Interview with Tung Li for Living Room

I have never received formal photography education. In fact, I majored in Civil Engineering during my university years, which is completely unrelated to the arts and culture industry. However, I have always had a strong interest in philosophy and psychology. It is because of this interest that I incorporated many concepts from these fields into my self-study of photography.

The first photo I ever took in my life was a rainy scene captured from the school bus. It was the first time I clicked the shutter in the dimness of the bus, using the digital camera I had just received at home. However, when it comes to artistic creation, it was after completing my military service that I created my first artwork called "Silent" on a massive sandbar. It served as an outlet for my pent-up emotions at the time.

That series of works also allowed me to successfully participate in Wonder Foto Day. The image featured a female friend of mine wearing a black dress walking in the vast desert. I wanted to convey the endless sense of loneliness that was prevailing in my heart at that time.

Sony a7iii.

I hope that one day I can be recognised for my artistic creations and share my thoughts and stories with more people around the world.

Few years ago, a senior in the field of visual arts told me that my works cannot be defined. That, in fact, is my personal style. He also mentioned that the highest realm of creation is to produce unique works in a simple manner, ones that cannot be replicated. This has been the path I've been steadfastly pursuing in my own creative journey.

Just like I mentioned earlier, I have a deep interest in philosophy and psychology, and the fields that fascinate me the most are existentialism and behavioural psychology. Therefore, I often read related works to enhance the depth of storytelling in my creations.

Simple.

Clear.

Gentle.

It is a great honour for me, considering that photography is not highly valued in my country. To receive international recognition truly brings me great joy and will undoubtedly be one of the achievements in my life, like unlocking an achievement in a game.

Initially, I had only planned to submit my "Form" series but as the deadline approached, I had a change of heart. I realized that my series inspired by the pandemic would be a great fit for the "COVID-19" category, and to my surprise, it won the Platinum award.

Since receiving recognition internationally, my reputation within the country has also seen significant growth. I've noticed that some companies are more willing to trust in my photography abilities and provide me with more opportunities.

However, it's interesting to see that some friends may hesitate to contact me out of fear that my prices are too high. I want to take this opportunity to assure everyone that it's not necessary to have such concerns. We can always negotiate and find a mutually satisfactory agreement that works for both sides.

Ryan McGinley, Steven Gindler, Shinoyama Kishin.

Don't overthink it. Just feel and capture the moments through your lens. Keep shooting and let your instincts guide you.

Just be yourself and be honest!

I haven't reached success yet so I don't have any secrets. Of course, perseverance is essential, and hard work is the foundation of success.

Always keep an open mind to embrace new changes and constantly be aware if you are too attached to past habits. Of course, social media is also a great medium to explore new knowledge, but it's important to be cautious not to overuse it.