Description

Masters of Disguise is a wildlife photography exhibition by Chien C. Lee, who has captured beautiful pictures of creatures that are masters of blending in to their surroundings.

“From cryptic concealments to mimics and masquerades, Mother Nature is the original trickster. Across the planet, countless organisms utilize deceit to gain an advantage in their never-ending bid for survival. These remarkable adaptations, crafted by the uncompromising paintbrush of natural selection, have resulted in some of the most extravagantly detailed outfits, some of which seem to approach the realm of science fiction.

Over the past 25 years of roaming the tropical rainforests across four continents, I have sought out these devious designs of nature with the aim of documenting them with photographs. Some of the most memorable encounters are those that have made me look twice, sometimes more, before realizing a wondrous disguise for what it truly is. Indeed, it is a great honor to have been duped by nature – for this implies that one has experienced a direct communication with the natural world exactly the way it was intended.

As mesmerizing as some of the creatures may appear, the true marvel of the Masters of Disguise is more than skin deep. Whenever we try to understand more about these deceptions and what has led to their astounding intricacies, we are inevitably brought to a better comprehension of the roles of sensory perception, biological evolution, and the intricate web that connects all living things.”

Date: 2 July 2022 - 15 January 2023
Venue: Darkroom Gallery, 3rd Floor, GMBB
Time: 11am - 6pm