Cody Ellingham

Fantasy City by the Harbour is a new artbook by Cody Ellingham, exploring the city of Hong Kong through dream-like photography and short stories.

Hong Kong is known for its dizzying high-rises, densely-packed urban neighbourhoods, and amazing nocturnal cityscapes. But there is more to the layers of the city than first meets the eye. New Zealand photographer Cody Ellingham has set out to understand the story of the city through his latest photographic project, Fantasy City by the Harbour. 

Released as a 64-page artbook, Fantasy City by the Harbour is an exploration of Hong Kong’s architecture and the way many people remember the bustling city. Ellingham’s photographs and writing strip back the crowded and noisy streets to carve out quiet moments of introspection: moonlight shines through an old apartment block in Yau Ma Tei, misty lights blaze out across the harbour, and the remnants of the old airport stand silhouetted against the skyline.

The artbook has a strong cinematic influence, inspired by the golden age of Hong Kong cinema from the 1980s through to the early 2000s. This comes through in its treatment of colour and composition as the story winds through the architecture and fabric of the city.

The limited collector’s edition of the artbook includes signed photographs by the artist as well as a printed plane ticket. The ticket’s destination? The long-defunct Kai Tak Airport in Kowloon, which closed its gates a quarter of a century ago.

Collector's Edition Contents:

• Fantasy City by the Harbour Artbook (Signed)
• Unique Airplane Ticket
• 2 signed photographs (6"x 4")

Dimensions: 210mm x 297mm (8” x 12“), softcover

Pages: 64

‍Language: English 

ISBN: 978-0-473-63677-7