Gallery by the Harbour and Dr. Joe Tyel Chan are proud to present the "Simple Delights" Photograph Exhibition at Gallery by the Harbour from September 19 to October 6, 2013. The exhibition will showcase more than 40 photographic artworks, both monochrome and color, of Dr. Joe Tyel Chan, including his award-winning images endorsed by international institutes (BW Magazine and Worldwide Photography Gala), works published in BW Magazine and Ming Pao Weekly, as well as others being featured in a number of multinational e-galleries.

Deeply moved by the legacy of Robert Doisneau, Dr. Chan captures the marvels of daily life and restores the anecdote of sweetness with his little Leica, in the same way as a chef preparing dessert, serving simple delights. It is not exaggerating to say that his photographs are reminiscent of the "new wave" in the Italian cinema of the 1950s; they are a convincing proof that a world of tenderness and good endings is within reach around the corner. He supplies images that carry a human touch to cater our need for wonder, without ever cheating us about the rough side of lives.

Dr. Chan belongs to the old school of photography. Expression by monochrome film with digital technology and exclusive use of natural light are the hallmarks of this exhibition. Gallery by the Harbour and Dr. Joe Tyel Chan cordially invite you to appreciate the charm of these genuine images and to enjoy the poetic moments of reality faithfully captured in the prints.

About Dr. Joe Tyel Chan

A Chinese born in Hong Kong, raised and educated there, Dr. Joe Tyel Chan received his doctoral degree in economics from the University of Hong Kong. Teaching in the university had made it almost a necessity for him to do some frequent traveling around South East Asia, as he only trusted his own eyes in the empirical research of economic reform.

Dr. Chan stumbled upon a point of no-return in 1999, when he was visiting Cambodia for the third time, investigating how the country was rebuilding itself in the post-war era. Incidentally, he took a snap shot of a little girl about two years of age. Since then, a new vision of tenderness and friendliness is forever fixed in his mind.

According to Dr. Chan, photography and economic research are similar because they both involve attempts to collect evidence for the sake of confirming a certain point of view. His frequent exposure to English literature, impressionism, and European cinema of the 1950s and 1960s molds his westernized aesthetic view of the world. His training in economic analysis, on the other hand, substantiates his scientific view. As a result, any response of a person in the street can always be interpreted rationally and appreciated artistically, without having to sacrifice one or another.

The association with various forms of western art undoubtedly defines and refines Dr. Chan's appreciation of lines, forms, composition, color and the emotional content of an image. It only remains for him to combine these ingredients with the appropriate light and shadow. To him, that is photography accomplished.

Details of "Simple Delights" Photograph Exhibition

Date: September 19 to October 6, 2013

Time: 11:00am to 10:00pm

Venue: Gallery by the Harbour

Shop 207, Level 2, Ocean Centre, Harbour City (opposite to Jean Paul Hevin)