Marking the 15th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, Taipei 1839 Contemporary Gallery will present Floating World Stories: Japan 3.11 – A Photography Exhibition by Vincent Yu this October. The exhibition features more than 100 photographs, photographic installations, and video works revisiting one of the most significant disasters in modern history.
In 2011, veteran Hong Kong photojournalist Wai Kin Yu was commissioned by the Associated Press (AP) to document the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan. During his assignment, he worked with both professional digital cameras and a smartphone, capturing the disaster’s human stories, devastated landscapes, and enduring memories from multiple perspectives.
Presented in both color and black-and-white, the exhibition brings together two acclaimed series, Japanese 3.11 Portraits and iPhone 3.11 Incident, offering a powerful reflection on resilience, remembrance, and the lasting impact of the disaster on people and society.
About Artist
Vincent Yu Wai Kin, born and raised in Hong Kong, Vincent Yu has worked as a photojournalist for the Associated Press, covering major news events across the Asia-Pacific region since 1985. As a close observer of Hong Kong’s rapid development, Yu has acquired a special sensitivity towards its ever-changing cityscape. In particular, he is interested in documenting disappearing heritage and architecture, as well as communities affected by these changes. His works have been recognized by many honors, including the 2004 National Headliner Awards, 2010 World Press Photo Awards 3rd Prize in the “People in the News” singles category, 2013 Award of Excellence for “Photographer of the Year” in the Picture of the Year Awards, and numerous Hong Kong Press Photographers Association Annual Awards. His works are collected by the Hong Kong Heritage Museum.
About Curator
Blues Wong is at present a curatorial team member of the Hong Kong International Photography Festival (HKIPF). Blues has contributed as a photography, fine art and film critic over three decades. His writings are selected for Daido Moriyama’s ‘Reflection and Refraction’ exhibition catalogue (Asia One Books, 2012) and ‘Hong Kong Visual Culture: The M+ Guide’ (Thames and Hudson, 2022).
《Stories from the Floating World: Japan 3.11》by Vincent YU
Exhibition Period｜October 17-November 22, 2026
Opening｜Art Talk with Artist: Sat. October 17, 2026 14:30 – 17:00
Photo Talk｜Vincent YU v.s. Blues WONG (Curator)
Gallery Director｜ Edward, I-Chien CHIU (phD)
Organizer: 1839 Contemporary Gallery (specializing in photographic art gallery). What’s 1839? It mean the invention of photography in 1839)
Address: B1, No. 120, Yanji Street, Da’an District, Taipei City
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