Photographer: Norman Wong
Photo by Aaron Kopff
We asked Norman Wong some questions. He was kind enough to answer them…
Influences
I’m a constant consumer, it’s embarrassing, my studio, apartment and my folks place is buried in art books and over priced fashion magazines I’ve collected over the years, it’s a pain in the ass for moving, but looking and studying other peoples body of work has always somehow affected the way I make my work. I’m a total voyeur, I love watching movies and looking at images. It’s definitely become a very expensive habit. I react to what I see and that normally shapes my practice. I’ve recently become very obsessed with Nobuyoshi Araki. I got to see his body of work in Frankfurt recently and it really put me in awe at this little maniac.
Right now I’m completely nuts over Ai Wei Wei and I’ve been trying to catch up with his tweets or twits about the chinese government trying to destroy him and his studio. I’ve also been watching a lot of Eric Rohmer movies because I’m in love with the way he and Nestor Almendros photograph women.
Process
When taking photos I think it’s important to always leave room to be surprised and to react to it. For me it’s a 50/50 job, it really does depend on the subject matter and how they relate to me, and I to them. Sometimes It feels like I’m dancing with them in a weird sort of way. I watch, study, predict, and then I hit the trigger.
Highlights
I recently had my first solo exhibit at 107 Shaw Gallery called Facialism which was definitely a major highlight. I interrogated over 50 models in Toronto using a 70′s surveillance camera. The magic was watching them react to silence. I felt I got the best stuff when I left them alone with the camera. I might make a site for the project in the near future.
Future
I’m going to Hong Kong in February to make a few experimental music videos and to work on a series of photographs. I’m going to go in without any preconceived ideas and see what I can hustle up. It’s a little test I’m putting myself through to see how I can make something in an environment I’m not familiar with but obviously know lots about from drowning myself with Hong Kong movies when I was growing up. My folks are from there and I’ve never been so I’m pretty excited to see it, experience all it has, and make some work there. I’m also developing a project that will take me to Columbia right after Hong Kong.
Soundtrack
Winter puts me to weird moods with music, currently I’m listening to the german electronic producer Klaus Schulze’s Mirage album, and I’ve been really addicted to Austra’s new record and the Bad Tits EP. Otherwise I’m listening to the Italian’s do it better Solid Gold compilation, the new Ghostface Killah, and a bit of Rick Ross.
www.normwong.tumblr.com
www.norman-wong.com
normswong@gmail.com
Photographs by Norman Wong
Category: Design
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