Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze’s fascination with the Chinese banyan (Ficus microcarpa) was sparked by a chance encounter: a single tree clinging to the facade of a building in Mong Kok, discovered while exploring a rooftop. It seemed to defy gravity, anchored improbably to vertical concrete. That moment marked the beginning of an ongoing visual exploration. Over time, he observed these remarkable trees in all stages of life — from delicate saplings sprouting along water pipes to towering specimens rising proudly above the streets.
What began as curiosity deepened into concern. Across Hong Kong, many of these urban banyans were being cleared, their host buildings demolished or renovated in the wake of redevelopment. Moved by a sense of urgency, Jacquet-Lagrèze set out to document their presence before they vanished.
His search led him through the city’s oldest neighborhoods, where he tirelessly scanned rooftops and facades in hopes of catching sight of these resilient trees. The reward was often breathtaking: a flourishing banyan piercing through concrete, its roots cascading downward, leaves glowing against grey walls. These encounters consistently inspired awe for the species’ resilience and adaptability — qualities that allow it to flourish in even the harshest urban environments.
In the wild, Chinese banyans are epiphytes, known for growing atop other trees to gain access to sunlight and provide nourishment to birds and wildlife. In the heart of Hong Kong, they have redefined their role, colonizing the cityscape. Their seeds, typically deposited by birds, find shelter in cracks and crevices, sending roots deep into concrete walls — sometimes even cracking them apart.
Echoing Above captures this striking coexistence between nature and the built environment. Each image stands as a testament to the silent persistence of life amid steel and stone, reminding us of the fragile yet enduring relationship between urban growth and the natural world.