2024 Daily Inspiration: Meet Richard S. Chow - VoyageLA

Written By Richard Chow

Huge thanks to the team at VoyageLA for the amazing interview and publishing on there website. Kudos!

Link to the article is here.

A quick excerpt as follows:

Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard S. Chow

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey from youthful curiosity to lifelong passion began with a simple camera. Born in Hong Kong, then a British colony, I moved to the United States with my family at sixteen. My love for photography was sparked at fourteen when I saved up gifts of “red lucky money” to buy a Russian-made manual camera (SLR) with 50mm and 200mm lenses. Solid and weighty in my hands, that camera unlocked my imagination at a young age. Soon after, I learned darkroom processing at the local YMCA, marking the start of a creative path I continue to follow.

I was fortunate to have a dedicated high school mentor in the U.S., who introduced me to the intricacies of composition and darkroom techniques, inspiring me to deepen my art. While pursuing a BS in Engineering Computer Science, I continued studying photography through university courses, subsequent workshops at Santa Monica College, and seminars, each adding essential layers to my foundation. These courses provided valuable building blocks, but it was the hands-on experimentation and dedicated practice that truly shaped my skills. The joy of photography as a means of self-expression has stayed with me ever since. Fast forward to around 15+ years ago, I returned to the craft, immersing myself in creating fine art portfolios and exhibiting in galleries and museums.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Similar to life itself, my artistic journey is filled with highs and lows. I’ve come to embrace its challenges and gradual progress as essential steps toward my goals—which continue to evolve and expand along the way. I am often reminded of the wisdom, “If you are tired, rest but don’t quit,” that resonates.

Time has always been a challenge—I would have loved to devote more hours to my passion for photographic arts. But between a career in the high-tech industry, family commitments, and life’s other demands, finding that balance has been its own balancing act.

There are times when I’m incredibly prolific, and others when I face a bit of “writer’s block,” as they say. Much of my work is rooted in storytelling, driven by themes that can be aesthetic or documentary. Some ideas flow naturally, while others demand more investigation, rework or evolvement. In truth, I like the dynamic nature of my creative process.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Fortunately, we are living in an exciting era where photographic arts have gone from traditional analog to digital and beyond. My expertise spans various mediums, including traditional cameras and film, darkroom processing and printing, Polaroid, pinholes, home-made cameras, as well as digital and smartphone photography. I have been honored with awards, participated in juried exhibits and solo shows, current gallery representations include UPAG (United Photographic Artists Gallery) in Tampa, FL, and Gallery 825 (LA Art Association) in West Hollywood, CA.

I am honored and take pride in my solo exhibits, particularly the one at MOAH Museum of Art and History in Lancaster, Orange Coast College, and a special group show at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum in 2024, alongside the retrospective by Mr. Jackson Pollock. I like to take a moment to thank all of the curators and jurors who support my work. Some of my artwork are also housed in various private and public collections, such as the American Hotel and the Los Angeles Public Library Foundation. Looking ahead, I am excited to have a solo at Gallery 825, from October to November 2024.

Most recently, I have come full circle by returning to analog cameraless photography, where I create unique abstract photo objects. My latest series, Present Tense, draws inspiration from my fascination with upcycling and the repurposing of old materials to contemporary art. This process, involves using only UV or sunlight and extended exposure times on B&W darkroom paper to create photograms, allows me to find beauty in the unexpected, embracing the impermanence of photographic materials—a reflection of life’s transient nature as well. This universal truth often goes unnoticed in our fast-paced world. Through this series, I aim to capture that fleeting essence—how moments, light, and materials evolve over time. This series will be shown at Gallery 825.
I have always been driven to push the boundaries of photography and its materials, specially alternative processes like lumen and cyanolumen printing providing a tactile, experimental avenue for exploration. This work encourages viewers to slow down and appreciate the present. Each piece invites contemplation, urging us to focus on subtle details and reflect on the passage of time (used in creating the image).

Present Tense has opened up possibilities for future projects. In addition to lens-based work, I am particularly excited about continuing to experiment with cameraless techniques and further exploring the concepts of time and impermanence. Additionally, I am considering collaborations with other artists who work in alternative processes, which could bring fresh perspectives and new dimensions to my work.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I am actively engaging the art community as an independent curator, portfolio reviewer, educator at the LA Center of Photography (LACP), art grant reviewer for the California Arts Council (CAC), a State agency. Since 2018, I serve as co-producer and curator for Open Show Los Angeles, an initiative providing a platform for visual artists to present their work and connect with others. Last but not least, I founded the 3C Gallery collective in 2024.

Contact Info:

https://voyagela.com/interview/daily-inspiration-meet-richard-s-chow

Richard Chow
Next

Capturing the Unexpected: DTLA’s Chow exhibits ‘cameraless’ photography art