Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Seize the day to get together and to be stuffed with turkey and pumpkin pie. It’s very inventive of the Pilgrims and Indians to come up with this occasion. It’s also an ideal time to reflect on what am I thankful for. I have an immense list. Most important of all, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the kind souls, yes you, who have supported my work and who have continued to inspire me.

Secondly, I am grateful for the privilege of taking part in the MTV exhibition to salute Asian culture. This event took place in the Viacom Bldg. in the vicinity of Times Square. It was a celebration for me because I was able to spotlight the reason for my art. I would like to share an excerpt from my mission statement that personifies my photographs.

Presently, we are rapidly moving towards globalization, so that there is a call of urgency for cultural exchange and understanding. As a photographer, I feel I have the ability and the responsibility to contribute towards achieving this goal. Being of Asian heritage, I have to first discover my own culture in order to offer it meaningfully to others. In my numerous travels in Asia, I have been enriched by the diversity in the people’s way of life and traditions.

This is my opportunity to speak about the Asian continent, and the many Asiatic faces from the serene mountains of Shangri-La to the shifting sands of the Gobi desert of Mongolia, to the Burmese rice paddies, to the ancient temples of Cambodia. Through this dialogue, with as many people as possible, the enigma of this continent can be uplifted. My journey has just begun. This is my passion, this is my vision, this is my life.

So, once again, I am throwing my bowlines and setting my compass towards Southeast Asia in two weeks. Watch out for these images from this trip to be showcased starting in February in Coconut Grove and Boca Raton, Florida. This is also an exciting and exploratory period for me since I have been experimenting with sophisticated digital imaging. In keeping up with the high techno age and upgrading my art to the next dimension, I strive to produce photographs with a better quality and richer color contrast. Any creative ideas from anyone out there?

Back in the home front, the spell of autumn continues to take hold of my senses. It is a familiar scene, but appears to be always new. Walking around Madison Park, I was trigger happy with the foliage and the warm glow of light casting on the Flatiron building.

Thanks for your attention and letting me share my thoughts. Since I will be out of touch and retreating to the back roads of Myanmar, I am sending my warm wishes in advance for the holidays. Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Kwanzaa! Happy New Year!

Keep the festive spirit,

Best wishes,

Michael Chen

email: mc@mc-images.com
url: www.mc-images.com