Biography
A fourth-generation Chinese-Canadian, Garrett Andrew Chong graduated with honours from ECUAD (Emily Carr University of Art and Design). The emotional intelligence of visual imaging developed into forms of expression in his early practice, particularly through photography. His recent explorations have evolved through spiritual influences, underscoring an attunement to natural forces.
He has lived in the lower mainland for over five decades and his 89 Gore Avenue studio and gallery is located at The Edge Building in Railtown, Vancouver, BC since the late 90’s. Garrett exhibits year-round in the open studio event: FirstSaturday.ca (First Saturday of each month), the annual Eastside Culture Crawl, and select fine art galleries, festivals etc.
Artist Statement
My early black and white film-based infrared photographs and mixed media artworks captured the energies and unseen light within environments, structures and the human body. In recent years, my work involves mastering the ambient illumination of HDR technology, creating meditative soundscapes and illustrating the atmospheric beauty of our vast world.
My recent series, _eroded origins: Liminal Illusions Admist Climate Transformation, endeavours to illuminate BC’s forest stewardship through the flow of nature. The pieces witness environmental portals gradually emerging in Gaia. These iridescent thresholds may appear as vibrational apparitions or metaphorical illusions, signposts to the imminent climate crisis. Undertaking these complex issues of environmental stewardship and global conservation, the my lens-based imagery experiments with representing physical, emotional and symbolic openings present within liminal spaces in our natural world.
Working with the multiple interpretations of “light”, my pieces also explore the imagined “light” of auras, the “light” of the sun as a life source and the “light” which radiates in environmental consciousness.
I live and work in the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, a.k.a. Vancouver.
Curriculum Vitae
2023 _ Participant: Toni Onley Artists’ Project for Professional and Emerging Artists, Island Mountain Arts, Wells-Barkerville
Group Exhibitions
2024 _ Portals: Artist Talk, Threads @Saskatoon Open Door Society – Official Sellection
2023 _ To Gather Together, ACT Artist Centre, Maple Ridge – Juried
2023 _ Arts in the Garden, North Van Arts Gallery, North Vancouver – Curated
2022 _ Next, The Cultch / Eastside Culture Crawl, Vancouver – Juried
2021 _ Moving Art, NATURAL ANALOG/UES – Nature of Space, Eastside Culture Crawl Film and Video Series, Vancouver – Juried
2019 _ Children Around the World, McGill University, Art Gallery, Montreal – Juried
2019 _ Still[s]… In Sacred Places, Britannia Art Gallery, Vancouver – Curated
2018 _ Spaces, Places and Traces, The Cultch / Eastside Cultural Crawl, Vancouver – Juried
Solo Exhibitions
2024 _ Eroded Origins: Limimal Illusions Admist Climate Transformation, Leonore Peyton Salon, Place des Arts, Coquitlam – Juried
2021 _ Seeing Anew: Earthly Presence, Canadian Pacific Gallery, PoMoArts, Port Moody – Curated
Press
2023 _ On the Coast, CBC Radio Interview, Vancouver
2023 _ Speak Up, Listen Up, Act Upon, CJSF Radio Interview, Vancouver
2022 _ 5 Artists Using Technology, Stir Magazine, Vancouver
2022 _ Artist of the Week, TriCity News, Vancouver
2018 – 2021 _ Featured Artist, TriCity News, Vancouver
2018 _ Featured Artist – Eastside Culture Crawl (interview), FairChild TV, Vancouver
Education
1986 _ Emily Carr College of Art and Design, Graphic Design / Photography (Honours), Vancouver