“Don’t be scared about finding out what you want to do.”
Photographer Louis Chan encouraged students to find their passion during his Thursday night lecture, serving as a preview to his art exhibit that opened Friday.
The exhibit, entitled “My Home,” gives what Chan describes as a sterile view into the world in which he grew up. Using extreme realism through his techniques, Chan helps transport the audience to the unconventional homes of those close to him.
“‘My Home’ started by having friends and family that went through the same situation,” Chan shared.
Louis worked to capture what life was like growing up in Chinatown, New York. He lived in the very first housing project in the Lower East Side Village and was forced to watch as police raids clashed with gang violence, prostitution and drug use surrounding his home. Chan explained that his streets were labeled with letters of the alphabet. He shared the saying that went with the names of the streets:
“Avenue A – ‘You’re alright,’ Avenue B – ‘You’re brave,’ Avenue C – ‘You’re crazy,’ Avenue D – ‘You’re dead.'”
Somewhere between Avenue B and C, Chan began to search for ways to stay brave and avoid going crazy. He found his solution in photography and later received his Master of Fine Art at Hunter College.
“It was my kind of creative outlet just to keep me sane,” Chan said. “Going to art school gave me the option to say whatever I want to say.”
Chan uses his journey out of the projects and through art school to reflect on the home of his childhood. With this particular art exhibit, he wishes to portray the dual life of a typical Chinese-American. Chan makes the photos as still and real life as possible to imitate the “save everything” nature of those who he was raised by. Chan has left all of the photos in his exhibit “Untitled” with only the name of the building and street the photo was taken on and the dimensions of the room.
“It’s like I’m on the outside looking in, even though I’m an insider,” Chan expressed.
Jennifer Krukowski, senior in graphic design, said she plans to use Chan’s view on art as inspiration.
“It’s interesting to see what he finds inspiring from spaces because spaces are so intimate,” Krukowski said. “It’s all about making people feel something.”
Chan also used his lecture to express the importance of school and discovery of personal passion. Paul Lee, photography professor, appreciated Chan’s value as a resource for students.
“Real life artists coming and sharing their personal experience is really valuable,” Lee said.
Chan explained how important it is for a student to be passionate about what they’re doing and not rushing out of school. He used his journey to inspire students to take time to find what they love.
Chan encouraged: “Spend time wasting time.”
