Albert Chong Providence, RI Self Portrait with Eggs

Chong incorporates the diversity of West Indies' many religious influences, such as Obeah, Rastafarianism, Santeria, Christianity as well as Chinese spiritual practices into a spiritual language. Chong says: "I have long been fascinated with bones, skin, feathers, shells or any organic remnant of life. There is a presence of the sacredness of that departed life and hints to the mysteries of what lies beyond. My photographs are like magical incantations, their construction and creation are akin to personal rituals. Each object pictures in the images are like the tools of the shaman, each one imbued with its own personal power. The making of art is not so different from the making of magic, both creates something from nothing, and both have intangible effects on its viewer or receiver." "The copper mats have been added to give another layer of meaning to the work so that the viewer if he/she so chooses may delve deeper into the works. The mats are incised with pictures and symbols, from many cultures and belief systems. The text is from many sources, some are personal and are taken from my journals and use the Jamaican spoken language phonetically. Jamaican expressions, passages from some of my favorite novels, song lyrics and hymns are also embedded into this strata of meaning."