By: Candace Lu

Remi Lucidi, 30, was a “rooftopper,” someone who takes photos from the tops of tall buildings. Last week, his body was found dead, beside a Hong Kong skyscraper. His death has caused many Instagram users to debate the value and purpose of his art, which involved clambering onto ledges and antennae in cities around the world. To friends and fans, Mr. Lucidi’s captivating photos were made by a talented, diligent artist. However, his critics believe that they were a prime example of reckless risk-taking.

Many people have compared the argument to “urban exploration” or “urbex”, when people trespass to tell the stories of abandoned properties. Although roof topping is part of urbex, many of its supporters are more interested in creating social media content rather than exploring the urban landscapes with lively energy. The controversy of the discussion is the fact that several people around the world have died while roof topping in recent years. People believe that rooftoppers are more focused on the thrill of being in high and perilous locations than actually learning about the buildings. While urbex involves exploring abandoned, safer and historic places, rooftopping involves thrill rides in tall, dangerous places.