The living proof is none other than Eric Peris, possibly Malaysia’s greatest photographer.
Born in 1939, Peris’ career as a photojournalist resulted in the production of numerous masterpieces, captured by the lens of his humble camera.
Peris is also a well-known name among veterans of journalism, working with The New Straits Times up to the 1990s before becoming the paper’s photo editor.
Despite turning 84 this year, Peris is still very much an active and enthusiastic photographer, speaking animatedly about his life’s work during a “Walk and Talk” programme at an exhibition featuring his photography collection.
FMT had the opportunity to speak with Peris to learn more about how he came to be the master of the camera.
According to Peris, his father O Don Peris, of Sri Lankan descent, was a sculptor as well as a court painter for the royal family of Johor. His mother and his sister, too, were artists.
“My father once told me: ‘I won’t teach you painting. I know what you want and I can guide you.’ I owe it to them. I would not have been able to achieve what I achieved without them.”
Following in his father’s artistic footsteps, Peris became a photographer and offered his skills to a press editor in Singapore.
“So, he said to me: ‘Go out today and take some pictures of Singapore.’ So, I went out and did just that.”
The photographs Peris took impressed the man enough, who then imparted to him a piece of lifelong advice: “You can miss a story; but if you miss a picture, you’re dead.”
For some time, Peris worked as a press photographer, snapping photos wherever his superiors sent him.
Then, one day, he had an epiphany. “I should be able to do my own ideas, follow my own thinking. From that day onwards, no more books, no more magazines. I was working all on my own volition.”
From then on, Peris was an independent photographer, who would decide what to take and where to go. “In photography, you have to be a loner. You cannot work in a group.”
Peris said that one piece of advice he often relays to aspiring photographers is to not care too much about the quality of their camera.
“You can buy a simple camera, but the most important thing is the mind telling that camera what to take. All you need is a focusing ring, aperture and shutter. That’s all.”
Even though he is already in his golden years, Peris still practises photography, capturing his garden on camera daily.
“You have to practise regularly, understand your camera. Forget about buying an expensive camera. It makes no difference. Photography’s a continuing learning process. It never ends.”
“It’s also important to make sure that your photography hurts nobody. You have to be able to put yourself in the shoes of those you are photographing.”
The most important thing to remember about photography, said Peris, is to never take repeats of a photography subject.
“No two exhibitions should ever be the same. I have had 43 solo exhibitions. As my mother once said, ‘No repeats.'”
Peris said that this rule encourages him to find new ideas for each exhibition, rather than rethreading old ones.
When asked how he would like to be remembered in the future, Peris simply smiled: “Just as a dedicated photographer. Nothing beyond that.”
“The Archive Project: Eric Peris” features hundreds of photographs taken by Peris during his illustrious career, mostly monochrome.
“The Archive Project: Eric Peris” runs until May 3, 2024. For more information, visit the National Art Gallery’s website, or follow the gallery on Facebook and Instagram.
National Art Gallery
Lembaga Pembangunan Seni Visual Negara
2, Jalan Temerloh
53200 Kuala Lumpur
WP Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 9.00am-5.00pm daily