Shot by the professional Hong Kong-based photographer Benny Lam for a campaign by the SoCo between 2012 and 2015, Subdivided Flats series shed direct light on the housing problems in Hong Kong. Benny explains he "walked into almost 100 flats, climbed numerous stairs when taking pictures (...). Forty square feet can be the size of a toilet, a kitchen, or a balcony. It is just enough for three or four people to lie down, four or five swivel chairs, or 57 pieces of tiled A4-sized paper. But for some people, it is the size of the entire house that they call home."
These photographs were taken from a bird’s eye view and showed the tiny sub-divided space, which "compels you to do everything on or around the bed: sleeping, washing vegetables, having meals, writing letters, and watching TV," explained Benny. "For some people, it is also where the children do homework and play games. Living here is like being trapped in a cage. Dilemma is what it’s all about. If you need to catch your breath, stay in this trap and entertain yourself."
Benny Lam graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design in Canada, He is proficient in creative communication through graphics and pictures. As an award-winning art director turned photographer, Benny adds value to shooting assignments by giving sound advice on art direction. He also knows well the dynamics between agency and client, making him reliable for all types of projects.
Over the years, Benny has won numerous local and international awards, such as the Best Photography in HK4As Kam Fan Awards, the Communication Arts Award, Cannes Lions Finalist, the Grand Prix in ADSA International Non-profit and Social Advertising Award, the LongXi Awards, the Award of Excellence in Photography at Global Society for News Design Awards, and The Shortisted Artist of The Prix Pictet Space Award, his works also featured in renowned creative magazine Archive and esteemed publication European Photography, in addition to being exhibited at the DOX Centre for Contemporary Art in Prague, Victoria & Albert Museum in London, and various museums worldwide. And a part of his works is collected at the Hong Kong M+ Museum.
