TORII | Ulana Switucha
Exhibition & Book Launch
15 November to 14 December 2025
Venue: Blue Lotus Gallery
Address: 28 Pound Lane, Sheung Wan, HK
Opening Hours: Tue-Saturday, 11am-6pm
Contact:
Press: Sarah Greene, sarah@bluelotus-gallery.com
Sales and other inquiries: Alice Ho, manager@bluelotus-gallery.com
Blue Lotus Gallery presents Torii, a new photobook and exhibition by Ulana Switucha.
Hong Kong–based Canadian photographer Switucha spent ten years journeying through Japan’s quiet, lesser-travelled landscapes, photographing its most iconic and sacred gateways.
First appearing in Japan around the 10th century, torii evolved from simple wooden structures into the iconic forms seen across the country today. They mark the transition from the secular to the sacred, serving as enduring symbols of reverence for the Kami: deities believed to dwell within the natural world. Architectural and symbolic, these gates embody reflection, balance, and the harmony between humanity and nature, and today stand as enduring symbols of Japan’s cultural and spiritual heritage.
Ulana Switucha has photographed Japan for many years, forming a deep connection with its landscapes, history, and culture. Her decade-long journey documenting its torii began while living in the country, and over time, she has developed an intimate familiarity with these sacred gates, portraying them as quiet sentinels amid seas, coastal shores, and snow-covered terrain.
Her approach emphasises minimalism and stillness, allowing the gates to emerge as meditative focal points. Suspended between permanence and impermanence, presence and absence, the photographs evoke a contemplative space, inviting viewers to pause, reflect, and experience the quiet beauty of these places.
“Japan continues to be a top travel destination for Hong Kong residents, who are captivated not only by its vibrant cities but also by its rich cultural heritage and serene spiritual landscapes,” says Sarah Greene, director of Blue Lotus Gallery. “Through this exhibition at Blue Lotus, we aim to bring a touch of what we cherish most about Japan to Hong Kong.”
Each composition on show emphasises the interplay of light, space, and form, revealing how these gates both assert human presence and harmonise with their surroundings. The exhibition journey mirrors the quiet meditation of the photographs, encouraging reflection on our relationship to place, time, and stillness.
“When I encounter a gate in a natural setting, I slow down, observe the world, and reflect,” Switucha explains. “I notice the soft colours of sakura, the brilliance of autumn leaves, the scent of forests, or the gentle sound of waves. Each experience becomes a meditation, and the gates act as prompts for stillness and presence.”
The exhibition at Blue Lotus Gallery will run from 15 November to 14 December 2025, presenting around fifteen prints that trace Switucha’s journey, offering Hong Kong audiences the chance to experience the meditative beauty of Japan.
Torii, the photobook, is published in Hong Kong by Blue Lotus Editions. Both the book and limited-edition prints will be available during the exhibition.
Ulana Switucha is a Hong Kong–based photographer who has worked throughout Asia for over 30 years. She has received numerous international accolades, including First Place in Architecture and Design at the 2025 Sony World Photography Awards and inclusion in the 2025 PhotoLucida Critical Mass 50. Images from her Torii series have also won awards such as the Prix de la Photographie, Paris. She contributed to the book In the Heart of the Metropolis: Yaumatei and Its People, published by the Royal Asiatic Society, Hong Kong, and her work has appeared in numerous fine art photography magazines. Ulana’s photographs have been exhibited in Hong Kong, Europe, Japan, Canada, and the United States.
Now available for pre-order in our online bookshop at an exclusive promotional launch price!
The book is expected to be ready for delivery 15 November onwards.
