The Night We Never Met by Aik Beng Chia
Reading time: about 7 minutes
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About this series
Aik Beng Chia's photography captures moments rich in subtlety and textures. Not merely visuals, his photography is one that you feel, deep in your heart. The longer a viewer spends with these images, the more layers unfold and the more story it tells.
Aik Beng Chia is a Leica Ambassador in Singapore and has documented overlooked scenes in everyday Singapore life and wherever he travels, a commentary of often faded scenes that still hold rich tapestries of emotions, through his eyes.
Aik Beng Chia is also a person that uses multiple tools and techniques creating his imagery. 15 years ago in 2008, Aik Beng chia was told by some Pro Photographers in Singapore, that his iPhone wasn't a 'phocamera.' 'I was laughed at for using an iPhone back in 2008. But here I am, still using it 15 years later, despite the ridicule from pro photographers, proving the naysayers wrong and my work speaks for itself,’ says Chia.
Today, those same photographers are raving about mobile photography. Asking about advice he states, ‘I'm proud to have followed my gut and continue using my trusty iPhone. Don't let anyone tell you what you can't do, don't let anyone dampen your creative spirit - trust your instincts, pave your own path and never stop creating.’
Aik Beng Chia switches his photography tools and Genres like no other photographer. He always manages to stay true to his passion: creating artful moods. The series The Night We Never Met has been captured with a Leica Q. We’re all waiting for someone. Every night seems to be the night we never met. With words unspoken, life stays undisturbed inside this paradise for the patrons and singers of Club Hawaii. Singapore’s oldest nightclub. A place that is a living testament of the 70s and a haven for seniors seeking companionship with the pleasure of song and dance for the past three decades.
Interview
To start, can you talk a bit about your background as photographer? When did you discover your passion for photography and images?
Back in 2007, I decided to switch things up. Before that, I was known as Pixelmunky, an illustrator in the community. However, I hit an artist's block and needed a change, so I turned to photography. At the time, I wasn't interested in commercial or salon photography and spent three years snapping pictures of anything and everything that caught my eye with an iPhone. In 2010, I discovered my passion for documenting everyday life in Singapore and focused on photographing Little India every night for three years. Finally, in 2013, my work was recognized and published by Kevin WY Lee from Invisible Photographer Asia in the book "Tonight The Streets Are Ours."
How do you describe your photography to someone who’s not familiar with it?
I am a visual archivist who captures the essence of everyday life on the streets through my lens. I believe in keeping it real and authentic as they are. My work falls under the category of Street and Documentary Photography.
The nightclub and photos look like they are out of a Wong Kar-wai movie. The murky light and the characters. What made you decide to make a series about this club?
Club Hawaii is one of Singapore's oldest nightclubs, established in the 1970s. I first visited the club in 2000, before I had developed an interest in photography. Although I returned in 2010 to document the space, I unfortunately lost the files. Between 2015 to 2018, I visited again to capture the club when the owner informed me of the upcoming renovation, I knew that the club's distinctive character would be lost forever.
"I used to think my art was mine. That it was my choices that shaped my vision. But losing my hard drive and then retrieving some of my lost photos made me realize that art is ephemeral and we are subject to forces beyond ourselves too. What Fate chose to leave me with was an exercise in letting go. Sometimes we as artists have to let go of our grip on our art and see where nature takes it." - Aik Beng Chia
So you visited the club Hawaii over a period of time. What did you found most endearing about the club?
Yes, I frequented the club regularly from 2015 to 2018 and made it a point to visit almost every night to document my experience. The thing that I found most endearing about the club was its elderly patrons, who made up the majority of the crowd. The former owner, who unfortunately passed away during the Covid outbreak, jokingly referred to it as an old folks home.
What are one or several challenges you faced when creating this intimate work?
I was fortunate to have permission from the club's owner to take pictures, but I had to be careful not to photograph the triads or bookies.
One of the bouncers complimented me on my discretion and remarked that I knew who to photograph and who not to. Interestingly, that bouncer is now the new owner of the club. The hostess was at ease with me being around, which enabled me to take close-up shots of them.
I was careful about choosing who to take photographs of and this often led to triad members inviting me to drink with them. Additionally, regulars and even the hostess would buy me drinks.
One negative occurrence that took place was, when a member of the triad attempted to start a confrontation with me without any provocation. Fortunately, another member of the triad intervened and prevented the altercation. Following the incident, the triad member who aided me purchased additional drinks for me as a gesture of goodwill.
You also discovered the world of NFTs. How do you think blockchain technology has impacted the art world and your work as an artist?
The introduction of blockchain technology has brought about a notable transformation in the art industry through the development and trade of NFTs.
As an artist, I have found NFTs to be an innovative way of generating revenue from my digital creations while also having greater autonomy over my intellectual property. Through the sale of NFTs, artists can guarantee that their work is not easily duplicated or shared without their consent.
Moreover, blockchain technology has enabled artists to receive royalties whenever their work is resold, which was not a feasible option in the conventional art market.
You recently delved into the world of AI. Can you describe any challenges or limitations you have faced in your work with AI, and how you have overcome these obstacles?
I haven't encountered any difficulties so far because I made sure my prompts were simple and easy to understand. This approach has enabled the AI to create images that closely resemble what I had in mind.
What are you working on now? And where is your photography going?
At the moment, I am actively sharing my perspective on street photography. Whenever I have the time, I travel across Asia to meet and learn from local street photographers while capturing some photos of my own. Additionally, I am exploring the use of AI-generated images to help me visualize my ideas and concepts, with the hope of turning them into actual photo shoots.
Artist Bio
Aik Beng Chia, or ABC, as his friends/fans call him, is the author of Tonight the Streets are Ours (2013), a monograph on Singapore’s Little India district after dusk, SingKarPor (2015) and a glut of highly acclaimed self published zines (2010 - ongoing). 2023 he probably was one of the first to publish an photo magazine made solely with AI-generated characters, titled On The Sunny Side Of The Streets.
He has also been a collaborator with brands like Apple, Leica, Fujifilm, Singapore Tourism Board and The Guardian. His works have been exhibited and published internationally to great success.
Back in the 90s to early 00s before photography, AikBeng was an acclaimed illustrator known as Pixelmuny in Singapore with a distinct graphically eye-catching style.
Since 2021, AikBeng the illustrator has expanded into another universe by fusing his whimsical characters into his dark and gritty photography, creating a whole new world of infinite possibilities.
Photographer: Aik Beng Chia
Twitter: @AikBengChia
Instagram: @aikbengchia
Foundation: @aikbengchia
Photos copyright Aik Beng Chia
DRAWLIGHTS | 1/1 – one post/one photographer, weekly. Off-chain and on-chain. By Peter Nitsch, lens-based artist, a member of NFT Now 🌐, Jenny Metaverse and lifetime Member of the Royal Photographic Society of Thailand.