We’re pleased to host a series of informal talks that celebrate photobooks, zines, and independent publishing. We welcome individuals to join us on select Monday evenings. These sessions offer a relaxed and engaging space for creators to share the stories, processes, and ideas behind their work. This will be an opportunity to share knowledge and build relationships with those interested in publishing.
Talks take place on select Monday evenings between 18:00–21:00.
Guests can RSVP. Please also note that our basement gallery does not have step-free access and involves 25 steps.
Talks begin at 18:30, with an opportunity to meet the photographer and view their publication during the event. There will also be time to ask the photographer questions during the second half of the Talk.
Journey to the West by Wei Jian Chan
Wei Jian Chan (b.1991) is a Singaporean-born photographer based in London, whose work seeks to find beauty in the chaos of modern life. Wei Jian first picked up a camera at the age of 14 while growing up in Singapore. Over the years, as he moved to Oxford to attend university and to London for work, the camera has been his constant companion. In his time behind the camera, photography has grown from a pastime into a source of inspiration and a passport to new experiences. Working primarily in black-and-white, Wei Jian utilises both traditional wet darkroom processes and modern digital techniques in his work. His work frequently incorporates elements of geometry, architecture, and motion. Wei Jian’s debut photobook ‘Journey to the West’ was published by Setanta Books in 2025. His photography has been exhibited in various locations in the UK and Europe, and has been acquired to form part of the permanent collection of the Kiyosato Museum of Photographic Art. His work has also been featured by numerous outlets, including The Guardian, Deutsche Welle, National Geographic, Amateur Photographer, and Leica Camera.
In September 2012, I drifted across the ocean and found myself in an unfamiliar land. Leaving behind family, friends, and the comfort of home, I left Singapore and embarked on a new life in the UK. For me, it was a time of great personal growth, as I set about to integrate into a foreign culture and find my place in the world. This series uses the anonymity, geometry, and formal visual language of my street photography to evoke the sense of dislocation and uncertainty I felt over this period. The title ‘Journey to the West’ comes from a Ming dynasty Chinese myth about the journey of the Buddhist monk Xuanzang who travelled to the ‘Western Regions’ to obtain Buddhist sacred texts (sutras).