We don’t know about you, but when we think of famed Hong Kong photographer Wing Shya, certain things come to mind: fashion, pop stars and some of Hong Kong’s most famous films. Wing began his career photographing album covers and concerts for the likes of Eason Chan and Aaron Kwok, but it is his relationship with director Wong Kar-wai that brought him international fame. As the exclusive photographer and graphic designer for Wong’s films Happy Together (1997), In the Mood for Love (2000), Ero (2004) and 2046 (2004), Wing helped create some of the most iconic images in Asian film history: think of Maggie Cheung and her famous floral cheongsams in In The Mood for Love, or Leslie Cheung and Tony Leung dancing on a rooftop in Happy Together.
“After getting to know Mr. Wong Kar-wai, I put more time into collaborating with other Hong Kong and mainland Chinese actors and actresses especially those who play characters in his films,” says Wing. Many of these stars appeared—and still appear—in big-budget photo shoots Wing creates for fashion magazines, and for exhibitions he has held at leading museums and galleries, including the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo. “Photography was a hobby for me...a way for me to express my thoughts. I could have never imagined that it would become my career,” says Wing.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Agnès B’s famous snap cardigan, the French designer is hosting a photography exhibition entitled …Photographers …Artists and the Snap Cardigan from September 9 to November 8 at its store in K11 Art Mall in Tsim Sha Tsui, featuring images of the garment by 70 photographers from around the world. Among the artists taking part are Wing, Rinko Kawauchi, Sue Kwon, Hiraku Suzuki, Hayato Wakabayanshi and Luo Yang.
The exhibition is the second show devoted to the snap cardigan; Agnès B hosted the first in 1986, when 140 photographers made work inspired by the item. Here, photographer Wing Shya talks to Tatler about his favourite pieces from the upcoming show, which will make its way to Tokyo later this year.