Wikipedia

Melisa Teo

Melisa Teo (born 5 February 1975) is a Singaporean photographer living and working in Paris. For many years, she focused her camera on religious subjects but nature is now the central theme of her photography.

Melisa Teo
Teo in Paris in 2019
Born(1975-02-05)5 February 1975
Singapore
EducationNational University of Singapore Sorbonne University
OccupationPhotographer
Spouse
  • ​
    (m. 2018)​
Websitewww.melisateo.com

Career

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From 2008 to 2011,Teo documented her journey through the worlds of Buddhism, Hinduism and Santeria in Asia and Latin America, attempting to understand spirituality and the role of the divine through religion and faith.

The result was contrasted with the photographs of the late Franco-Iranian photographer Abbas[1] in a work called Dark Light. It was also published in a book called Light From Within (Canvas, Singapore 2012)/ Lumière Surgie de l'Intérieur (Les Éditions du Pacifique, Paris, 2012).[2][3][4][5][non-primary source needed][better source needed]

In 2013, Teo participated in 7 Days in Myanmar, a book and multi-media project involving 30 photographers, each documenting a different region of Myanmar over the same seven days.[6][7][better source needed]

From 2014 to 2016, she travelled from Vietnam to Laos, Taiwan to Israel, Morocco to France shifting her focus from searching for spirituality in religious rites and rituals to finding it in everyday life, resulting in the work The Light Beyond.[8][9][10][non-primary source needed][11][12][non-primary source needed] In the same year, with the project Eden,[13][14] Teo turned to nature as the central theme of her work.

From 2018 to 2019, she photographed the trees of Paris, focusing on man's intuitive rapport with nature. This work is published in Les Arbres de Paris/The Trees of Paris[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23](Les Éditions du Pacifique, Paris, 2020), with foreword by the French author Sylvain Tesson.[24][citation needed] Teo also manages Fonds Abbas Photos which protects, preserves and promotes the oeuvre and heritage of the Magnum photographer Abbas, who passed away in 2018.[25][26][27][28][citation needed]

In 2022, she was the subject of a documentary film in the television series Find Me a Singaporean, featuring her work and life in Paris.[29]

In 2023, she was a jury member of the Political Photography Prize awarded by the National Assembly of France and LCP, the Parliamentary Channel. [30][31]

Prior to photography, Teo worked in book publishing.

Publications

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  • Dark Light (exhibition catalogue), published by 2902 Gallery, Singapore, 2011
  • Light From Within with afterword by Abbas, published by Canvas, Singapore, 2012
  • Lumière Surgie de l’Intérieur (French edition of Light From Within), published by Les Editions du Pacifique, Paris, 2012
  • The Light Beyond (exhibition catalogue) with text by Parisa Reza, published by The Arts House, Singapore, 2016
  • Les Arbres de Paris/The Trees of Paris with foreword by Sylvain Tesson, published by Les Editions du Pacifique, Paris, 2020

Solo exhibitions

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  • 2012: Light From Within, Cathay Gallery, Singapore
  • 2012: Light From Within, JAS Gallery, Paris
  • 2016: The Light Beyond, The Arts House, Singapore
  • 2016: Eden, Chan + Hori Contemporary Gallery, Singapore
  • 2020-2021: Les Arbres de Paris/The Trees of Paris, la galerie, Alliance Française de Singapour, part of Voilah! France Singapore Festival and Singapore Art Week
  • 2022: Les Arbres de Paris/巴黎的树, Yellow Crane Tower, Wuhan, China, part of Croisements France China Cultural Festival
  • 2022: Les Arbres de Paris/巴黎的树, Le Châlet Art Museum, Wuhan, China

Joint and group exhibitions

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  • 2011: Dark Light with photographer Abbas, 2902 Gallery, Singapore
  • 2013: 7 Days in Myanmar by 30 Great Photographers, Chatrium Yangon, Myanmar
  • 2017: Art Stage, presented by Marc de Puechredon Gallery Basel, Singapore
  • 2022: Look Up, presented by Intersections Gallery at EHL Campus, Singapore

Filmography

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  • 2022: Find Me a Singaporean, Ep. 6 (produced by Threesixzero Productions and broadcast on Channel U)

References

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  1. ^ Attar, Abbas; Teo, Melisa (2011). Darklight : a joint exhibition by Abbas/Magnum & Melisa Teo. Singapore: 2902 Gallery. p. 44. ISBN 978-9-81089-793-2. OCLC 763144565.
  2. ^ Teo, Melisa (2012). "Light From Within". National Library Board Singapore. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  3. ^ Teo, Melisa (2012). "Melisa Teo: Light from within". Les Journal des Arts. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  4. ^ Corgier, Jean-Louis (20 November 2012). "Light from Within : Melisa Teo expose à Paris". Classtourisme. Retrieved 2020-06-28.
  5. ^ "Melisa Teo: Light From Within". Art Bahrain. Retrieved 2020-06-28.
  6. ^ Gray, Dennis; Falconer, John; Grossman, Nicholas (2014). 7 Days in Myanmar: By 30 Great Photographers. Singapore: Editions Didier Millet. p. 276. ISBN 978-9-81438-570-1.
  7. ^ "Melisa Teo Photographe". Actuphoto. Retrieved 2020-06-28.
  8. ^ Tan, Debbie (2016-06-18). "Let There Be Light | A review of The Light Beyond: A Photographic Pilgrimage by Melisa Teo". Art Hop. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  9. ^ "The Light Beyond: A Photography Exhibition by Melisa Teo". City Nomads. 2016-04-01. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  10. ^ "Melisa Teo: The Light Beyond, A Photographic Pilgrimage". The Eye of Photography. 21 May 2016. Retrieved 2020-06-28.
  11. ^ "Intuitive Capture Of Life In Its Ordinary Moments". Business Times Singapore. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
  12. ^ "The Light Beyond". The Arts House Singapore. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  13. ^ "Eden: Solo exhibition by Melisa Teo - Artist Talk". Singapore Art and Gallery Guide. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
  14. ^ "Eden - Solo Exhibition by Melisa Teo". Artitude. 17 November 2016. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
  15. ^ "La Main Verte - Alain Baraton". France Inter. 6 March 2021. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
  16. ^ "Paris Appartient Aux Piétons". Objectif Grand Paris. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
  17. ^ "The Trees of Paris by Melisa Teo". Alliance Francaise. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
  18. ^ "Les Arbres De Paris by Melisa Teo". Voilah. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
  19. ^ "Les Arbres De Paris (The Trees of Paris)". Singapore Art Week. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
  20. ^ "Local Photographer Melisa Teo Found Solace In The Trees Of Paris". Zaobao. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
  21. ^ "Photographer Melisa Teo Captures The Trees Of Paris". "A" magazine. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
  22. ^ "Les Arbres de Paris". Faguowenhua. Retrieved 2022-04-25.
  23. ^ "Singapore has no culture? The French ambassador begs to differ". The Peak Magazine. 26 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  24. ^ Tesson, Sylvain; Teo, Melisa (2020). Les Arbres de Paris/The Trees of Paris. Paris: Les Éditions du Pacifique. p. 96. ISBN 978-2-87868-263-2.
  25. ^ "Abbas Photos". Abbas Photos. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  26. ^ Genzlinger, Neil (2018-04-30). "Abbas Attar, Who Photographed Iran's Revolution, Dies at 74". The New York Times. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
  27. ^ Beck, Dimitri (2020-02-17). "Abbas par Abbas, Le Film Qui Rend Hommage au Grand Photographe de Magnum". Polka Magazine. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
  28. ^ "Au Festival Photo La Gacilly, le Franco-Iranien Abbas porte son regard sur la foi dans le monde". Ouest-France. Retrieved 2022-05-10.
  29. ^ "Find Me a Singaporean: The Pandemic Special Ep. 6". YouTube: Entertainment-Mediacorp. 18 April 2022. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  30. ^ "Prix de la photo politique Assemblée Nationale - LCP". Assemblée Nationale. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  31. ^ "Prix de la photo politique Assemblée nationale - LCP". LCP-Assemblée Nationale. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
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