›Hong Kong Rubber Boots and Shoes‹ is the seventh volume from Michael Wolf´s series of books about Hong Kong´s Back Alleys, two more books will follow to complete the tremendous cycle. Earlier this year the ›Flowers Gallery‹ in London presented a large solo show with Michael Wolf´s Back Alley photos, videos and installations, currently the show is on at the ›Centre Photographique‹ in Rouen.
Pretty much fuss actually for everyday items such as mops, gloves, carts, chairs, plants, clothes, umbrellas, one might think. But Michael Wolf has much more to offer than just a few snapshots. Hong Kong´s Back Alleys since many years are his laboratory for the exploration of behaviors, creativity and inventiveness of the city dwellers that are reflected in the amazing variety of random arrangements.
And so it is with the rubber boots and other footwear. Not the shoes themselves are specific, but rather how they hang on hangers or next to fishes on the clothesline, are parked on pipes, walls, window sills or slipped on broomsticks and chair legs. This book is big fun again, and at the end rats flit around our feet.