Rachel and David, by I-Hsuen Chen
"For a knowledge of intimacy, localization in the spaces of our intimacy is more urgent than determination of dates." So wrote French philosopher Gaston Bachelard in The Poetics of Space, his masterpiece that takes a profound look at how we experience intimate places. In the book, Bachelard narrates an exploration of space and place in a poetic voice—something Contender I-Hsuen Chen does much the same with his camera in In Your Place, another body of work he'd submitted after receiving an Honorable Mention and winning the Blurb prize in the Second Edition 2011 round of competition.
Untitled, by I-Hsuen Chen
Chen explores the poetics of everyday life by visiting his friends at their homes, who mostly like himself are foreign students living in New York City. Though careful not to disturb the everday-ness, Chen's presence inevitably changes the dynamics within the confined space. Visually, the bare walls and basic furnishings give a hint of temporariness, but also create a sort of accidental minimalism—perhaps offering a glimpse into the lives of this particular group, although documentation is not Chen's intention. He writes in the statement:
Entering my friends' private spaces, I try to capture their intimate living scenarios in New York. I am a gentle intruder creating different sub-plots that become part of their life. The whole visit becomes a Happening. I document this Happening with my camera.
Untitled, by I-Hsuen Chen
Chen, who abandoned a career in marketing in his hometown, Taipei, to pursue photography in Brooklyn, NY, is also a trained opera singer, and a performance and video artist. In May, he will earn his MFA in photography from Pratt Institute and will be showing his Nowhere in Taiwan series at the New York Photo Festival Invitational Exhibition, opening today at powerHouse Arena in DUMBO, Brooklyn.
Yu-Ping, by I-Hsuen Chen



Untitled, by Horatio Baltz
Untitled, by Horatio Baltz
Untitled, by Horatio Baltz
Untitled, by Horatio Baltz
Untitled, by Horatio Baltz
Untitled, from the series Lost Villages, 2011 by Neil A. White
Untitled, from the series Lost Villages, 2012 by Neil A. White
Untitled, from the series Lost Villages, 2011 by Neil A. White
Untitled, from the series Lost Villages, 2011 by Neil A. White
Untitled, from the series Lost Villages, 2012 by Neil A. White
band aid, 2010 by Emma Gluckman
sewing lesson, 2010 by Emma Gluckman
red phone, 2010 by Emma Gluckman
pelt, 2010 by Emma Gluckman
horse, polaroids and chair, 2009 by Emma Gluckman
Fourth of July #2, Independence, Missouri, by Mike Sinclair
Colombo Market, 2008 by Kevin Tachman
House of Xtravaganza Ball, 2009 by Kevin Tachman
Ipanema Beach, 2011 by Kevin Tachman
Still Life with Charles Dickens's Great Expectations, 2011 by Juliette Tang
Still Life with Albert Camus's The Stranger, 2011 by Juliette Tang
Still Life with Jean Rhy's Wide Sargasso Sea, 2011 by Juliette Tang
Still Life with Marcel Proust's Swann's Way, 2011 by Juliette Tang
Still Life with The Bhagavad Gita, 2011 by Juliette Tang
1937 Wurlitzer Model 24 January 9, 2012, by Ken Brown
1937 Wurlitzer Model 24 January 9, 2012, by Ken Brown
1946 AMI January 10, 2012, by Ken Brown
Qendrim, Trepça, 2011 by Andrew Querner
Miners' Change Room, Trepça, 2011 by Andrew Querner
Engineer, Trepça, 2011 by Andrew Querner
Untitled, from the series New Work, by Jordan Tate
Untitled, from the series New Work, by Jordan Tate
Untitled, from the series New Work, by Jordan Tate
Red No. 1, U.S. Vintage Grand Prix, Watkins Glen, 2010 by Daniel Handal
Yellow No. 68, Broome-Tioga, Richford, 2010 by Daniel Handal
Burnout (Perfectly Strange), Auto Club Raceway, Fontana, 2011 by Daniel Handal
Hood (Cherry & Mint), Auto Club Raceway, Fontana, 2011 by Daniel Handal
Catharsis, 2010 by Domenica de la Torre
The serenate of the little bird, 2011 by Domenica de la Torre
The path in which oblivion lies, 2010 by Domenica de la Torre
Recess, 2009 by Patrick Allen
Untitled, by Patrick Allen
Pollock's Red Raft, 2006 by Patrick Allen
Untitled, by Patrick Allen
Schools in Tohoku 4, by Ayano Hisa
Schools in Tohoku 2, by Ayano Hisa
Schools in Tohoku 3, by Ayano Hisa
Schools in Tohoku 5, by Ayano Hisa


Mady & Monette, Rue des Partants, Paris, 2010 by Maja Daniels
Mady & Monette, dance rehearsal, Paris, 2011 by Maja Daniels
Mady & Monette, Paris, 2011 by Maja Daniels
Mady & Monette, Paris 2011, by Maja Daniels