Hong Kong's Neon Signs

Tsui Wah Restaurant (photo submitted by Steve Schechter)

"Mobile M+: NEONSIGNS.HK" is an online exhibition that documents the richness of Hong Kong’s neon landscape, both past and present. The public is invited to upload images which then appear on an interactive map. So far, over 1,811 images have been received.

The project is part of M+, the new museum for visual culture being built in Hong Kong, set to open in 2017. M+ Curator of Design and Architecture, Aric Chen, was just one of the many fascinating presenters at Lingua Franca, this year’s conference produced by SVA D-Crit, the graduate program in design criticism.

Chuen Kee Seafood Restaurant (submitted by Steve Schechter)

Yuppie Sauna (submitted by Eugene Lo)

Cafe de Paris - Soho (submitted by francycity)

Man Lee Pawn Shop (submitted by Eugene Lo)

Eastern Night Club (submitted by @shaninred)

Club Rhine (submitted by Eugene Lo)

Sunny Paradise Sauna (submitted by lylikwok)

Hung Kee Seafood Restaurant (submitted by kingtitan77)

Kai Kee Mahjong (Living in Kwun Tong)

Wing Chun Vietnamese Food Restaurant (submitted by luk ka loo)

Sammy's Kitchen (photo: Jimmy Ming Shum)

Yee Shun Dairy Company (submitted by Eugene Lo)

Ming Fat Hair Salon (submitted by shanchow)

Tak Hing Dried Seafood (submitted by post_ism)

Ki Chan Tea Co. (submitted by Cis)

Golden Dragon Mahjong (photo: Jimmy Ming Shum)

Jumbo (submitted by Keith Chang)

Tai Tak Hardware & Paint (photo: Michael Wolf)

Lae Fu Kee Congee and Noodle Expert (photo: Jimmy Ming Shum)

Wai Yuen Tong (submitted by tannhahuser)

Letters From a Photo Auction

Aaron Siskind (1903-1991)

"Lithuanian Store"
Silver print, 1957

The items in the upcoming auction, “The Vernacular Eye: Photographic Albums, Snapshots & Objects” are on view now at Swann Galleries until the sale on April 17. In addition to photos of spiritual apparitions, chain gangs, and early aviation, you’ll find albums of criminal mug shots, advertising photography and photo objects.

If you’ve ever considered collecting, say, photos about typography, this would be a great place to start.

Berenice Abbott (1898-1991)

"Jacob Heymann Butcher Shop, 345 Sixth Avenue"

Silver print, 1938

Walker Evans (1903-1975)

Bowery lunchroom, New York, New York.

Silver print, 1933-34

Georgia moonshiner from collection

of "Hooch" vernacular.

Silver prints, 1960s

William Klein (1928-)

"William Klein New York 54/55"

Portfolio of 12 silver prints, 1954-55

Yasushi Nagao (1930-2009)

Death of Inejiro Asanuma.

Silver print, 1960

This Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph shows the death of Asanuma, a Japanese politican and leader of the Socialist party. He was assassinated by an extremist nationalist while speaking in a televised political debate. His violent death was seen in graphic detail on national television, causing widespread public shock and outrage.

Ralph Steiner (1899-1986)

"Typewriter Keys"

Silver print, 1921-22

Nat Fein (1914-2000)


"Babe Bows Out"

Silver print, 1948

Photo album of window displays for Kleinhans Co., 

Buffalo, NY, 1919-26.

Post-Victorian vernacular photograph

Bromide print, circa 1910

No typography here, but I refuse to be constrained, even by my own self-selected topics.

Letters from Sochi

Curious to see for myself the city the whole world will be watching for the next two weeks, I decided to make an impromptu visit to Sochi. Flights to the lush subtropical resort town, as well as unfinished hotel rooms, were all booked, so I opted for Google.

The photos here were taken in August 2012, so the scenery is a bit different from what greets any visitor right now. Most notable is the massive construction to be seen everywhere.

Puzzling, however, is the absence of stray dogs. Until locals started spreading word of it, authorities had been using poison to cull the population of Sochi's strays numbering in the thousands. So how is it possible that in August 2012 there was not a canine in sight? With all eyes on Sochi, has the "retouching" of history, a technique so prevalent in the old Soviet Union, been resurrected for the Olympics? Google already blurs faces and license plates, did they disappear those pesky street dogs as well?

Two links to check out:
1. The challenge of constructing an an entire Olympics infrastructure on seismically precarious wetlands. (scientificamerican.com)
2. Photos of Sochi in the first half of the last century. (World Post)

Lenin mosaic at Riviera Park.

I'm pretty sure these say "mini market"