Lois Conner
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Artist-in-Residence
Photo by Lee Friedlander (1993)
CUHK
Artist-in-Residence
CUHK hosted the American photographer Ms. Lois Conner as the inaugural Artist-in-Residence during February to March 2023. With the assistance of the Yale-China Association connecting Ms. Conner and CUHK, the University was able to invite Ms. Conner to Hong Kong for this special programme.
Ms. Conner’s visit was supported by a number of units at CUHK including the Faculty of Arts, Morningside College, Department of Fine Arts, and Office of Academic Links as well as the Yale-China Association.
Ms. Conner is a New York-based photographer renowned for her platinum print landscapes that she produces with a 7”x17” format banquet camera. She is the recipient of many awards and fellowships including the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship (1984-85) where she spent photographing in China. She has spent much time in China and followed the transformation of the country.
During her time in Hong Kong, Ms. Conner shared her journey on photography with the CUHK community, engaged with fellow artists, and explored the city to capture its many unique facets. Visit here to learn about her experience via CUHK’s interview with her.
Ms. Lois Conner
Lois Conner is an American photographer. She is known for her large-scale panoramic photographs relating to global landscapes produced by her 7”x17”, 8”x10”, and 11”x14” cameras. Her pictures are characterized by their narrative sweep, a sense of place, and their implicit attention to history and culture. Many of her projects have an arc of decades, including her work in New York, China, Navajo Reservation, and the American West.
In 2021-2022, her solo exhibition, “Flat Earth” was presented at the Penumbra Foundation in New York and the Robert Klein Gallery in Boston. Prior to that, she had had solo exhibitions in museums and galleries of different countries, including Gitterman Gallery and Zetterquist Gallery in New York, Rossi and Rossi in London, and the Shanghai Center of Photography and M97 Gallery in Shanghai.
For more information on Lois Conner and her works, please visit here.
Substance, Shadow, Spirit (形，神，影)
— Working in the Landscape
Ms. Conner delivered a public lecture titled ‘Substance, Shadow, Spirit (形，神，影) — Working in the Landscape’ on 24 March to share her unique understanding of China’s changing urban and rural mien, as well as the vistas that inspired the country’s unique culture. Her works were also exhibited on this occasion and audience were able to chat with her and gain insights into her work.
“It's always fascinating to see how different photographers approach their craft, and how they use their equipment to capture the world around them.
For me, I always start with photography and turn them into other contemporary forms of art. And I gained some inspiration from working alongside Lois for the day.” ... read more
Weera-it Ittiteerarak
Year 2, Master of Fine Arts, CUHK
“…many people stopped by to ask about Lois’ camera or its story. Each conversation like that ended in a new connection – people who stopped by were oftentimes also film and photography enthusiasts, or they worked in the field as well. Some of them were simply surprised to see a photo taken in a non-digital way and wanted to understand more about the process. I think it was a really interesting experience and showed me that people are willing to explore new perspectives and concepts.” ... read more
Marta Gramatyka
Year 4, Chinese Studies major, CUHK
Lois in Hong Kong
“Ms. Conner was generous with her time for others, including giving a talk for the alumni associations of Yale and of Harvard Business School. I am glad the Yale-China Association was able to play an instrumental role connecting her with CUHK.” ... read more
Professor Andrew Junker
Hong Kong Director, Yale-China Association
"The tree right before our eyes was transformed. It appeared so majestic on the viewing glass, even when it was upside down. It was amazing to see through the photographer's eye. An ordinary tree all of a sudden acquires such a beautiful form and so many stories.” ... read more
Professor Max Tang
Dean of the Faculty of Arts, CUHK
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