Stefen Chow

Stefen Chow, (Chinese: 赵峰；born 1980, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), a Singapore raised photographer and artist currently based in Beijing, China. His work is widely published and exhibited internationally. In 2013, Stefen's portrait of iconic Chinese artist and activist Ai Wei Wei was awarded at the World Press Photo.[1] Stefen frequently collaborates with economist Hui-Yi Lin[2] using extensive data and research to produce long term visual projects. One of their prominent projects is “The Poverty Line[3]”, a visual project that contextualise global poverty. The Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago[4] and the Central Academy of Fine Arts Museum in Beijing has acquired works to their permanent collection.

Early Years

Stefen Chow was tasked with the role of being the team's photographer for the National University of Singapore (NUS) Centennial Everest Team in 2002-05. After the team successfully summited Mount Everest in 2005,[5][6][7] Stefen decided to shoot professionally after meeting New York based UN photographer John Isaac and getting a positive review of his portfolio.[8]

In 2007, Stefen left for New York City to assist professional photographers and take classes at the International Center of Photography.[8] He studied under photographer Amy Arbus,[9] daughter of Dianne Arbus. Stefen also attended the Eddie Adams Workshop.[10] He shifted to Beijing in 2008 and has been based there since.

Works

Using data and extensive research, Stefen’s works take social and economic themes and translate them into visual art.

The Poverty Line (2010-)

The Poverty Line is an ongoing project which began in China in 2010 and has since expanded to 28 countries across 6 continents. The Poverty Line uses food as a base to examine the choices a person living at the poverty line would face. Stefen is the co-creator of the project together with Hui-Yi Lin, an economist.

Quoted from the website:

" The project takes a typological photographic approach over time. Each country's figure is based on their poverty line definition and official national statistics to derive a per capita per day rate, with household food expenditure incorporated for developed countries. Food is then procured from local markets using that monetary amount. Every individual piece of work is photographed with the food items placed on local newspapers purchased on the day of the shoot, with the dimensions and lighting carefully measured to have a uniform aesthetic across time and geographical spread. The result is a large typological photographic statement that addresses the complex issues of global poverty using economics, photography and food choices. "[11]

The project has been featured by multiple international print and online publications[12][13][14][15][16] and exhibited as large scale installations in many prominent galleries and institutions.[17][18][19][20]

Equivalence (2015-)

Equivalence is a project which talks about the tensions between a need and a want, from the haves and the have-nots. By comparing the value between a luxury item over a daily necessity, the project aims to invoke the question of equality in the viewer’s mind.[21]

The Play Project (2014-2015)

The Play Project is an aerial survey of 100 playgrounds spread across Singapore, which are then arranged and according to the subway map of the city on its website. The project was supported by the SG50 celebration fund. Photographed using a drone, the aerial view of playgrounds in Singapore is visually stunning, allowing viewers to see the playgrounds in Singapore in a new light. According to the research done by Stefen Chow and his collaborator Lin Hui Yi, there are about 1500 playgrounds in Singapore and this project has chosen 100 public playgrounds across Singapore to feature.[22][23][24]

Achievements

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2015 “deTour”, PMQ, Hong Kong[25]

2015 “L’exposition MONEY - Les Nuits Photographiques”, Le Pavillon Carré de Baudouin, Paris[18]

2015 “Second Photo Biennial - Unfamiliar Asia”, CAFA Museum, Beijing[19]

2015 “The Poverty Line”, Studio 94, Taipei[26][27]

2012 “Caochangdi PhotoSpring: Arles in Beijing”, Three Shadows Gallery, Beijing[17][28]

2012 "3D in 4 Continents", Arts House, Singapore[29]

2011 “The Poverty Line - China", Newton Circus, Singapore[30]

2006 “Climbing the Human Spirit - an Everest Journey”, The National Library, Singapore[31]

Selected Group Exhibitions

2015 “Observations of the Ordinary by Chow3”, ION Art gallery, Singapore[32]

2015 “Picturing Change: Visual Culture and the Art of Advocacy”, White Box Publika, Malaysia[33]

2013 “WYNG Masters Award”, Artistree, Hong Kong[34]

2013 “China Stories”, Museum of Modern Art, Tblisi, Georgia

2012 “Transience”, China House, Penang[35]

2011 “Moment of Recognition”, International Center of Photography, New York[9]

2011 “Photography Open Salon”, Galerie Huit, Arles[36]

2009 “Prix de la Photographie”, Espace Dupon Gallery, Paris[37]

2009 “Life and Dreams - Pingyao International Photography Festival”, China

2006 “Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition”, Singapore

2005 “HYPE”, The Arts House, Singapore

Jury Duty

2015 Nikon Photography Awards, Shanghai[38]

2015 LIGHT & LIFE, National Geographic Live and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore[39]

2015 Light in Your Heart, Shin Kong Insurance, Taiwan

2014 Head of Jury, Crowbar Awards, Photography, Singapore [40]

2013 Nikon Photography Awards, Tokyo [41]

2013-2015 Photography Director and Jury, The Other Hundred, Hong Kong [42]

2006 - 2016 The Noise Award, National Arts Council, Singapore [43]

Talks

2015 Picturing Poverty Conference, University of Science Po, Paris[44]

2015 BODW, Hong Kong[45]

2015 TEDxKyoto, Kyoto[46]

2015 TEDxTaipei, Taipei[47]

2015 LIGHT & LIFE, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore[39]

2015 National Taiwan University, Taiwan

2014 APEC Women Leadership Summit, Beijing[48]

2014 TEDxKL, Kuala Lumpur[49]

2012 Global Talent Search, TED @ Shanghai[50]

2012 School of Visual Arts

2008 TEDxBeijing, Beijing[51]

Awards

2015 Outstanding Alumni, Temasek Junior College, Singapore[52]

2014 Nominated, Young Global Leaders, World Economic Forum

2013 2nd Prize, World Press Photo, Amsterdam[1]

2013 Nominated, Prix Pictet, Switzerland

2013 Finalist, WYNG Contemporary Art Prize, Hong Kong[34]

2013 Winner, AI-PI, Latin American Fotografia[53]

2011 Grand Prize, Arles Open Photography Salon, Galerie Huit, Arles[54]

2010 1st Prize, Shipyards, Advertising, PX3, Paris[37]

2010 Winner, World in Focus, National Geographic, New York

2010 Honorable Prize, China Workers, Px3, Paris

2009 3rd Prize, Photojournalism, Sports, PX3, Paris[55]

2008 Winner, Eddie Adams Workshop, New York

2008 Winner, PDN Billboard Contest, New York

2008 Honorable Mention, International Photo Awards, New York

2008 Singapore Hero, Fortis, Singapore

2007 Young Outstanding Alumni, National University of Singapore[56]

2006 Named Asia's Finest Photographers, Nikon

References

  1. 1 2 "Stefen Chow". Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  2. ↑ "Profile of Lin Hui Yi".
  3. ↑ "Home". The Poverty Line. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  4. ↑ "Museum of Contemporary Photography Collection.". www.mocp.org. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  5. ↑ "Being comfortable in discomfort". Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  6. ↑ migration (2014-03-12). "After Everest conquest, Stefen Chow scales heights of photography". Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  7. ↑ "Mt. Everest 2005: Two Teams: National University of Singapore 2005 Everest Expedition and 3 man Singapore Expedition without oxygen expedition". www.everestnews.com. Retrieved 2016-08-11. line feed character in |title= at position 68 (help)
  8. 1 2 "One To Watch: Such Great Heights". www.pdnonline.com. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  9. 1 2 "Moment of Recognition: Alumni Exhibition". 2016-02-23. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  10. ↑ "Students". The Eddie Adams Workshop. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  11. ↑ "Home". The Poverty Line. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  12. ↑ "Article on The Poverty Line featured in Le Monde M Magazine".
  13. ↑ "Shopping on the poverty line - what can you eat? - BBC News". Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  14. ↑ "What Eating At The Poverty Line Is Like Around The World". Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  15. ↑ "Poverty Lines Around the World Shown Through Photos of Food". PetaPixel. 2012-07-19. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  16. ↑ "The Poverty Line, Visualized Through Food". Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  17. 1 2 "Caochangdi Photo Festival: The Poverty Line". 2012-04-17. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  18. 1 2 "Les nuits photographiques – 5e édition |". www.carredebaudouin.fr. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  19. 1 2 ""Unfamiliar Asia" The Second Beijing Photo Biennial, CAFA Museum, Beijing, China". The Poverty Line. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  20. ↑ "deTour 2015: Combining Art And Design ‹ Indesignlive.hk". www.indesignlive.hk. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  21. ↑ "STEFEN CHOW - art4d". 2016-04-05. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  22. ↑ "Remembering childhood: 'Play' features 100 playgrounds in Singapore". Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  23. ↑ "Check out these amazing aerial photographs of Singapore's playgrounds". SG Magazine Online. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  24. ↑ Dukehart, Coburn (2015-07-29). "The Delightfulness of Playgrounds, as Seen From Above". Proof. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  25. ↑ "The Poverty Line Photo Exhibition". detour.hk. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  26. ↑ ""The Poverty Line", Studio 94, Taipei, Taiwan". The Poverty Line. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  27. ↑ "I worked with 200 on creating #thepovertyline in Taipei". 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  28. ↑ "Chaochangdi Photospring 2012, Three Shadows Photography Art Centre, Beijing, China". The Poverty Line. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  29. ↑ "4 continents in 3D by Stefen Chow | Artitute - Art News | Reviews". www.artitute.com. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  30. ↑ "Newton Circus – I just don't know what to do with myself!". socialintercourse.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  31. ↑ "Climbing the Human Spirit - An Everest Journey". Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  32. ↑ "ION Orchard - ION ART PHOTOGRAPHY SERIES 2015: 'OBSERVATIONS OF THE ORDINARY BY CHOW3". Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  33. ↑ "artACT!, White Box@Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2015". The Poverty Line. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  34. 1 2 Bonnie. "WYNG Masters Award 2012 – Poverty FINALISTS ANNOUNCED. 2013 WYNG Masters Award Theme Revealed". www.wma.hk. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  35. ↑ Yumpu.com. "About Galerie Huit Penang". Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  36. ↑ "2011 Winning Series : The Poverty Line « Photography Open Salon". www.photographyopensalon.com. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  37. 1 2 "PX3 - Winners". www.px3.fr. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  38. ↑ "Nikon Photo Contest". Nikon Photo Contest. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  39. 1 2 "Passion Creates Possibilities: Seeing the World with Stefen Chow". www.nikon.com.sg. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  40. ↑ Editor, AdAsia (2014-05-28). "Jury announced for Crowbar Festival in Singapore". Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  41. ↑ "Nikon Photo Contest". Nikon Photo Contest. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  42. ↑ "THE OTHER HUNDRED". www.theotherhundred.com. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  43. ↑ "Expert Panel - Noise Singapore". www.noisesingapore.com. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  44. ↑ ""Picturing Poverty" Conference, Sciences Po, Paris, France". The Poverty Line. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  45. ↑ "Business of Design Week". Business of Design Week. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  46. ↑ "Aerial explorations of playgrounds | Stefen Chow | TEDxKyoto". TEDxKyoto (in Japanese). Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  47. ↑ "Stefen Chow ⋅ TEDxTaipei". tedxtaipei.com. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  48. ↑ KG Inc (2014-10-16), APECWLF2014 - Passion Creates Possibilities (session 4), retrieved 2016-08-11
  49. ↑ "Stefen Chow - TEDxKualaLumpur". 2014-04-30. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  50. ↑ TEDTalentSearch (2012-07-05), Stefen Chow: Exploring what it means to be poor through food photography, retrieved 2016-08-11
  51. ↑ "首屆TEDx北京演講嘉賓：Stefen Chow - 財經頻道 - 北美新浪". dailynews.sina.com. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  52. ↑ "Outstanding Alumni Award Winners". www.temasekjc.moe.edu.sg. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  53. ↑ "AI-AP Slideshow". www.ai-ap.com. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  54. ↑ "2011 Winning Series : The Poverty Line « Photography Open Salon". www.photographyopensalon.com. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  55. ↑ "PX3 - Winners". www.px3.fr. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  56. ↑ "NUS Office of Alumni Relations". www.alumnet.nus.edu.sg. Retrieved 2016-08-11.

External links

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