Double exposure images in collaboration with G. HO. 35mm colour negative film, Giclée print, variable dimensions. 2014 ongoing.
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Tête-bêche⇋Paramita ( 對倒⇋彼岸 )
2022 London / 2019 Vancouver / 2018 Gansu / 2015 Pomona CA / 2014 Vancouver-Taipei-Hong Kong

For many years, Vancouver has served as a favoured destination for immigrants from Hong Kong. An intriguing phenomenon of double-reverse migration has played a significant role in shaping these two cities on opposite sides of the Pacific. Both those departing from Hong Kong and those returning, often referred to as ‘Hongkongers’, have been in pursuit of a better life across the shores.

Tête-bêche⇋Paramita is a collaborative project by Thomas LIN and G. HO, an installation artist based in Vancouver. Their connection traces back to their childhood in Hong Kong. LIN extended an invitation to HO to take photographs of his city and, in return, exchanged film rolls with him for a second exposure. The resulting artworks consist of a sequence of unexpected and intertwined images, where the landscapes of both cities converge and blur. These compositions delve into contemplations of memory, history, destiny, and probability. The photographic process employed in this work is unconventional, as the subject matter originates not from the intentions of the photographers but from the amalgamated realities discovered within their ongoing dialogues.

This project draws inspiration from LIU Yichang’s influential novel, Intersection (or tête-bêche, 對倒)*. The concept of ‘tête-bêche’ (head-to-tail), a term originating from philately in France, is employed to describe an inseparable pair of stamps where one is inverted in relation to the other. The term ‘Paramita’, rooted in Buddhism, signifies a journey ‘to the other shore’ and the transcendence it entails. These works have been exhibited in London, Vancouver, Gansu, Pomona CA, Richmond BC, Taipei, and Hong Kong. They also have been acquired by the Hong Kong Heritage Museum.

* LIU Yichang, BBS, MH (劉以鬯) (1918-2018), Shanghai-born Hong Kong-based writer, editor and publisher. He is considered the founder of Hong Kong’s modern literature. His best-known works are The Drunkard (酒徒) (1963), considered China’s first Stream of Consciousness novel, and Intersection (對倒) (1972), which is composed of two interconnected stories.

Tête-bêche limited edition prints
24×12 inch Hahnemuhle Photorag Pearl, framed or unframed, edition of 10

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