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With swimming as the core of inspiration in his artistic practice, Chan has started creating artworks around the theme of public swimming pools since 2016. From his solo exhibitions I Say Marco, You Say Polo in New York to I Cannot Wait For Three Months in Istanbul, his works continue to address the relationship between public spaces, humanities, and his inner self in different cities. Throughout his extensive research, the artist has posed a list of questions about the privacy of public spaces. Not only is a changing room the only and the most private place among public pool areas, but it also gathers groups of strangers where they share short moments of awkwardness, catching a glimpse of one another’s inner worlds, “similar to what we initially encounter in a date or relationship” Chan explains.
Chan Wai Lap (b. 1988, Hong Kong) received his Bachelor of Art (Hons) in Visual Communication from Birmingham City University in 2011. With a keen interest in swimming, his works address the relationship between public space, humanities, and the artist’s own inner self. He had participated in artist-in-residency programmes at Hong Kong’s Tai Kwun, Turkey, and New York City. His works have been included in solo and group exhibitions in various art institutions, including “I Will Always Be On Your Side” (Tai Kwun Contemporary, 2020), “I Cannot Wait For Three Months” (halka sanat projesi, Istanbul, 2019), “I say Marco, You say Polo” (Fringe Club, Hong Kong, 2019; School of Visual Arts, New York, 2018), “The Bacteriology Drawing Lab” (Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences, Hong Kong, 2019), “Everything’s Alright” (chi art space, Hong Kong, 2016) and “Yesterday’s” (Osage Gallery, Hong Kong, 2013). He was awarded the Professor Mayching Kao Arts Development Fund, Project Grant (Emerging Artists Scheme) from the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, and received The Award for Young Artist (Visual Arts) of Hong Kong Arts Development Awards in 2019.
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