Deacon Lui
Deacon’s work embodies a deep commitment to social justice and human rights. He
held three solo photo exhibitions at Parallel Space, Hong Kong (in 2020, 2021 and
2024). His MA graduate project, Every Time They Ask, I Say I Don’t Remember/We
Say We’re Waiting, was selected in RPS International Photography Exhibition 165.
The project was presented at Bermondsey Project Space in February 2024 and
Format 24 photo festival in March 2024. He was also selected by Paris Photo as one
of the 20 Finalists Carte Blanche Students 2023.
Over the past four years, Deacon has also self published three photobooks. Beyond
the facade (published in 2020) is a photo documentation of Hong Kong’s 2019-2020
protests. His second book, Peace of the Graveyard (published in 2022) explores the
profound effects of political changes on personal memories within oppressive
political contexts. His most recent publication, Every Time They Ask, We Say We’re
Waiting focuses on the lives of Hong Kong asylum seekers in the UK. It sheds light
on their overlooked stories and probes into their past in Hong Kong.
My latest project documents the life of Hong Kong asylum seekers in the United Kingdom, who were forced to leave their homeland for their involvement in the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests. Many of these young asylum seekers (15-23 y/o) fled to escape criminal charges and consequences tied to the NSL.
A suitcase was transformed into a pinhole camera to capture the asylum seekers’ portraits and personal objects. This project aims to explore their past in Hong Kong, their current living conditions in the UK, and their evolving experiences with time, memory, and the concept of home.
This project reflects on my personal journey as a photojournalist during and after the 2019 Hong Kong protests. Through a visual diary spanning nearly three years, this part delves into the power and limitations of journalistic photography. It captures the vanishing aspects of the city and reveals the profound societal changes that occurred following the implementation of the National Security Law.
EXHIBITIONS
Jun 2020 – Jul 2020
ANAMNESIS, at Parallel Space, Hong Kong
Jul 2021
PEACE OF THE GRAVEYARD, at Parallel Space, Hong Kong
Nov 2023
EVERY TIME THEY ASK, Well Gallery, at London College of Communication
Feb 2024
DOCUMENT NOW, at Bermondsey Project Space
March 2024
FUTURE NOW FORMAT 24, at Quad Gallery
Books
2020
Beyond the facade (2 editions, 3000 copies, self-published)
2021
Peace of the graveyard (first edition, 1000 copies, self-published)
2023
Every Time They Ask, I Say I Don’t Remember/We Say We’re Waiting (2 copies, handmade)
