Cover “Paint the Town Red”: On the eve of Dev Deepawali in Varanasi, India, last-minute preparation is done in
the holy city where everything along the River Ganges receives a fresh coat
of paint, including this gateway scaffolding being painted in red.
“Paint the Town Red”: On the eve of Dev Deepawali in Varanasi, India, last-minute preparation is done in the holy city where everything along the River Ganges receives a fresh coat of paint, including this gateway scaffolding being painted in red.
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The exhibition at the Ion Art gallery features recollections of Leo’s travels, from Singapore and Hong Kong to Cuba and India, and his impressions as a street photographer over the past decade
“I am a hopeless optimist,” expounds Lionel Leo. “I see beauty in everything, from emotionally moving human stories to motivating deeds by unsung heroes that never get recognised. It’s the authenticity of the ordinary that inspires me. Whether it’s an expression of the mundane or the spectacular, I’m forever captivated by the unimaginable richness in this wonderful cycle of life.”
And with a camera in hand, the former architect, who is now in real estate development and investment, seeks to capture the fleeting moments in the everyday, as seen in his first solo photography exhibition, Life Goes On, which takes place from May 19 to 28, at the Ion Art gallery in Ion Orchard.
While a solo exhibition has always been a personal dream of Leo, who took to photography at the tender age of 12, “I never felt confident or ready,” he says. “But I didn’t want to end up like [American photographer] Vivian Maier, whose 100,000 negatives and slides were auctioned off, and she was discovered after she passed on.”
With his wife Tina Tan-Leo egging him on, Leo felt the time was right and he could not put it off any longer. “It’s now or never before I get too old. It will be a milestone to what I have been doing all these years, [by] doing this I can move on to the next stage of growth in my creativity.”
Above Lionel Leo
Lionel Leo
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So he went about putting together a collection of photographs—and this took about a year. But with no experience in mounting exhibitions, Leo called upon celebrity photographer Russel Wong, who is a good friend, for help.
“There were so many questions. I didn’t know how many [photographs] should go into an exhibition. How do I pick?” says Leo. “The first person I thought of was Russel. He was very generous [with his knowledge]. He told me that I should have at least 40 photographs—any lesser would be boring. Then I asked him, ‘Can you curate it [the exhibition]? Can you choose [the photographs] for me?’”
About 90 per cent of the selected photographs were taken during Leo’s travels, from Singapore and Hong Kong to Cuba and India, in the past 10 years. “All of my pictures have people in them because it has to tell a story—hopefully a human story. When you see them, it gives you a bit of an emotional reaction. I’m not particularly trying to deliver a message or make a statement. Taking pictures this way has allowed me to see the humanity in its raw form—and I love that,” enthuses Leo, who shoots mainly in black and white.
“Like a lot of photographers, when I first started, all artistic photographs were in black and white. It was a lot cheaper and more accessible. In college, I was the caretaker of the school darkroom for two years. I spent an extended amount of time in the darkroom, and that was all black and white.”
Of course, he also shoots in colour, but has always preferred the monochrome. That is until, “I went to India one time, and realised I was missing out on colour,” shares Leo. “So I swapped my monochrome cameras with the colour ones. I do enjoy colour, it’s different. I will still always keep a monochrome camera only to shoot in black and white. It’s a very different way of seeing things.”
Above “Mahjong Queens”: This legendary housing block became quite an attraction after one of the
Transformers movies. One afternoon, these women appeared from nowhere
with a table and chairs, and got a mahjong game going.
Above “Blue Blossoms”: These Flamenco dance students had just finished their class and seemed to
be waiting for transport. With their black dresses and striking blue flowers on
their hair, the Malecon never looked better.
“Mahjong Queens”: This legendary housing block became quite an attraction after one of the Transformers movies. One afternoon, these women appeared from nowhere with a table and chairs, and got a mahjong game going.
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For Leo, the challenge is to be able to capture a shot in the most artistically beautiful way, telling an interesting story, giving the subject dignity and in a positive light; all from the most ordinary or mundane setting. “So it’s not really what I shoot, it’s how I shoot. Making something beautiful out of the ordinary.”
Take, for example, the photograph of four ladies playing mahjong in the midst of a skyscraper jungle in Hong Kong’s Quarry Bay—a place that became famous after a Transformers movie was shot there. “I do go there from time to time, whenever I’m in Hong Kong. On that particular afternoon when I was there, all of a sudden these four ladies, they were carrying a table and chairs, which they set up, and then boom, they were playing mahjong. I got a few different angles, and they didn't care as they were so engrossed in the game.”
Leo loves the idea of simply wandering off—and this was just what he did in Havana, Cuba, when he shot the image of young dancers right after their class. “I was walking down the Malecon, which is a promenade running along the sea. So I passed by this place, and they [the young dancers] were all coming out. Obviously, they were in dance class because there were quite a few of them. As they came out, I started shooting. The girls were quite shy, so I got a back view, which I thought was quite special."
Above “Dream Cars”:
These proud owners of highly sought-after vintage American cars are
strategically parked outside of the best hotels. They constantly groom their
dream cars for hire, jockeying for the ‘big spender’ ready for a cruise down
the Malecon in Havana.
Above “The Storyteller”:
The driver of this classic convertible dream car parked beside the majestic
Grand Opera House is having a laugh and sharing stories.
“Dream Cars”: These proud owners of highly sought-after vintage American cars are strategically parked outside of the best hotels. They constantly groom their dream cars for hire, jockeying for the ‘big spender’ ready for a cruise down the Malecon in Havana.
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Some of his favourite places to shoot in Singapore include Chinatown, Little India, and Geylang because they are “sort of the last of the more authentic, kind of raw, places—and are less gentrified”. Leo explains, “I find myself walking the same streets, seeing the same faces because I've gone so many times. Every Sunday, I would ride my motorcycle, park it and just walk around for two hours. And then hop back on my bike and come home for family lunch.”
Now that he has launched his first solo exhibition, Leo hopes to fully expand his creative side. “I’ve always been creative. I like design in general. I also design my own jewellery. I do like to draw and paint. After this, I'm gonna start doing more painting.”
Above “Meat the Butcher”:
The head butcher at this Quarry Bay outlet is taking a cigarette break amidst
his demanding job. Despite animal parts hanging all over the place, he seems
nonchalant, just another day at the office.
Above “Take Five”:
This butchery in Central, Hong Kong was swamped with enthusiastic
customers. Finally, there was a moment of calm and a welcomed break.
“Meat the Butcher”: The head butcher at this Quarry Bay outlet is taking a cigarette break amidst his demanding job. Despite animal parts hanging all over the place, he seems nonchalant, just another day at the office.
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When asked about what he is most optimistic about in the post-pandemic future, this hopeless optimist says, “No matter if it’s the riots in Hong Kong, the Covid-19 pandemic, or the war in Ukraine, life goes on—and the world always heals itself. Humans have an incredible tenacity and ability to bounce back and move forward.
“I am inspired by these challenging stories because there is always one that moves you. What I am most optimistic about is that people will always find a way to move on. The tougher the fight, the more precious the stories. There is beauty in the most difficult situations.”
For Leo, another reason why he is doing the exhibition is that something good must come from it in the form of giving back. Thus, part of the proceeds from the sale of his photographs will go towards the Nepal Initiative, which empowers underprivileged children, giving them an opportunity for a better future.
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As Senior Editor of Tatler Singapore, Hashirin champions and refines the storytelling across platforms—curating and crafting compelling profiles, cover stories and features that spotlight visionaries shaping culture, business and impact. Driven by curiosity, she draws inspiration from the artists, changemakers and trailblazers she encounters through her work. Beyond the pages of Tatler, she is an avid supporter of local theatre and delights in seeking out art in every city she visits.
