World Trade Center: Before the Memory Photography Exhibition

Highlights

The "World Trade Center: Before the Memory" exhibition will be held at HKI Gallery from September 1st to October 31st, 2026. Through the lens of artist Gretchen So, the exhibition transports viewers back to 1990s New York, offering a reflection on urban history and individual memory.

Program Introduction

This black-and-white photography exhibition highlights images of the Twin Towers captured by Gretchen So in the early 1990s. Departing from traditional monumental architectural photography, So places the towers within the everyday context of Manhattan streets, bridges, and waterfronts. In these works, the towers sometimes command the frame and other times gently retreat into the background, becoming an integral part of the city's rhythmic daily life. On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, these film photographs have evolved into precious historical documents that bear witness to a bygone era, allowing viewers to reimagine the lost landmark and its deep connection to the city's identity.

Performers & Artist

Gretchen So is a Hong Kong-based photography artist and educator. She holds an MFA in Photography from Yale University and has taught at institutions such as RMIT University and the Savannah College of Art and Design. Her work, which explores urban transformation and spatial relationships, is widely recognized in the local art scene; she is a recipient of grants from the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, and her work is held in the collection of the Hong Kong Museum of Art.

Venue Information

The exhibition is hosted by HKI Gallery in Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong, a space dedicated to promoting contemporary and street photography while supporting emerging artists.