong, San Francisco Bay Area is my new home for now.
Back in Hong Kong, I have spent my undergraduate years studying journalism and running a student journalism magazine, as well as working for the New York Times Hong Kong bureau when the local pro-democracy protests broke out. It was a harrowing experience for my entire city, but that has given me conflict coverage knowledge and a deeper understanding of politics in China. Most importantly, I’ve learned the value of journalism, how the press acts as a line of defense in a place where authorities are seeking to alter history as they please, which has inspired me to pursue further journalism studies.
At Berkeley, I’m looking to build upon my existing knowledge and gain a broader international perspective as a journalist. I’m also looking forward to exploring investigative reporting and to delving deeper into photojournalism. Knowing my own empathetic and observant nature, I hope to bring more stories to life through my words and photography.
Follow Katherine’s work on Instagram @this_is_katt.
Mo
Born in Hong Kong, came to America as a film student, returned home during the 2019 protests. Initially wanted to document the movement but ended up a rioter/protester on the frontline after witnessing police brutality. Now in exile from “home” and seeking asylum in America.
Follow Mo’s work on Instagram @momomopixs1226.
Kong
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Kong picked up their father’s Sony A55 at a young age and started to snap around the world.
Currently working as a freelance photographer for portraits, landscape, street photography, and social movements, Kong tries to make a difference in the world through their lens.