Chong forges a dialogue about the coexistence of human beings with nature, represented by an unfathomable ocean that engulfs the continent. Seascape is the second of Chong’s exhibition Artify Gallery presents, after its inaugural exhibition in 2012. The exhibition runs from 22 January – 05 March, 2015.

Taken at different locations along coastal Asia, the photographs are united in their composition. Carefully orchestrated by Chong, each image alludes to man as a creator, defined however by the parameters set by nature. Be it a buoy, boat, seemingly abandoned pier, kitsch crab statue or conglomeration of skyscrapers in our familiar Hong Kong, the traces left by man are generously featured in the center of Chong’s works. Blending into the lucid ocean and sky, the human world coexists with nature seamlessly in the fictional space skillfully crafted by Chong.

With the help of the Neutral Density filter, Chong glosses his images with a pastel film which gives his works a zen-like tranquil quality, almost too still at a first glance. However, carefully maneuvered is the same ratio of the sky to the sea across the series, which when displayed panoramically side by side, reflects the manifolds of nature’s colours across time and space. Marveling at nature’s unfathomable depths, Chong situates the human world comfortably within, celebrating the complexity of the expanse we create together. In a manner closely resembling Dutch Master oil paintings newly freed from the Catholic tradition, Chong’s photographs adopt realism capturing the essence of the visible landscapes while experimenting with unconventional aesthetic practices.

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 2013 and 2010/2011 Annual Nikon Photo Awards, Malaysia. He was also named finalist for The Sovereign Asian Art Prize (Hong Kong) in 2014, and nominee for The Prix Pictet (London) in 2013.

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

Eiffel now lives and work in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.