New Herzog Exhibit ‘Vitality: Iconic Images, Hidden Stories’ is Opening in Chinatown This April

Fred Herzog, *Man with Cane*, 1961. Archival pigment print. Courtesy of The Estate of Fred Herzog and Equinox Gallery, Vancouver © The Estate of Fred Herzog, 2025

Neighbourhoods are shaped by the people who live in them — their routines, businesses, and quiet moments of connection. As Jane Jacobs put it, “Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” Few artists captured this everyday vitality better than Fred Herzog, whose pioneering colour photography documented mid-century Vancouver’s Chinatown and historic Hastings district. His images of shopkeepers at work, neon lights buzzing at dusk, kids weaving through back alleys, et al., preserve a version of the city that was lived, not just planned, offering a lasting testament to the changing urban landscape – and, hopefully, also continuing a dialogue about what cities can be.

Opening Friday, April 11th (and running right up until the end of the year, December 31st, 2025) at the Chinatown Storytelling Centre, Vitality: Iconic Images, Hidden Stories explores these neighbourhoods between the 1950s and 1970s, blending Herzog’s striking photography with personal histories uncovering the deeper narratives behind his most celebrated works. Through a mixture of archival materials and storytelling, the exhibition offers a nuanced understanding of these communities, reflecting on both their pasts and the possibilities for their futures.

The Vitality launch party runs from 5:30-7:30pm on opening day (April 11th), featuring insights from curators on how the exhibition came together, alongside remarks from special guest speakers. Tickets are $10 a pop, with all proceeds supporting the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation’s revitalization efforts. Lock yours in here now. Extending the experience beyond the gallery, Fred Herzog: In and Around Chinatown brings the photographer’s images to the streets with an outdoor projection on Pender, presented as part of the 2025 Capture Photography Festival, running from dusk until 11pm everyday during the Fest (April 1st through 30th). Additionally, a stunning full-colour companion book, Vitality: Iconic Images, Hidden Stories, features iconic Herzog photographs, archival and personal images, alongside narratives that combine to offer a deeper connection to the vibrant neighbourhoods. Expect that to drop in late March.