Lomography

Ever wondered what life's like working for our Embassy and Gallery stores? Been itching to visit a Lomography store on a foreign land for your next vacation? Been wondering about what happened to the now-infamous Hong Meow mascot? Check out the scoop on our interview with Tat!

Hello there analogue globe-trotters! We present to you a (hopefully) new monthly feature – the Gallery Store insights! Here we interview special people who live the Lomographic dream, working in our different regional Embassies, Gallery Stores and offices! Interested to Join us? Check this out!

For our first installment, I’m interviewing my friend Tat Tso who I luckily met over at our yearly meeting in Hong Kong. He’s part of the team who brings out those analogue-driven creative hodgepodge for Hong Kong, Asia and beyond! Check out his insights, tips and quirky stories about what’s going down in our Hong Kong branch – maybe you could drop by and say hello soon!

Describe the Lomography Hong Kong gallery store in 5 words.
Mini, Unlimited, Creativity, Diversity, Analogue

We all know that the LOMO LC-A is a global phenomenon; but in Hong Kong are there any other particular analogue cameras that garners the similar attention as our Minitar friend?
Diana Mini! It has been a big phenomenon here and now everybody is coming to the Gallery Store for a Mini!

Who are the usual suspects (people who frequent) the Gallery Store?
The Hong Kong Gallery Store is located at a very multicultural area where you find eastern/western/local/foreign cultures coexist in one tiny area. We can’t be quite sure what type of people we are expecting. From local hipsters, foreign Lomographers, tourists, parents or grandparents shopping for their kids, Hong Kong superstar like Eason Chan, and many more…

With the continuously growing community of Hong Kong Lomographers, could you give name-drop us some of Hong Kong’s up-and-coming Lomographic stars?

kaho152
He single-handedly orchestrated the Hong Kong Lomo Matrix project. One of the leading Lomographers in Hong Kong with a large followings. He is currently studying in Shanghai where the LC-A man jeepeng is staying. We are looking forward to an explosive collaboration between these two dangerous men. Hello?

merryandrew
- This little girl is our all time favorite! She has been participating almost all of our events before hosting her own LOMO LC-A Birthday Journey in July 2009. Everything about her is mini – Diana Mini, Girl Mini, Guitar Mini, etc.

json

- Just look at that tattoo on his forehead and that determined face. This is the real shit. Json has been featured in our Lomohome of the Week and winner of LomoMission 032 : Miss the Party. He is an avid participant of all Lomographic events.

Tell us a little more about the Hong Kong staff members; what are the fun things you usually do when you’re not working with your daily grind?

Where should we start? Hong Kong is full of food enthusiasts because there are so many options, so without any doubt food is certainly one of our favorite topics. We constantly look for new restaurants and try out new foods. Our daily routine includes a group lunch in which we chat just about everything you can imagine! When we are not eating, we organize movie screening at the 3/F Studio on Friday night, and our choice of movies varies from obscure forgotten cult movies to classic works that you study in film school. Lastly, believe it or not, some of us are passionate debaters who constantly look for the meaning of life or the best political system. To sum up, we are passionate life enthusiasts!

If there would be a song that fits the Hong Kong Gallery Store, what would it be?
Paper Planes – M.I.A.

Could you give us the scoop on the story behind the Hong Meow mascot, and is someone still using the costume?

It was a random idea we threw around during a lunch and everyone thought it would be really cool to have a very tall and skinny panda harassing people in Hong Kong! So we convinced our designer Edwin to be in the costume, there you go, a skinny 6’2" feet tall panda! Poor Edwin was soaking wet after the photo shoot because it was at least 30°C outside. Unfortunately, we rented the costume at a small booth nearby. After the Hong Meow’s second appearance in the Diana World Tour, we had no further information regarding the whereabout of the costume. Hong Meow, however, is immortalized by the photos.

Who/what would be dream collaborators for the Hong Kong Gallery Store, whether for new products or special events?

We would certainly like to do something with the famous Hong Kong singer Eason Chan! A Lomographic concert maybe? Can you hear us Eason? We would also love to collaborate with artist/illustrator Stella So on a special edition camera!

Any upcoming events or surprises lined up?

There will be a Physical Education Diana Mini workshop in October. We will have a bicycle trip with our Minis! As for surprises, we will keep them for now! So stay tuned!