Although good grades at school pulled him out of poverty – and subsequently saw him study in the United States and found his own design company working with the likes of Armani, American Express and Standard Chartered – it is that undiluted realism of everyday city life that still inspires Chan’s fine art work.
Now preparing to exhibit his famous photomontages of everything from shipping containers to zebra crossings, street food and airport check-in desks at this weekend’s Affordable Art Fair, the 53-year-old talks to Coconuts HK about the inspiration behind his works.
Born in 1962 into a home huddled under the steady roar of Hong Kong’s old Kai Tak Airport, Chan bought his first plastic camera with the small amount of pocket money he was allowed to keep from his meagre wages. It’s hardly a surprise then, that his much more sophisticated model now never leaves his hand.
“I carry my camera with me all times so I’m ready to capture that right moment or expression anywhere, anytime,” Chan tells us.
“My approach is to use my photography to ‘steal’ the real texture and energy of the city of Hong Kong, often down narrow alleys and in densely populated neighbourhoods. I am drawn back to the city of my childhood, culling the symbolism and expression buried deep in my memory, where I borrow neglected city images, paint, graffiti, bamboo scaffolding, styrofoam boxes, aged air-conditioners, shipping containers and the ubiquitous property agent’s for sale signs.”
Using these images as his raw material, Chan edits, distorts and adds and subtracts details to create free compositions on his digital canvas. The result goes beyond the concept of reality and into the formation of highly arresting and symbolic images that seem to tell the story of a moment.
“I am entranced with the emotion and beauty that can be found in unlikely places,” Chan explains. “I find inspiration pretty much everywhere. If we pay attention to what’s around us, we can always find beauty. I get inspired easily; music, films, reading, fashion, chatting with friends and people, walking around the city and observing what is around, even day-dreaming are parts of my inspirations.”
Chan will be explaining more about his process and offering a “show and tell” of his work as he exhibits with Picture This Gallery at the Affordable Art Fair this weekend.
The first talk will be held in Cantonese at 1pm on Friday, while an English version will take place at 1pm on Sunday. Catch both at the Education Space of the fair. More info can be found here.
The Affordable Art Fair runs from Friday May 22 to Sunday May 23 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai. Visit the website for details and tickets.
