Mr Lui Hock Seng is an 80 years old photographer who has been taking photographs of Singapore since the 1950s. He is self-taught and has worked as a part-time event photographer for weddings, dinners and funerals in the 60s. He was a member of the now defunct South-east Asia Photographic Society.
Lui will have his first solo exhibition at Objectifs in February 2018. Titled Passing Time, the show presents a slice of history through more than 30 black and white photographs of Singapore from the 1960s to 1970s, captured over the years by Mr Lui. He currently works as an office cleaner and continues to take photographs to this day.
Mr Lui’s interest in photography started in the 1950s. Like many of his peers who were salon photographers, his subjects of interest ranged widely from streetscapes, to portraits, architecture and industry. He would take photos even while cycling to work, shooting river life by the Merdeka Bridge (then the link between East Coast via Nicoll Highway) and along the roads. The images presented reflect this documentation of daily life from the Teochew Market at Clarke Quay, to the old Tanah Merah Village and Redhill brick factory.
Although Mr Lui has not pursued photography professionally, he has taken part in several photo competitions over the years, winning awards such as an Associateship with the Amateur Royal Photographic Society (ARPS) of Great Britain (1963) and most recently, a 3rd prize (Colour) at the Kampong Glam Community Club (2016).
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The exhibition prints will be for sale.
Passing Time exhibition details
Venue: Lower Gallery, Objectifs
155 Middle Road, Singapore 188977
Date: 8 Feb to 11 Mar 2018
Tue to Sat, 12pm to 7pm / Sun, 12pm to 4pm
Opening: Fri 10 Feb, 2.30pm to 3.30pm
Artist talk: Fri 10 Feb, 3.30pm to 4.30pm (translated and in conversation with student photographer Quince Pan)