WING CHAN | PHOTOGRAPHY
Wing Chan’s Bio
Wing Chan was born in Hong Kong in 1962 and grew up in the shadows of the old Kowloon Walled City. This was a very different city to modern day Kowloon, and Chan’s formative experiences were embedded in that hardened era. At the age of six, he started out working in a noodle factory, in what was then a rough neighborhood near to Kai Tak airport. But diligence with his studies enabled Chan to excel at school, and at 18 he left Hong Kong to pursue his vocation for art in the United States.
In 1985, Chan graduated from the internationally renowned ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California, U.S.A.. Chan began an award-winning career in commercial design, including operating his own graphic and branding firm in New York City with clients including Giorgio Armani, Emporio Armani, American Express Private Bank, and Standard Chartered Private Bank.
During this time, Chan also served at an adjunct professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Chan’s graphic design and photomontage works have appeared in numerous publications worldwide, including in New York Magazine, AIGA, HGTV (USA), fubiz, Blouin Artinfo, l’architecture d’aujourd’hui (France), Kolaj Magazine (Canada), Dodho Photography Magazine (Spain), pen Magazine, TimeOut Tokyo, Tokyo Weekender, Metropolis (Japan) The Korea Times, Seoul Auction Magazine (Korea), Bangkok Post, Photo Art Magazine, Bangkok TV (Thailand), Photography is Art Magazine, Zolima CityMag, design anthology Magazine, South China Morning Post, The Standard, jet Magazine, InDesignLive HK, HK Magazine, Perspective Magazine, Jet Magazine, 48 hours Magazine, baccarat Magazine, Hong Kong Economic Journal, Ming Pao Daily, City Magazine, (Hong Kong), Dot Magazine, ArtCenter College of Design (USA), Art Loft Asia (Singapore), and art publications based in China, the United States, Japan, France, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, England, Singapore, and Spain.
In 2011 Chan relocated to rediscover his roots in Hong Kong. Focusing on his photography and photomontage and inspired by the wealth of subject matter in Hong Kong he continues to apply his mastery of forms, shapes, colours and textures to the creation of his fine art photomontages.
Chan has held exhibitions of his photomontage work in Paris, Tokyo, Kyoto, Kobe, New York, Seoul, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Bangkok. He has conducted Art Talks at The Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong, Hong Kong Art Gallery Association, and Hong Kong Photo Imaging and Camera Expo (PICEX). He is also a regular guest speaker at Island School.
About Wing Chan’s Photomontage
Entering the world of Wing Chan’s photomontages is the beginning of a visual adventure. His unique and stimulating images encourage you to take a closer look at the environment of the city. Everything is there for you to discover and find a harmony within the apparent chaos of urban living. Interpret them however you wish but let them linger in the mind so a pattern of the cities true fabric emerges.
Wing’s Urban Tapestry photomontage series explores the daily life of the city. The images are of places we all know such as shopping malls, escalators, subway platforms and passengers inside the trains. We tend to forget people and what is around us as we get so caught up in the bustle of urban life but they are the heartbeat of the urban fabric.
By capturing and building up multiple photographic images into a complex whole I create a visual harmony out of the chaos of city life. The rhythm within these photomontages allows the viewer to look again at the environment and to interpret the photomontages in their own way.
Urban-Tapestry
Wing Chan’s photomontages bring a dynamic fresh look at our urban landscape. His prints invite us to demystify the complexity of city life with enduring patterns of the cities very nature. How we interpret these fascinating photomontages is personal to each of us. But by entering his world, it will allow us to be more intimately associated with our environment.
Wing’s “Urban Tapestry” photomontage series explores the daily life of the city. The images are of places we all know such as shopping malls, escalators, subway platforms and passengers inside the trains. We tend to forget people and what is around us as we get so caught up in the bustle of urban life but they are the heartbeat of our urban fabric.
By capturing and building up multiple photographic images into a complex whole he creates a visual harmony out of the chaos of city life. The rhythm within these photomontages allows the viewer to look again at the city and to decode the images in their own way.
Urban-Graphis
“Urban-Graphis,” Wing Chan’s series of photomontages bring a dramatic sense of poetry into the theatre of city life. Wing creates images that reflect the changing rhythms of modern urban development. No matter it be Hong Kong, Paris, Seoul or any other cities, you can immerse yourself in the mood of his visual music.
Urban-Graphics 062 Ink Painting Photography
Entering the world of Wing Chan’s Urban Graphics is a unique experience. The images in swirling black & white exhibit all the energy of modern ink painting. At the same time they reflect the notion of western abstraction. The combination of this up front approach to the raw beauty and the beast of the city really catch the pulse of modern life. These images taken in Paris represent the same explosion of vitality that can be observed in London, New York, Beijing or Tokyo. They are absolutely modern but with a look over the shoulder at the history of the creative imagination.
Wing Chan’s Quotations
“To me, New York City is for dreamers and doers. The city is an empty canvas with endless possibilities, the kind of city which embeds itself in you. Once you have lived there, you carry it with you forever. In many ways, Hong Kong is like that too. These are my towns, my homes and they always will be.” — Wing Chan
“My life’s journey has afforded me opportunities to experience, absorb and express artistic creations on a global scale. While my introduction to the use of montage occurred in Hong Kong, my three decades in the United States provided access to Abstract Expressionist art that greatly impacted me. My travels to other cultures has also imprinted onto me and today I apply all of these influences to my photomontages.” — Wing Chan
Education
Graduated from Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, California, USA
Wing Chan Exhibition and Press List Wing Chan 1962 -
Selected Solo Exhibitions (2013 - )
2019 Books and Photographs Gallery (Paris) 2019 f22 foto space (Hong Kong) 2018 Cultivate Gallery (Kobe, Japan) 2017 Gallery Kanon (Ginza Tokyo, Japan) 2017 Escape (Hong Kong) 2017 The Lavish Attic (Hong Kong) 2016 Choeunsook Gallery (Seoul, Korea) 2016 Escape (Hong Kong) 2016 The Lavish Attic (Hong Kong) 2016 Science Park (Hong Kong) 2014 Au Zaganin (Paris, France) 2013 Picture This Gallery (Hong Kong) 2013 The Lavish Attic (Hong Kong) 2013 Pramil (Paris, France) 2013 La Lanta Fine Arts (Bangkok, Thailand)
Selected Group Exhibitions (2013 - )
2018 Longines Master of Hong Kong, Asia World-Expo (Hong Kong)
2017 Fine Art Asia (Hong Kong)
2017 Affordable Art Fair (Hong Kong)
2017 Art Loft Asia (Singapore)
2016 Affordable Art Fair (New York)
2016 Affordable Art Fair (Hong Kong)
2016 Hong Kong Arts Festival (Hong Kong)
2016 Picture This Gallery (Hong Kong)
2016 Regal Hotel (Hong Kong)
2016 Ovolo Hotel (Hong Kong)
2016 Ovolo Hotel (Sydney, Australia)
2015 Mandarin Oriental Hotel (Hong Kong)
2015 Affordable Art Fair (Singapore)
2015 Affordable Art Fair (Hong Kong)
2015 Picture This Gallery (Hong Kong)
2015 The Space Gallery (Hong Kong)
2015 Regal Hotel (Hong Kong)
2014 The Reach Art Collection (Hong Kong)
2014 Picture This Gallery (Hong Kong)
2014 Affordable Art Fair (Singapore)
2014 Affordable Art Fair (Hong Kong)
2014 The Space Gallery (Hong Kong)
2014 PICEX, Photo Imaging & Camera Expo (Hong Kong)
2014 Hong Kong PBA Photography Event (Hong Kong)
2013 Affordable Art Fair (Singapore)
2013 Picture This Gallery (Hong Kong)
Artist Talks and Lectures (1995 - )
2017 Island School (Hong Kong) 2016 Island School (Hong Kong) 2015 Affordable Art Fair (Hong Kong) 2015 Island School (Hong Kong) 2014 PICEX, Photo Imaging & Camera Expo (Hong Kong) 2014 Island School (Hong Kong) 2014 Hong Kong PBA Photography Event (Hong Kong) 2013 Hong Kong Gallery Week (Hong Kong) 2013 PICEX, Photo Imaging & Camera Expo (Hong Kong) 2013 Hong Kong PBA Photography Event (Hong Kong) 2013 Island School (Hong Kong) 1995 – 2000 FIT, Fashion Institute of Technology State University of New York, SUNY (New York, NY, USA)
Press (2013 - )
2018 Photography is Art Magazine (Hong Kong) 2017 fubiz (France) 2017 Zolima CityMag (Hong Kong) 2017 Dot Magazine, ArtCenter College of Design (USA) 2017 Dodho Photography Magazine (Spain) 2017 Blouin Artinfo (France) 2017 Tokyo Weekender (Japan) 2017 Time Out Magazine Tokyo (Japan) 2017 Metropolis (Japan) 2017 The Standard (Hong Kong) 2017 HK01 (Hong Kong) 2017 South China Morning Post (Hong Kong) 2017 Artist of the Month interview, Art Loft Asia (Singapore) 2016 The Korea Times (Korea) 2016 Seoul Auction (Korea) 2016 Kolaj (Canada) 2016 ArtCenter College of Design (USA) 2016 The Standard (Hong Kong) 2016 In Design Live (Hong Kong) 2016 design anthology (Hong Kong) 2016 jet Magazine (Hong Kong) 2016 Art Visual Magazine (Hong Kong) 2016 HK Magazine (Hong Kong) 2015 South China Morning Post (Hong Kong) 2015 InDesignLive Hong Kong (Hong Kong) 2015 Coconuts Hong Kong (Hong Kong) 2014 South China Morning Post (Hong Kong) 2014 Jet Magazine (Hong Kong) 2014 The Reach, The Art Collection (Hong Kong) 2013 Perspective Magazine (Hong Kong) 2013 South China Morning Post (Hong Kong) 2013 Hong Kong Economic Journal (Hong Kong) 2013 Ming Pao Daily (Hong Kong) 2013 baccarat Magazine (Hong Kong) 2013 HK Magazine (Hong Kong) 2013 48 Hours Magazine (Hong Kong) 2013 Bangkok Post (Thailand) 2013 Bangkok TV (Thailand) 2013 Photography Fine Art Magazine (Thailand) 2013 Coconuts Bangkok (Thailand) 2014 Affordable Art Fair (Hong Kong) 2014 The Space Gallery (Hong Kong) 2014 PICEX, Photo Imaging & Camera Expo (Hong Kong) 2014 Hong Kong PBA Photography Event (Hong Kong) 2013 Affordable Art Fair (Singapore) 2013 Picture This Gallery (Hong Kong) Artist Talks and Lectures (1995 - ) 2017 Island School (Hong Kong) 2016 Island School (Hong Kong) 2015 Affordable Art Fair (Hong Kong) 2015 Island School (Hong Kong) 2014 PICEX, Photo Imaging & Camera Expo (Hong Kong) 2014 Island School (Hong Kong) 2014 Hong Kong PBA Photography Event (Hong Kong) 2013 Hong Kong Gallery Week (Hong Kong) 2013 PICEX, Photo Imaging & Camera Expo (Hong Kong) 2013 Hong Kong PBA Photography Event (Hong Kong) 2013 Island School (Hong Kong) 1995 – 2000 FIT, Fashion Institute of Technology State University of New York, SUNY (New York, NY, USA).