Not Quite Still Life

Vase, Digital photo, 620 x 450 mm, 2026

Tumbler, Digital photo, 620 x 450 mm, 2026

Rabbit, Digital photo, 450 x 620 mm, 2026

Book, Digital photo, 450 x 620 mm, 2026

Bottle, Digital photo, 620 x 450 mm, 2026

Towel, Digital photo, 620 x 450 mm, 2026

Teapot, Digital photo, 620 x 450 mm, 2026

Tea cup, Digital photo, 450 x 620 mm, 2026

Paper towel, Digital photo, 620 x 450 mm, 2026

Jam, Digital photo, 450 x 620 mm, 2026

This is a project to explore the idea of ‘Still-life’ photography. The term ‘still’ refers to something that is unmoving; ‘life’ suggests a state that is living and in motion. While still life photography assumes the capture of  motionless objects, what if the still life is not ‘still’ at all when the image is taken?

Not Quite Still Life is a series of photograph by Ho Chun Yu that aims to investigate the scope of camera-less photography and revisit still life photography as a genre with a new perspective.

Self portrait

Self portrait #1, Digital photo, 600 x 825 mm, 2025

Self portrait #2, Digital photo, 600 x 825 mm, 2025

This self-portrait explores the idea of reconstructing one’s self-identity in another language and cultural environment. Instead of a camera, a scanner is used to capture the facial features. Presenting multiple viewpoints simultaneously in a sole portrait is an attempt to frame a moment in motion. Stretching, ongoing and yet-to-be ascertaining, this self portrait is a record of searching and redefining oneself. 

Surreal and Blooming

Ink and metallic ink on paper, 420 x 297 mm, 2025

 

《竹 · 三》Bamboo #3

Ink and metallic ink on paper, 420 x 297 mm, 2025

Ink and metallic ink on paper, 420 x 297 mm, 2025

《落花無言》Falling Petals

Ink and metallic ink on paper, 420 x 297 mm, 2025

 

From Cloud To Ground

Instant film, 85 x 54 mm, 2025

Instant film, 85 x 54 mm, 2025

Instant film, 85 x 54 mm, 2025

Instant film, 85 x 54 mm, 2025

Instant film, 85 x 54 mm, 2025

Instant film, 85 x 54 mm, 2025

Instant film, 85 x 54 mm, 2025

Instant film, 85 x 54 mm, 2025

Instant film, 85 x 54 mm, 2025

Instant film, 85 x 54 mm, 2025

Instant film, 85 x 54 mm, 2025

Instant film, 85 x 54 mm, 2025

Instant film, 85 x 54 mm, 2025

Instant film, 85 x 54 mm, 2025

Instant film, 85 x 54 mm, 2025

Instant film, 85 x 54 mm, 2025

Instant film, 85 x 54 mm, 2025

Instant film, 85 x 54 mm, 2025

Instant film, 85 x 54 mm, 2025

Instant film, 85 x 54 mm, 2025

Instant film, 85 x 54 mm, 2025

Instant film, 85 x 54 mm, 2025

Instant film, 85 x 54 mm, 2025

Instant film, 85 x 54 mm, 2025

Instant film, 85 x 54 mm, 2025

Instant film, 85 x 54 mm, 2025

Instant film, 85 x 54 mm, 2025

Instant film, 85 x 54 mm, 2025

Instant film, 85 x 54 mm, 2025

Instant film, 85 x 54 mm, 2025

In this project, digital photography is not considered as a replacement, an advancement or a rival but as an entirely different apparatus and approach to producing photographic imagery compared to and associated with analogue photography.

Instant film photography once was used to represent authenticity and existence, but it is not any more in the digital generation with all the advancement in technology. In this series of instant film work, the original image is a screenshot instead of a photographical capture of any real object. By creating a series of maze-like digital photographic images on instant films without the use of a digital camera, this project investigates an alternative way of image capturing that interplays between analogue photography and digital photography.

The ramification of this experiment, applying digital photography methods combined with classical photography material, constructed an illusion of a three dimensional space, a multiple layers of empty frame on instant films, that challenges the perception of the viewers, questions the traditional understanding of photographic image making and experiments with a not-yet-be-seen aspect of photography as a form of artistic practice itself.

《無題 • 二》Untitled #2

 

Ink and metallic ink on paper, 700 x 360 mm, 2025