these photos were originally commissioned for the launch of plug magazine's "artificial" issue, released in early 2015.
all photos were taken in hong kong (+ a few from Window on the World in Shenzhen), in an attempt to note the ways "artifice", in its various connotations, both positive and negative, can be found in the city.
this photo: "circle" lenses are worn by many men and women in hong kong, strictly for cosmetic reasons. some feature enlarged, anime-ish irises, while others are simply coloured. while it is illegal in many countries to sell contact lenses without a prescription, circle lenses are widely available both online and in stores.
a man not really concealed in a mandarin orange tree costume not so stealthily eyes a pretty young woman at happy valley racetrack on hong kong island. the mandarin trees are a common sight during lunar new year, and are believed to bring luck.
a saleswoman deep into her shift at a koi kei macanese bakery location in causeway bay rubs shoulders with a perpetually cheerful promotional cutout.
two immaculately coiffed poodle-type dogs, wearing gendered costumes, are pushed in prams by domestic helpers in stanley, an old, affluent neighborhood on the south side of hong kong island.
a woman and boy stop to admire the foliage plastered all over a construction site in tst, in kowloon.
residents commune with nature outside the hk museum of art. as part of the tst waterfront revitalization program, large parts of the famous boardwalk will be off limits for up to three years.
two children are transfixed by the cold cryptic shapes on a screen in a shop window.
the monk is bunk: heavily-touristed parts of the city are patrolled by men dressed as monks, asking for donations and selling wooden bracelets. in this photo, the monk's alms bowl, which traditionally is used to accept rice, is stuffed with money and souvenirs.
an employee of a gentleman's club in wanchai burns joss paper, better known these days as "ghost money". the fake banknotes, along with all variety of paper replicas, including paper ipads, paper sushi, and paper heineken six packs, are burnt to ensure those who have died are well-taken care of in the afterlife.
this woman works late into the night selling artificial flowers to partygoers in lan kwai fan and wan chai.
a woman carrying home some flowers for chinese new year passes in front of a huge swarovski billboard in the mtr.