#TheGhostCity
金童玉女
Paper Servants
The Crucial element to start an afterlife journey :
Paper offerings are a form of traditional Chinese folk practice. In the Western world, paper dolls are often regarded as childhood toys; however, in Chinese culture, they carry a very different meaning. Paper servants (#金童玉女) are believed to serve the deceased in the underworld. Chinese tradition holds that when paper offerings are burned, the ashes transcend the boundaries of the living world and reach the gods, spirits, and ancestors. Through smoke, these symbolic objects are transformed into real possessions for the departed soul in the afterlife. For this reason, paper servants are an important component of traditional Chinese funerals, marking the beginning of a new life in the underworld.
The Symbolism of the Fear of Death:
Beyond their role in Chinese funeral traditions, paper servants also carry a darker historical significance. In the pre-Qin period, living people were sometimes buried as sacrificial attendants to deceased rulers. Against this historical backdrop, paper servants can symbolize the loss of freedom, individuality, and agency. This interpretation also resonates with the social sentiments and anxieties experienced in Hong Kong over the past two decades.
#TheGhostCity is a photography series that expresses a sense of anxiety, uncertainty, and mourning for the city through the use of a traditional cultural symbol: paper servants. Set within a deserted modern city bathed in blue and green tones, the paper servants emit a strange and unsettling presence under the bright sunlight. The images stand in sharp contrast to the familiar image of a “Vibrant Hong Kong.”
Hong Kong’s complex history helps explain its uncertainty about the future. In 1997, the British flag was lowered over Hong Kong, marking the end of more than 150 years of British rule and the city’s return to China.
In recent decades, rapid social and economic changes have led to a growing sense of marginalization, giving rise to deep-rooted social, cultural, and economic challenges. Many people have felt increasing anxiety about Hong Kong’s future and their place within it.
Kasper Forest, a photographer who has been deeply engaged with the medium since 2011, has consistently explored the dilemmas facing contemporary Hong Kong society. He believes that the search for identity remains a central issue for a former colonial city like Hong Kong. These contradictions reflect a broader sense of confusion, uncertainty, and anxiety about the future.
