STEPHEN CHAN - EXPOSURE emerging photographers showcase

My practice explores the archaeology of spaces. Primarily, the work I create is focussed on the environments that people have designed and constructed for themselves. When I take photographs, I gravitate towards settings where no people are present. This approach enables my images to rely on composition and natural light, which creates a tableau of a place and invites the viewer to interpret each photo in a variety of ways. 

This series, “Chinatown,” captures scenes from several Chinatowns in North America, with a focus on the architecture and decor of small, independent businesses. Chinatowns across the world share a similar aesthetic that merges elements of traditional Chinese and Western architecture together, creating a space that manages to exist between two distinct cultures. These spaces provide comfort and a sense of belonging to many Chinese immigrants, while promoting commerce and tourism. In this way, Chinatowns can feel both exotic and familiar.

I am a Canadian-born descendant of Chinese immigrants who have had a presence in Canada since the early nineteen hundreds; however, I do not speak or read Chinese. In response to this language barrier, I have experienced a disconnection between my identity and my cultural heritage. What initially drew me towards photography is that it does not require a shared language between the subject, viewer, or the photographer for understanding and connection to take place: pictures transcend language. As a result, photography allows me to connect with the history, struggles and achievements of the Chinese-Canadian community in ways that previously felt inaccessible to me. 

My goal for this project is to immerse the viewer in the details of each image and showcase how the Chinese diaspora has carved out a space for itself in cities around the world.

BIOGRAPHY

I am a Calgary based engineer and film photographer. Although I have been doing photography for over a decade, the pandemic inspired me to dedicate myself to film. I embrace the limitations and flaws of film; it forces me to slow down and adapt in my process while also adding character to the final product that I did not expect. I use photography as a way to show others how I view the world and how we are molded by the places we inhabit. I find myself most inspired by street photography, architecture and film cinematography and I try to incorporate those influences into my own art.