The Full Story
About
The 33PRESS - A self taught photographer and freelance journalist born and raised in Hong Kong. Grew up in a traditional Asian family where my family members would often told me to give up on my photography jobs and dreams. I understand this is their perspective, their believe system on how they see art or photography that cannot bring "real prosperity" or "true value" to home or feed the family. I knew that my family came out from the place full of concern and fears of the unknown future. And thought this city is no doubt a real difficult place for local artist and creative mind people to see the light and I don't think I have to go through the numerous of facts and reasons on how hard to survive. However it never seems to be a big issue for me. As the more I felt unsupportive and the suppression from the surrounding, the resistant to the tougher situation and circumstance it's actually giving me more mental and emotional strength to step up and transform my photography and artwork into the NFT marketplace to keep my HOPE alive in this mind evolving journey.
Collection: For The Hungry Ghosts
A photo series of the Chinese Opera Group having their traditional ritual performance during Yu Lan Pun Festival (The hungry ghost festival)
A3 size prints on color film is available for orPun Fesder (dimension: 42cm x 29.7cm). HKD $3800 for each film included our custom design photo frame with silver conservation matboard as the base, which the reflective effect of the matboard could sharpen the clear film's color and it visibility.
The Hungry Ghost Festival or Yu Lan Pun Festival was inscribed on to China’s third national list of intangible cultural heritage in 2011 and is held at over 60 places on Hong Kong Island as well as Kowloon and New Territories. Its held during the seventh month of the Chinese calendar. It also falls at the same time as a full moon, the new season, the fall harvest, the peak of Buddhist monastic asceticism, the rebirth of ancestors, and the assembly of the local community.
During this month, the gates of hell are unlocked and ghosts are free to roam the earth where they seek food and entertainment. These ghosts are believed to be ancestors of those who forgot to pay tribute to them after they died, or those who were never given a proper ritual send-off. Family members offer prayers to their deceased relatives, offer food and drink and burn hell bank notes and other forms of joss paper. Joss paper items are believed to have value in the afterlife, considered to be very similar in some aspects to the material world. People burn paper houses, cars, servants and televisions to please the ghosts. Families also pay tribute to other unknown wandering ghosts so that these homeless souls do not intrude on their lives and bring misfortune.
Lotus-shaped lanterns are lit and set afloat in rivers and out onto seas to symbolically guide the lost souls of forgotten ancestors to the afterlife.
In some East Asian countries today, live performances are held and everyone is invited to attend. The first row of seats are always empty as this is where the ghosts sit. The shows are always put on at night and at high volumes as the sound is believed to attract and please the ghosts. Traditionally Chinese opera and drama is the main source of entertainment.
For rituals, Buddhists and Taoists hold ceremonies to relieve ghosts from suffering, many of them holding ceremonies in the afternoon or at night (as it is believed that the ghosts are released from hell when the sun sets). Altars are built for the deceased and priests and monks alike perform rituals for the benefit of ghosts. Monks and priests often throw rice or other small foods into the air in all directions to distribute them to the ghosts.