The invention of photography in the 1830s quickly brought forth the beginnings of a flourishing photographic market in portrait photography all around the world. For the first time in history, people could get an exact likeness of themselves at an affordable price. Previously, only the rich could afford to capture their faces through paintings at great cost.

Programme

2.00pm – 3.00pm: Talk (Free of charge)

3.00pm – 3.30pm: Tour of Neither East nor West: Asians in Monochrome gallery
(Admission charges to the galleries apply)

The invention of photography in the 1830s quickly brought forth the beginnings of a flourishing photographic market in portrait photography all around the world. For the first time in history, people could get an exact likeness of themselves at an affordable price. Previously, only the rich could afford to capture their faces through paintings at great cost.

This talk will be looking at the types and uses of portraiture in the 19th century, as people seek to represent themselves in ways that were familiar and novel.

After the talk is completed, the speaker will conduct a special tour of the “Neither East nor West: Asians in Monochrome” gallery. She will discuss in detail some of the portraiture techniques used in the photographs exhibited.

More about the speaker:
Ms Ho Hui May is currently a full-time lecturer in the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and specialises in Fine Art and Documentary photography. Her work has been selected as part of the Singapore International Photography Festival opening in October 2008. Hui May has participated in other solo and group exhibitions in Boston, San Francisco and Singapore. She has also won numerous awards, including the top Photography prize in the 2007 26th UOB Painting of the Year Award.