Vivien Liu : Being There

"Architects are trained to see a space before it's realised, so I think photography helps me with that. But I'd also say it's the other way around. My training helps me with the way I photograph. I look at space with a more symmetrical eye, and you see a lot of symmetry in my photos." ~ Vivien Liu

Vivien Liu studied architecture at the University of Waterloo and then attended Harvard University's Graduate School of Design, where she was awarded the prestigious Clifford Wong Prize in Housing Design. As an architect, she has worked for nearly a decade in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, China and Hong Kong, where she now resides and first took up photography.

As a photographer, she quickly developed a strong sensibility portraying space as seen through the first person, which now defines her style. What began as a weekend pastime has transformed Vivien into one of the most prolific urban photographers in Hong Kong, attracting over 240,000 followers on Instagram.

Her first book, Being There explores the dialogue and tension between people and spaces through portraiture, landscapes, and street photography, from the urban density of Hong Kong and Tokyo to epic natural landscapes like Zhangjajie, China. With an architect's artful eye, Ms. Liu captures this juxtaposition in the most beautiful way, sharply highlighting her eye for patterns and symmetry across settings.

About the Author

Vivien Liu discovered a passion in photographing the urban density and architecture of Hong Kong and around the world. Her photography on Instagram has attracted more than 230,000 followers who check in to see her unique view on Hong Kong every day. Since then, her style has broadened to include portraiture, natural landscapes and product photography. Her work is trusted by a wide range of clients including Nikon, Jack Daniels, American Express, Huawei, Samsung and The Hong Kong Tourism Board.