Issac Lam’s photography is a nostalgic brush with beauty
Issac Lam is a fashion photographer from Hong Kong, whose photography is leading a passionate inquiry into the concept of beauty. Through a keen sense of surrealism and drama, his imagery draws upon disparate elements to create a juxtaposition, that is both playful and unexpected.
His style is understated, elegant and—in a time when “demure” has become the latest hot topic—way ahead of the trend. He beautifully utilises subtle colour grading; toning down primary colours to create a timeless aesthetic. Bright reds are brushed into tasteful burgundies, and garish greens are replaced by unassuming shades of khaki.
“I like bringing elements that are ambivalent or disparate together, where you are pulled in two directions at once.”
His work in the past has seen him collaborate with Taiwanese artist John Yuyi, to create a series that explores the multi-faceted sides of Lam’s hometown of Hong Kong. The series titled City by City played with elements of fantasy, memory and nostalgia; exploring Yuyi and Lam’s appreciation for all things vintage.
While Lam has moved into high fashion in recent years, regularly having his work featured on the front cover of publications such as Vogue Hong Kong and Manifesto, in essence, his photography still holds the same romantic reverence for aspects of 90s Hong Kong culture. Fragments of his love for Faye Wong, Tat Ming Pair and the cinema of Wong Kar-wai are imbued within his visual language—a treasure trove for the most fervent of fans to uncover if they look close enough.
