Xyza Cruz Bacani: Under Represented

Under Represented, Bacani’s first solo exhibition in London, will include works from the Occupy HK – Teargas and Occupy HK – Suffrage series’, as well as the Isolation series. Collectively the works summarise her practice as a street and documentary photographer, as well as her inner universe as an artist.

Working as a domestic worker in Hong Kong for almost a decade, Bacani uses photography to raise awareness about under-reported stories, focusing on migrants and human rights issues. Whilst dealing with heavily weighted socio-political issues, Bacani’s works also reflect the isolation she felt whilst living in a foreign country, and also working as a domestic worker in this foreign setting. Echoing her 2015 exhibition After Work at Para-site Hong Kong - a group show that presented the historical stories of migrant domestic works in Hong Kong and the South East Asia vicinity, as well as a modern interpretation of migrant labour- Bacani’s act of taking photography is both a representation of the migrant worker and a representation of herself as an artist in a polarized modern society divided by class. Her work also engages with issues faced by young artists existing within highly competitive art market.

The exhibition is entitled Under Represented to illustrate Bacani’s thoughts about living in Hong Kong. Despite the extended period Bacani spent living and working in Hong Kong, she has always felt like an outsider. “I have a voice that was never heard, but with photography I am able to magnify what I want to say. Occupy HK changed the political landscape of Hong Kong. I was there and took photographs, but I still was not part of it.”

About the artist
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Xyza Bacani (b. 1987) is a Filipina street and documentary Photographer based in Hong Kong. Her work has been featured on New York Times Lens Blog, CNN and various international media publications not only for her excellence in photography but also for her inspirational story.

Bacani has exhibited worldwide and won numerous international awards. Recent solo and group exhibitions include The Outlier, Arrow Factory, Beijing, China (2016), Modern Slavery, MCG Youth and Arts Gallery, Pittsburgh (2016), What Works, Bronx Documentary Center, New York (2016), and Women in Photography, Objectifs Centre Singapore (2016) to name a few.

She is one of the MAGNUM FOUNDATION HUMAN RIGHTS FELLOWS 2015 and the recipient of a resolution passed by the Philippines House of Representatives in her honour, HR No.1969. Bacani is one of the BBC’s 100 Women of the World 2015, 30 Under 30 Women Photographers 2016, Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2016, and a Fujifilm Ambassador.

About us

Christine Park Gallery is a young gallery dedicated to supporting both emerging and established UK and international artists. Located in the heart of Fitzrovia, London’s burgeoning art hotspot, the gallery has an extensive programme of solo shows, conceptually curated group exhibitions, and special installations. With a constantly developing roster of innovative artists the gallery prides itself on exhibiting works in a range of media, seeking to provoke cross-disciplinary debate and extend the boundaries of the current contemporary art scene.

Our vision is to provide a platform to allow artists to develop and gain greater recognition. Therefore, as well as providing a commercial space that artists can use as a canvas to realize their projects and present their works to the public, we actively foster relations with art foundations, public museums and private clients.

For further information and press inquiries, please contact Christine Park at christine@christinepark.net.

This exhibition is generously sponsored by Fujifilm North America.