A celebrated Singaporean photographer whose remarkable body of work was discovered only seven years ago when he was 81 years old and working as a janitor has passed away at the age of 88. Lui Hock Seng died from pneumonia complications, bringing to a close an extraordinary late-in-life artistic journey that captivated the photography world and preserved decades of Singapore's rapidly changing social landscape.
Lui's youngest son, Roger Looi, confirmed his father's death to The Straits Times, a major Singaporean newspaper. The photographer's black-and-white images, many captured during the 1960s and 1970s, documented everyday life in Singapore during a period of dramatic transformation, offering viewers a rare window into a vanished era that few had previously seen.
"Photography was his life. It was in his blood. Wherever he went, he took along a camera," his son Roger Looi told The Straits Times, describing his father's lifelong passion for the art form.
Lui's journey into photography began in the 1950s when his eldest brother gave him a German-made Rolleiflex camera. Working primarily as a car mechanic, Lui was entirely self-taught in photography and spent more than six decades capturing candid street scenes throughout Singapore before achieving any form of widespread recognition or acclaim.
According to reports from The Straits Times, his extensive photographic archive documented a bygone era of Singapore that included vivid images of snake meat vendors selling their wares on busy street corners, professional letter-writers who provided their services to illiterate citizens, and a young boy drawing water from a traditional well – scenes that have long since disappeared from modern Singapore's urban landscape.
For many years throughout his career, Lui supplemented his income by taking on freelance photography assignments, shooting weddings, funerals, and other important family events for local residents. His dedication to his craft was tested in his 40s when he suffered a serious injury while repairing a car – a metal splinter struck his right eye, causing permanent damage. Rather than abandon photography, Lui adapted by training himself to compose and shoot using his left eye instead, demonstrating the resilience and passion that would define his approach to the medium.
As technology evolved, Lui embraced new developments in photography. In his later years, he transitioned from traditional film cameras to digital photography and occasionally experimented with photo editing software like Photoshop, showing his willingness to learn and adapt despite his advanced age.
After retiring from his career as a mechanic, Lui took a position as a cleaner to support himself. Beginning in 2012, he was employed by SPH Media, a major media company in Singapore, where he worked in janitorial services. It was during his time at this media company that his remarkable photographic work was eventually discovered by colleagues who recognized the artistic and historical value of his decades-long documentation of Singapore life.
The breakthrough moment came in 2018, when Lui turned 81 years old. His work was picked up and featured by various media outlets throughout Singapore, generating significant interest and attention from the local arts community. This media coverage led to him being approached about having his first-ever solo photography exhibition, which took place that same year.
The groundbreaking exhibition was held at Objectifs, a prominent gallery in Singapore. Titled "Passing Time," the show featured a carefully curated selection of Lui's black-and-white photographs of Singapore taken during the 1960s and 1970s. The exhibition was accompanied by a photo book of the same name, also published by Objectifs, which helped preserve and share his work with a broader audience.
Ryan Chua, curator and director at Objectifs, was instrumental in bringing Lui's work to public attention. "When I first saw his work, I was really impressed," Chua told The Straits Times, reflecting on his initial encounter with Lui's photography. "I was like, wow, what a treasure trove. He is such a talented person and his work is very artistic – the composition, light, and shadows are beautiful. I thought, how come nobody knows about him? He preserved a piece of history that the younger generation have not seen, and may not know about."
The impact of Lui's late-career recognition extended far beyond Singapore's borders. His photography gained international attention in 2018, including coverage by major international media outlets such as the BBC, which helped introduce his work to photography enthusiasts and cultural historians around the world.
His remarkable story and dedication to photography was also recognized at the highest levels of Singapore's government. The country's former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong publicly praised Lui, describing him as "a brilliant example of active aging" and highlighting how his story demonstrated that it's never too late to achieve recognition for one's talents and contributions.
Tragically, Lui's moment in the spotlight was shadowed by serious health challenges. Later in 2018, the same year he achieved international recognition, Lui was diagnosed with lymphoma, a form of cancer that affects the lymphatic system. He underwent chemotherapy treatment in an attempt to combat the disease, but doctors recently informed his family that the cancer had spread throughout his body, making further treatment ineffective.
Lui, who had been widowed, is survived by his three sons and two grandchildren, who now serve as the guardians of his photographic legacy and the remarkable story of a man whose artistic talents were nearly lost to history.
His story serves as both an inspiration and a reminder of the countless untold stories and undiscovered talents that may exist among ordinary people living extraordinary lives, documenting the world around them with passion and dedication, even when no one is watching.
