Now based in Hong Kong, Norm Yip was born and raised in Canada before heading to Hong Kong in 1994. He then worked as an architect for four and a half years before making the decision to pursue photography, drawing and painting full time. In his free time, he also does Tarot reading for customers.
Norm Yip and the cover of his new coffee table book, I>The Asian Male - Photography by Norm Yip.
NY: I'm Chinese, 5'9", 75kg, 41 years old, slightly receding hair (but managing so far without having to shave it all off!).
æ: What are you currently occupied with?
Norm: My current project is my photo book entitled The Asian Male - Photography by Norm Yip, a project that has taken me five years to complete. It's something that I had always wanted to do. I only wish I had more confidence to do it earlier, but procrastination has a way of making things drag. I think everyone knows what I mean.
æ: What inspires you?
Norm: Life and passion. Without it and the inquisitive mind, nothing would happen.
æ: What is the achievement you are most proud of?
Norm: My photo book (of course) and making the transition from architect to artist-photographer (it was a very difficult decision).
æ: If you could do it all over again, what would you change?
Norm: I have no regrets for where I am now. Nothing.
æ: How do you spend your Sundays?
Norm: Unless I have a photographic session, I usually try to spend Sundays alone with no one around. I may read the paper, mope around my studio, paint, draw or read. I try as much as possible to relax.
æ: Tell us one of your fantasies?
Norm: To be a famous singer (hahahahahaha.)
æ: What about yourself would you like to change the most?
Norm: I would like to change the thing that I have the most difficulty with, and that is my perception of love and spirituality. I reading a very intriguing book entitled Grace and Grit by Ken Wilber, a philosopher extraordinaire. I hope that I can find a way to change my present thinking pattern on what a soul-to-soul relationship is all about. Currently, I'm at a standstill, but progress seems to be on coming.
æ: What was the most important thing that happened to you in the last 12 months?
Norm: Meeting someone that inspired me creatively.
æ: What do you think is important in a relationship?
Norm: Love.
æ: What turns you on?
Norm: That sounds as though it's directed towards sex, but I will avoid it. I am turned on by existence, beauty, passion, love, truth, death, and creation itself.
æ: What is your vision for the gay community?
Norm: I have always had difficulty answering to the gay community; perhaps this is the artist or loner side of me. I have not joined any activist or community group in Hong Kong. My voice speaks to people by just doing what I do and letting others know about it.
æ: Who would your dream date be if you were straight (if you are gay), or gay (if you are straight) for a day?
Norm: Madonna.
æ: Tell us something even your mother doesn't know.
Norm: Come on, all mothers know everything!
'The Asian Male', which contains 40 selected images in both colour and black and white prints of models from Korea, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia, costs HK$350 (US$44.95). For order enquiries, please contact Norm at info@studio8hongkong.com.
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