Organised Chaos

© Gene Chen - Image from the Organised Chaos photography project © Gene Chen - Image from the Organised Chaos photography project © Gene Chen - Image from the Organised Chaos photography project View all images ↓
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  • Dates
    2019 - Ongoing
  • Author
  • Location Taipei City, Taiwan

I moved away from Taiwan in 2015. Spending more time abroad, I've felt a growing disconnect with Taiwan. I use this feeling of distance to capture the essence of Taiwan through my lens when every time I go back home.

“Organised Chaos” is an ongoing project documenting details that resonate with my eyes and heart on the streets in Taipei. The title is inspired by my impressions of Taiwan, where the streets are often bustling with complexity and disorder. I started this project in 2019 to capture scenes that I feel represent my homeland whenever I return to Taiwan. As I spend more time away from Taiwan, I feel more disconnected from it. I use this feeling of distance to capture the essence of Taiwan through my lens.

My art practice revolves around photography and photogrammetry to express my obsession with collecting and recombining photos. This obsession goes back to my childhood passion for collecting items, taking them apart, and recombining them. One of the most impactful experiences was collecting pencil lead containers, each displaying subtle differences in curves, shapes, and colours, which fascinated me with their diversity. Venturing to melt these containers resulted in a spontaneous, organic fusion. The melted containers retained some of their original features and transformed, combined in unexpected ways, leaving me with a strong impression and becoming a source of inspiration.

Since 2019, I've been using photogrammetry to create my artworks. It’s a method that requires photo collection and reconstruction, which resonates deeply with my obsession with collecting and recombining. The pencil lead containers from my childhood collection are reimagined through photogrammetry, producing "photographs" that retain their essence despite the recombination. The approach lets me explore the interplay between collecting, recombining, and unpredictability. 

The pieces I've submitted are from the second series of Organised Chaos. What sets this series apart is the presentation of the collection of photos together. Collecting is a crucial part of my process. The collecting behaviour is as important as the final works recombined through photogrammetry. Together, they make a complete artwork.

*No AI was used in my artwork.

© Gene Chen - Image from the Organised Chaos photography project
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These old apartments represent our generation's innocent childhood and the responsibilities of our parents' generation. These old apartments are disappearing, but the values and memories they hold remain. We inherit these responsibilities and the down-to-earth values.

© Gene Chen - Image from the Organised Chaos photography project
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This is the photo collection for the work - Steadfast Ascent. In an old city area, I collected numerous photos of these apartments. I recombined the collected photos through Photogrammetry. Collecting and recombining photos has always been my art approach.

© Gene Chen - Image from the Organised Chaos photography project
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Late at night, while wandering through the dimly lit alleys of the lively district, I paused before this graffiti-covered wall.

© Gene Chen - Image from the Organised Chaos photography project
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This is the photo collection for the work - Late-Night Graffiti. I collected numerous photos of the graffiti-covered wall. Through Photogrammetry, I recombined the collected photos. Collecting and recombining photos has always been my art approach.

© Gene Chen - This is a white bicycle parked randomly in the alley. Nobody knows how long it has been here.
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This is a white bicycle parked randomly in the alley. Nobody knows how long it has been here.

© Gene Chen - Image from the Organised Chaos photography project
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This is the photo collection for the work - Short-term parking. I collected numerous photos of the white bicycle. Through Photogrammetry, I recombined the collected photos. Collecting and recombining photos has always been my art approach.

© Gene Chen - Flower pots casually stacked at the entrance of a residence, looking neglected.
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Flower pots casually stacked at the entrance of a residence, looking neglected.

© Gene Chen - Image from the Organised Chaos photography project
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This is the photo collection for the work - Flowerpot. I collected numerous photos of the Flowerpots in a residence area in Taipei. Through Photogrammetry, I recombined the collected photos. Collecting and recombining photos has always been my art approach.

© Gene Chen - This is a scooter for elderly use, with a foldable backrest on the seat, looking well taken care of.
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This is a scooter for elderly use, with a foldable backrest on the seat, looking well taken care of.

© Gene Chen - Image from the Organised Chaos photography project
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This is the photo collection for the work - Scooter. I collected numerous photos of the Scooter. Through Photogrammetry, I recombined the collected photos. Collecting and recombining photos has always been my art approach.

© Gene Chen - Image from the Organised Chaos photography project
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In the residential area, the tin house that may seem disorderly, but in reality, everything should be arranged according to the owner's intentions, including the bicycle hanging on the wall.

© Gene Chen - Image from the Organised Chaos photography project
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This is the photo collection for the work - Tin-Sheeted House. I collected numerous photos of the tin house. I recombined the collected photos through Photogrammetry. Collecting and recombining photos has always been my art approach.

© Gene Chen - Image from the Organised Chaos photography project
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While taking a stroll in a temple, a cat approached me. After rubbing against me a few times, it settled a few steps away. It then accompanied me on my walk. I enjoyed the perfect distance between us.

© Gene Chen - Image from the Organised Chaos photography project
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This is the photo collection for the work - Temple Cat. I collected lots of photos of cat in the temple. I recombined the collected photos through Photogrammetry. Collecting and recombining photos has always been my art approach.

© Gene Chen - I happened to see the back kitchen of a restaurant on the street, located in the basement.
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I happened to see the back kitchen of a restaurant on the street, located in the basement.

© Gene Chen - Image from the Organised Chaos photography project
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This is the photo collection for the work - Back Kitchen. I recombined the collected photos through Photogrammetry. Collecting and recombining photos has always been my art approach.

© Gene Chen - Image from the Organised Chaos photography project
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This is an auto repair shop located in a residential area, with car seats covered in black leather placed casually at the entrance.

© Gene Chen - Image from the Organised Chaos photography project
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This is the photo collection for the work - Black Leather Seats. I recombined the collected photos through Photogrammetry. Collecting and recombining photos has always been my art approach.

© Gene Chen - Image from the Organised Chaos photography project
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As I walked through the alley, the sudden sunlight pouring in from the end of the alley moved me so much that I decided to document the moment.

© Gene Chen - Image from the Organised Chaos photography project
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This is the photo collection for the work - Glowing Path. I collected numerous photos of a narrow alley. I recombined the collected photos through Photogrammetry. Collecting and recombining photos has always been my art approach.