An Affair With Life! is featured in Artoholics first newsletter for the year 2008! In conjunction with the launch held on 12 Jan 2008, Artoholic did an interview with me, to sort of "paint a picture" of fotocology, where my inspirations come from and who I really am as an artist.Do excuse some of my tongue-in-cheek answers in the interview because I was just being a ditzy himbo with some of the interview questions! Not thinking straight! The interview can be downloaded at http://www.artoholic.sg/ under Articles/Press.
Thank you Gerlene, mavis and Santhi for doing the feature on the exhibition and fotocology! I really do feel quite grateful that the exhibition launch went smoothly!
Below is the text version of the full interview.(Guess which is my favorite part of the answers! LOL)
You were a forensic accountant. What made you give up your cushy job and regular pay cheque for photography?
The witty Oscar Wilde once said, “The best way to appreciate your job is to imagine yourself without one”. Photography allows me to feel like I don’t have one!
In a fast paced and demanding society like ours, not everyone is fortunate enough to have jobs that align our passion. The tenacity for survival often gobbles up our drive for our own passions. Work will always be work. If it is fun, it will be known as play instead!
It took me quite a while to figure that I am more of a visual rather than a number crunching person. The distance between one’s own dreams and one’s job is a very tall ladder. I just felt the need to start climbing!
Are you a self taught photographer or did you have a mentor that showed you the ropes?
Fortunately, and unfortunately, I did not receive proper education or training in photography. Being self taught is a double-edged sword. You are your own best teacher and you are your own worst student. On one hand, being self taught, I find myself having the constant need to find out more, make mistakes and learn from them. On the other hand, without a structured curriculum, I find myself having to navigate blindly at times!
I have a great friend who piqued my interest in photography a few years back. He used to shove the camera in my face all the time whenever we traveled! I don’t know anyone who likes to take photos more than him! Back then, I did not appreciate the joy in photography. But I have him to thank, for whatever I have learnt from him, that helped me reach where I am today.
What are your favourite subjects to photograph?
People - because they are the kaleidoscope of life offering different colours, emotions and expressions. Also, there is beauty in everyone, even in someone who is crying.
Food - because I get to eat them after the photo shoot!
Name a photographer(s) whose work you respect and admire.
I got to go with the late Herb Ritts, legendary American photographer, for shaping the landscape of art and editorial photography worldwide. His art form revolves around clean lines and simplicity, which impacts his audience instantly. I admire his ability to convey messages or evoke emotions through his works. Ritts images often challenged conventional notions of gender and race. He was also highly dedicated to HIV/Aids related causes.
However, in this day and age, we will find aspiring “Herb Ritts” in every city, and every country (including me!). I would say it is important to admire and respect photography works of all kinds, because your own personal style will probably be an influence of many.
What turns you on creatively, spiritually, or emotionally?
The need to be appreciated for who I am and what I can offer to the society as an individual.
What turns you off?
The constant need to be appreciated for who I am and what I can offer to the society as an individual.
If you can choose anybody in the world that you can photograph, who would that be? How and in what setting would you like to photograph this person?
The Pussycat Dolls, in a cage at the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). Just kidding!
The homeless who found new families, the starving having enough to eat, the weak receiving strength, the unhappy finding new bliss…the list goes on. You get the picture, or rather, the photo!
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