Eiffel Chong

Seascapes / 말레이시아, Malaysia

Eiffel Chong’s photographic series of local seascapes captures light in a manner evocative of Dutch Master oil paintings. The lucid photographs at first seem too still, too clear, too silent. They reveal Chong’s talent for peacefully capturing the often-neglected spaces between private and public land, hinting towards man as a producer, rather than a consumer. Each picture gives something away as to man’s influence over the space; whether this is a buoy, boat, or seemingly abandoned pier. Even the image itself is a product of man; in so much that it has been the subject of the artist’s gaze.

Viewing all images, stretched alongside one another panoramically, is reminiscent of being by the sea, looking out onto the seemingly endless horizon that only coastal landscapes can evoke. This feeling is carefully crafted by Chong, who balances the same proportion of sea to sky in each of the images, which are mainly differentiated by the manifold colours of the sea. He aims to bring us at one with Nature through this series of photographs, reminding us that we are not apart from Nature, but rather that we are a part of it.

지역 해안 풍경 사진 연작은 네덜란드 거장들의 유화 작업을 연상시키는 방식으로 빛을 포착한다. 이 명료한 사진들은 처음에 너무나 고요하고, 너무나 맑으며, 너무나 조용해 보인다. 작품들은 사적 공간과 공적 공간 사이에 존재하는, 종종 소외되곤 하는 공간들을 평온하게 담아내는 청의 재능을 드러내며, 인간을 소비자가 아닌 생산자로서 암시한다. 각 사진은 부표, 배, 혹은 버려진 것처럼 보이는 선착장 등을 통해 그 공간에 미친 인간의 영향력을 조금씩 드러낸다. 이미지 그 자체조차도 작가의 시선의 대상이 되었다는 점에서 인간의 생산물이다.

파노라마처럼 서로 나란히 길게 늘어선 모든 이미지들을 바라보는 것은, 오직 해안 풍경만이 불러일으킬 수 있는 저 끝없는 지평선을 바라보며 바닷가에 서 있는 듯한 느낌을 연상시킨다. 이러한 감정은 각 이미지에서 바다와 하늘의 비율을 동일하게 균형 잡은 청의 정교한 연출에 의해 만들어진 것이며, 사진들은 주로 바다의 다채로운 색감에 의해 서로 구별된다. 그는 이 사진 연작을 통해 우리가 자연과 하나가 되게 함으로써, 우리가 자연과 분리된 존재가 아니라 오히려 자연의 일부라는 사실을 상기시키고자 한다.

Eiffel Chong, b. 1977, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

­­­­­­Now lives and works in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Eiffel Chong graduated with an MA in International Contemporary Art and Design Practice from the University of East London and a BA (Hons) in Photography from London College of Printing. Besides his production of photographic work, Chong is highly engaged with the Malaysian photographic community; taking on the role of mentor for the Goethe Institut Malaysia/Nikon Shooting Stars programme and Exposure+ Workshop. In addition, he has been appointed to the panel of judges for the Kuala Lumpur Photography Awards 2015 & 2013 and 2010/2011 Annual Nikon Photo Awards, Malaysia.

Eiffel Chong’s work considers abstract concepts of life and death through the banal details, silent landscapes and curious obsessions he observes from daily life. He is interested in how the photographic medium can translate a particular time and space, memories and thoughts into something permanent. He personally thinks that the images say more with less, and makes one just want to stare and think about it.

More of his work can be viewed on http://www.eiffelchong.com

AWARDS

2015               Nikon Photo Contest 2014-2015, Category D, JAPAN (2nd Prize)                               The Prix Pictet: Disorder, London, ENGLAND (Nominee)                                         Asia-Pacific Photobook Award, Melbourne, AUSTRALIA (Finalist)        

2014            The Sovereign Asian Art Prize, HONG KONG (Finalist)

2013               The Prix Pictet: Consumption, London, ENGLAND (Nominee)

2012               29th Higashikawa International Award, Hokkaido, JAPAN (Finalist)

2010            ASEAN- Korea Multimedia Competition, Photography Category, Seoul, SOUTH KOREA (3rd Prize)

2006               Young Contemporary Arts Award, National Art Gallery,                                         Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA (Finalist)

PUBLICATIONS

2015            Seascape, Artify Gallery Publication

2013            Institutionalised Care

2012            This Used To Be My Playground, Artify Gallery Publication

Before The World Fell To Pieces, Valentine Willie Fine Art Publication

2008            Faces of IJN, Institut Jantung Negara Foundation Publication (National Heart Institution Foundation Publication)

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2015               seascape, Artify Gallery, HONG KONG

2014            Works 2002 – 2014, Hong Kong Design Institute, HONG KONG

2013            Under Control, 2902 Gallery, SINGAPORE

2012               This Used To Be My Playground, Artify Gallery, HONG KONG

                        Before The World Fell to Pieces, Valentine Willie Fine Art,           Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

A Matter of Life and Death, ArtDepts by VWFA, @Goodsdept,        Plaza Indonesia, Jakarta, INDONESIA

Selected Group Exhibitions

2016            Victoria Crime, MC3@Creative Space, Hong Kong University,                   HONG KONG

2015            Postcolonial Photo Studio, Noorderlicht Photo Festival 2015, Noorderlicht Gallery, Groningen, THE NETHERLANDS

Victoria Crime, Artify Gallery, HONG KONG

Only A Fragment, Richard Koh Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

The Space Between – An Exploration of Role Meaning and Intent in Contemporary Malaysian Art, Wei-Ling Contemporary, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

2014            MIA&D Fair, Marina Bay Exhibition and Convention Hall, SINGAPORE

After Image: Contemporary Photography From Southeast Asia, Singapore Art Museum, SINGAPORE

Others & Me: A Contemporary Photography Exhibition, Sharjah Art Museum, Sharjah, UAE

Sovereign Asian Art Prize 2014, The Rotunda, Exchange Square,  HONG KONG

Malaysian Eye, White Box Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

My Country, Louis K. Meisel Gallery, New York City, USA

                     Xishuangbanna Foto Festival, Hall of Academic Excellent, Yunnan, CHINA

2013            Mt. Rokko International Photo Festival 2013, Kobe, JAPAN

SIPF NOMAD, Noorderlicht Photo Festival 2013, Noorderlicht Gallery, Groningen, THE NETHERLANDS

Portraits – Group Exhibition from Singapore International Photography Festival, Theory of Clouds: Gallery and Community Worldwide, Kobe, JAPAN

Art13 London, Olympia Grand Hall, London, ENGLAND

MIDTERM, Shalini Ganendra Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

                     Chobi Mela International Festival of Photography, Shilpokola Academy, Dhaka, BANGLADESH

2012               Wawasan 2020, Valentine Willie Fine Art, SINGAPORE

Headlights 2012, Valentine Willie Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

2011               Photo Off, Young and Upcoming Photographers Art Fair 2011                               La Bellevilloise, Paris, FRANCE

Young Artist Project 2011: Future Lab, Daegu EXCO,                    Daegu, SOUTH KOREA

Tanah Ayer: Malaysian Stories from the Land, Selasar Sunaryo Art Space, Bandung, INDONESIA

                     Angsana: Southeast Asian Photographers Taking Flight, 2902 Gallery, SINGAPORE

2010            2010 ASEAN- Korea Multimedia Competition, Gallery Jinsun, Seoul, SOUTH KOREA

CUT2010: New Photography from Southeast Asia: Parallel Universe, Manila Contemporary, Manila, PHILIPPINES; Sangkring Art Space, Jogjakarta, INDONESIA; Valentine Willie Fine Art, SINGAPORE; Valentine Willie Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

Al-Kesah: Once Upon a Time in Malaysia, MAP White Box, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

Contemporary Rhetoric, Valentine Willie Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

2009            Eyes Wide Open: Selected photos from the First Singapore International Photography Festival, The Annexe Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA 

Different But Same, Wei-ling Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA 

Paradise Lost, 2902 Gallery, SINGAPORE

A New Wave of Responsive Images, Nikon Ginza Gallery, Tokyo, JAPAN; Sabanci University, Istanbul, TURKEY

2008            Singapore International Photography Festival 2008, LaSalle College of The Arts, SINGAPORE

Photoart Asia 2008, Zengallery@Central World, Bangkok, THAILAND

CUT: New Photography from Southeast Asia, Valentine Willie Fine Art, SINGAPORE; Valentine Willie Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

2007               Bebas Lah: Malaysia@50, Annexe Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

Sharing Space: Contemporary Photography of Malaysia + Japan, The Annexe Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

NYKL: Landmarks of New York and Kuala Lumpur, The Annexe Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

Young Contemporary Arts Award 2006, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA