Photographer Kris Vervaeke is the Edge of Humanity Magazine contributor of this documentary photography. From the project ‘House Full of Gold’. To see Kris’ body of work, click on any image.

This series portraits the fortune tellers of Wong-Tai-Sin temple in HK. A unique place in the world where 160 fortune tellers are lined up in little offices in one place. Waiting for customers to come by. With the series one becomes a visitor of these fortune shops and learn more about them. And about me, as I also had my face/hands read by them.

I wanted to recreate these rows of fortune tellers and the bizarre atmosphere that is at the same time religious, superstitious, shopping mall, historic site, all packed in one. Allowing to observe the shops and its interior from the outside makes you a visitor that can choose his fortune teller. The quotes give an idea what they do , what their background is, how they got into business.

It presents the uniqueness of this old traditional business. It depicts faith and superstition that still rule daily life in Asia in many ways. They help solve issues and disputes. They create excuses for failure and give hope for success. Although it still plays an important role in Asian social and business culture, their own future is unclear as finding people to take over is difficult and by the invasion of fortune telling apps.