"A Letter to Venice", 2017
Digital Image
Series of 3 Images

This work consists of three images taken at Piazza San Marco, which is one of the “must-go” tourist attractions in Venice, Italy.  The piazza is often filled up with tourists, hawkers and the outdoor seating is occupied by customers.  However these three images depict a deserted situation contrary to the perceived.

This is my response to my recent encounter to the city.  Comparing to my last visit 4 years ago, it is still a popular spot for tourists.  However, the prosperity of tourism in contrasts to the empty restaurants, houses and shops indicating the local business were affected.  They were devastated by the intrusion of foreign visitors.  The younger generation moved away from their home town while new comers running the new business in favour of the expanding tourism.  Thus, the local culture were impossible to be inherited and being destructed.

My intention is to reflect the current situation of many cities with the influx of tourists which highly affect the daily lives of the locals.  In related to my hometown, Hong Kong or other cities that are suffering, I want the people that indulged in the economic boom from tourism and neglecting the uniqueness inhabited within to aware of the seriousness of the diminishing culture.

​

Does the situation sound familiar to you too?