Title: Be water : iconografia di una protesta
Photographer(s): Nicola Longobardi
Writer(s): Nicola Longobardi
Designer(s): Solchi graphic design Milano
Publisher(s): Scalpendi Editore, Milano, Italy
Year: 2020
Print run:
Language(s): Italian
Pages: 112
Size: 14 x 21 cm
Binding: Softcover
Edition:
Print: Italy
Nation(s) and year(s) of Protest: Hong Kong, 2020
ISBN: 9788832203776
"Be Water' is a famous phrase used by Bruce Lee to explain the basis of his martial technique. "Be Water" today is the name of the tactic used by Hong Kong protesters when they take to the streets in protest. Since 9 June 2019, millions of people have occupied the streets of the former British colony to demand the withdrawal of an extradition law that would have endangered the city's autonomy. From the beginning, propaganda had labelled the protesters as a group of spoiled English-speaking university students. How was it possible that the streets of the city were filled only with students? That was what I wanted to tell. Diversity. I started, in August 2019, to portray the protesters during the street protests by isolating them, putting them in front of a white background. This way I thought I could better highlight the diversity within this leaderless movement."