Tai Yip Cultural Group (Tai Yip) presents Hourglass & Silhouettes: Lens on a Changing City, a compelling photography exhibition that captures a Hong Kong that has vanished but remains in memory and monochrome. The exhibition will run from 1 to 28 February 2026, at the Main Bar & Lounge of Foreign Correspondents' Club, Hong Kong (FCCHK). It will be open to FCCHK members and their registered guests. 

 

Featuring a curated selection of the work of one of the most prominent pictorialists of the mid-20th century, Francis Wu's black-and-white photos from the 1930s to the 1960s depict the city's evolution from a colonial outpost into a vibrant modern metropolis. Wu's lens captures cadet pilots flying over Victoria City (now Central), rickshaws and sedan chairs bustling through busy streets, and faces that reveal resilience, hope, and quiet strength. These images are more than mere records; they are poetic moments frozen in time, illustrating a city caught between war and prosperity. Visitors are invited to listen to the silence of footsteps long past, the echoes of markets that no longer exist, and to feel the pulse of a city shaping its future.

About Francis Wu

Francis Wu (1911–1989) was a pioneering Chinese-born American photographer renowned for his profound impact on mid-20th-century Asian salon photography. His passion for photography led him to establish a successful studio in Hong Kong, where he excelled in commercial and journalistic photography. Following World War II, he became an official photographer for the Hong Kong government, capturing pivotal historical moments. By 1953, his evocative Chinese landscapes and portraits had been exhibited in 84 salons worldwide, making him one of the most exhibited pictorialists of his time. Celebrated with honorary fellowships and leadership roles in prestigious photographic organisations, Wu was not merely a visual storyteller; he was a cultural ambassador, sharing his expertise through lectures across the United States and through influential publications such as Chinese Photography, Beautiful Chinese Ladies through My Lens, and Photographs of Women in Ancient Costumes. His selected works are part of the permanent collections at M+ in the West Kowloon Cultural District and the Hong Kong Museum of History, cementing his enduring legacy. His influence continues to inspire photographers and art enthusiasts worldwide.

 

About Francis Ing, son of Francis Wu and a prominent fashion and celebrity photographer

Francis Ing is a renowned fashion and celebrity photographer and visual artist with over five decades of experience. A graduate of the ArtCenter College of Design, he established his career in New York City, operating his own studio and shaping the local fashion photography scene for three decades. His clientele included magazines, fashion designers, recording artists, major department stores, advertising agencies, book publishers, and Andy Warhol's Interview magazine. He has photographed numerous celebrities, including Andy Warhol, Blondie, Brooke Shields, Calvin Klein, Halston, Grace Jones, Jessica Lange, Peter Allen, Rene Russo, Richard Harris, and Wilhelmina, among others.

Alongside his commercial work, Francis pioneered creative Polaroid art, notably with his Self Portraits series, captured with the SX-70 camera—an innovative approach that gained widespread recognition in the 1970s. His solo exhibition in 1978 and his involvement in the Graphic Eye Gallery in Port Washington further elevated his profile. Now based in Palm City, Florida, Francis continues to push artistic boundaries through wildlife photography, mixed media, and large murals crafted from recycled photographic materials.

 

About Gwynne Cheung Ing Wing-moy, the eldest daughter of Francis Wu

Gwynne Cheung Ing, the eldest daughter of Francis and Daisy Wu, embodies a family history rooted in resilience and creativity. Born in Hong Kong, she and her family relocated to Honolulu during World War II, where she helped her mother, Daisy, hand-colour black-and-white portraits for servicemen, reflecting the family's artistic tradition. After the war, Gwynne returned to Hong Kong, working with her father at both the family studio and Francis Wu's Studio at Gloucester Arcade, where she developed films and prints and participated in photographic outings. A graduate in English Literature from the University of Hong Kong, she was a pioneer—serving as the first female secretary of the Student Union and founding Duchess of Kent Hall for non-resident students. Eventually, she relocated to California with her husband, Charlie Cheung Hoi-kwong, raised four children, and built a notable career as a paralegal until retiring at age 80.

 

About Jennifer Cheung, granddaughter of Francis Wu and a third-generation photographer

Jennifer Cheung represents the third generation in her family's tradition of commercial photography. She is the granddaughter of Francis and Daisy Wu, daughter of Gwynne Cheung Ing, and niece of Francis Ing. Jennifer studied at the ArtCenter College of Design in Los Angeles, following her uncle's example. Her versatile portfolio includes advertising, design, and commercial photography. She is dedicated to mentoring future visual storytellers and has taught studio photography as an Adjunct Professor at Otis College of Art and Design and the ArtCenter College of Design. Additionally, she has served on advisory committees for photography programmes at various community colleges across Los Angeles.