Hong Kong rubber boots and shoes

Known for his observations in the backstreets and hidden corners of the Hong Kong metropolis, photographer Michael Wolf continues his detail-oriented explorations by framing rubber boots and shoes as the subjects of this series. Whether hung up to dry, propped between pipes and walls, neatly arranged in rows, tucked into nooks, or upside-down on poles, this mundane and often grubby type of work footwear also comes in all kinds of colours and sizes. As if patiently awaiting the next opportunity to perform their function, when their user pulls them on again and goes about cleaning fish, cooking food, or sweeping gutters, the boots express unspoken urban narratives of their own.