Light-Carved Something

© Gene Chen - Image from the Light-Carved Something photography project © Gene Chen - Image from the Light-Carved Something photography project © Gene Chen - Image from the Light-Carved Something photography project View all images ↓
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  • Dates
    2021 - Ongoing
  • Author
  • Location Taipei City, Taiwan

These photographs capture the vibrant nighttime cityscape, embodying the emotional detachment I feel from my hometown.

Wandering through Taipei City, I've captured the nighttime urban landscape. Light acts as a sculptor, molding the city resembling an uncarved gemstone. The streets, signs, roads, and the movement of people all serve as instruments for this beautiful sculpture. My responsibility is to capture these nameless creations, often overlooked by people, especially within the veil of night.

Having resided in London for an extended period, my visits to Taiwan have become infrequent. Despite Taiwan being my cherished homeland, my prolonged stay abroad seems to deepen my sense of detachment from it. On every return, this disconnection intensifies. These photographs encapsulate the vibrant light and bustling sounds of those moments, capturing the emotional gap I feel from these lively scenes.

The series was captured using photogrammetry, a technique I’ve been employing for years, and I started to use it in photography in 2019. This approach resembles a comprehensive recording of sculpted light, compressing the fluidity of time and the shifting of space, while extracting the most exquisite facets.

© Gene Chen - Image from the Light-Carved Something photography project
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“A Sky Full of Stars” - I've captured an enchanting garden adorned with radiant artificial flowers during a winter night in the Taipei City.

© Gene Chen - Image from the Light-Carved Something photography project
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“Bush” - I've captured a bush in the front yard of a residential home. There's a powerful spotlight installed in a neighbour. This light beams directly onto the bush and flowerpots within the small courtyard, acting like a spotlight.

© Gene Chen - Image from the Light-Carved Something photography project
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“Dragonfly” - The photo was taken in a narrow alley in a residential neighbourhood filled with restaurants frequented by locals. The image blends the street and its lights, resembling a fluttering dragonfly.

© Gene Chen - Image from the Light-Carved Something photography project
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“A Plastic Chair” - I've captured a very common plastic armchair situated on the streets of a traditional Taipei neighbourhood during the evening. This chair, juxtaposed against the bustling street, beautifully reflects my perception of Taipei.

© Gene Chen - Image from the Light-Carved Something photography project
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“Detachment” - It is a photograph of a renowned restaurant in Taipei. I took this photo from a taxi. It captures the vibrant light, the bustling sounds of the restaurant at that moment, and the distance I felt from this lively scene.

© Gene Chen - Image from the Light-Carved Something photography project
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"A Melting Mind" - The photograph was taken in a busy area in Taipei. All the lights from buildings, cars, signs, and street lamps blend together. Standing there, I felt like I was losing my way in the middle of the city.

© Gene Chen - Image from the Light-Carved Something photography project
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“Neon” - I captured it near Taipei Main Station, which is surrounded by numerous cram schools. The scene reminds me of my high school years. It also hints at the sensation of walking home each night, as if treading on a path paved with neon lights.