Heinz von Perckhammer (1895–1965), Lama Temple Yung-ho-kung (Yonghegong Lama Temple), Peking, plate 67, Berlin: Albertus-Verlag, 1928
The University Museum and Art Gallery (UMAG), The University of Hong Kong (HKU) is delighted to announce Perckhammer's Peking: A Photographic Documentation of China's Capital City in the 1920s, an exhibition of work by Heinz von Perckhammer (1895–1965). A prominent South-Tyrolean photographer and photojournalist, who grew up in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Perckhammer travelled to various regions of China and documented daily life, rituals and architecture in images that display a Westerner's curiosity for Chinese customs and culture.
Today, the illustrations in Perckhammer's publication are of great historical value since they document the beginnings of China's modernisation and social change in Beijing during the early years of the Republic. For the aspiring photojournalist, the 1920s presented an era of transformation and the fifteen hundred photographs taken by Perckhammer constitute an archive of extraordinary scope and diverse subject matter. Although the publication includes only 200 images, Peking offers a compelling account of the artist's fascination with various subjects, such as the Imperial Palace, religious architecture, city views, street scenes and glimpses of daily life. These subjects fascinated the artist and drove him to document his experiences.
The peak of his professional activity occurred at a time when photography had gained wider practice, regular exhibitions and increased recognition in China. This work propelled his career when Perckhammer returned to Europe and began working as a photojournalist for the Berlin-based illustrated weekly Die Woche in 1929.
For more images and exhibit captions, please click here.
Details of the Exhibition
Period: November 1, 2024 (Friday) to February 2, 2025 (Sunday)
Opening Hours:
9:30 am–6 pm (Tuesday to Saturday)
1 pm–6 pm (Sunday)
Closed on Mondays, Public and University Holidays
Venue: 1/F, Fung Ping Shan Building, UMAG, HKU, 90 Bonham Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
