JUSTIN TAY REN ZHI
LET ME HOLD YOU BEFORE YOU GO
82B THE ZHONGSHAN BUILDING
10AM - 6PM
Entry via Tommy Le Baker on ground level
An introspective exploration into childhood memories, the essence of home, and the connections that shape us. This project serves as a testament to the impermanence of memory and the fragility of time. It is an impassioned attempt to preserve the fragments of my past, and to recapture memories through experience before the opportunity slips away forever.
Driven by the profound loss of my father and the overwhelming upheaval that followed, I sought solace in the one place untouched by the shadows of trauma - my maternal homeland of Mauritius, where my grandparents still live. As a child, I would return to this place year after year, fostering strong emotional bonds and unforgettable memories. Creating a sanctuary to which I was able to retreat.
Through the weary gaze of forced adulthood, I attempt to recapture what remains of a disappearing past. Photographing the fond and familiar in order to evoke a sense of calm nostalgia. Attempting to make sense of my past and present, so that I may develop a deeper emotional understanding in coming to terms with the inevitability of time.
At their very core, my photographs are about learning to hold on, so you can learn to let go. About enjoying the ride instead of trying impossibly to turn back. Capturing little bits of goodness as you go along, in order to hold you through the bad times. Most of all, they are about reconnecting with the child in you, embracing them tightly in nostalgic reminiscence, before ultimately bidding them a final farewell.
Justin Tay is a commercial fashion, product, and documentary photographer born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Not one to be boxed in by labels, Justin sees himself merely as an individual who enjoys making photographs.
Justin’s work is driven by a relentless curiosity, and an innate desire to experience and make sense of the world around him. For Justin, photography is a way of life that brings about a peaceful purpose. His photographs are made for no other reason than his desire to make them, and his desire to live a life worth remembering.