Solace by
Wing Shya
Release date: Fall 2024
Published by Session Press
Distributed in North America by Dashwood Books
First edition
Softcover, 184 pages
Dimensions: 8.3 x 11.7 inches (21 x 29.7 cm)
Suggested retail price: $80
Wholesale 40% discount + Shipping
Please contact Miwa Susuda / David Strettell with your orders or inquiries: msusuda@dashwoodbooks.com , dstrettell@dashwoodbooks.com
ISBN 978-0-578-42909-0
Dashwood Books Item #27386
Session Press is pleased to present Solace, the first U.S. monograph by acclaimed Hong Kong based photographer and film director, Wing Shya. Early in his career, Shya was invited by Wong Kar-wai to serve as an on-set stills photographer for films including Happy Together and In the Mood for Love. Granted rare access to the renowned director’s inner circle, over the years Shya captured poignant behind-the-scenes portraits of iconic actors such as Tony Leung, Leslie Cheung, Maggie Cheung, and Gong Li in unguarded moments between takes. These intimate images form the heart of Solace, interspersed with the best of Shya’s commercial shoots, as well as private snapshots of nature and cityscapes encountered on his travels. The resulting collection is a true testament to Shya’s ability as an eloquent storyteller and deeply introspective observer. Hong Kong has long captured the West’s imagination as an enigmatic Other with dazzling neon lights and a chaotic electric pulse. However, in Solace, Shya reveals a more personal and meditative Hong Kong. Time slows, inviting the viewer to explore the subtleties of interpersonal chemistries from a distance in ephemeral, quiet moments that showcase Shya’s sensitive and intuitive approach toward his subjects. A nostalgic, dreamlike atmosphere emerges in his expired and exposed film, punctuated by flashes of vibrant color. In the words of William Chang, one of Wong Kar-wai’s most important collaborators, Solace is a “moving achievement that deftly captures ephemeral postures and fleeting snippets in time.” We hope Solace will introduce an international audience to the sublime nuance of Wing Shya’s work, as well as the rich history and culture of Hong Kong as seen through his eyes.
Design by Geoff Han
Image Editor: Geoff Han, Miwa Susuda
Text Editor: Ming Lin
Text: Conversation with Wing Shya and Karen Smith
Translation: Ho King Man
Lithography: Sebastiaan Hanekroot, Colour & Books
Production: Jos Morree, Fine Books
Printer: Die Keure, Brugge, BE
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