Norm Yip
Norm Yip was born in Canada in 1963 to Chinese parents. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree (cum laude) in 1984 at the University of Saskatchewan and his Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1989 at the University of Toronto. In 1994, he moved to Hong Kong where he worked as a project architect for Wong & Tai Associates Ltd and RTKL International Ltd before pursuing his greater interest in art and photography. In 1999, he co-founded the art collective Meli-Melo Artists Alliance (MMAA) along with Betty Cheung and Wilson Chik, where he curated several exhibitions with artists such as Gavin Tu (Hong Kong), the late Neung or Panuwat Hoonbamrung (Thailand) and Oksana Movchan (Canada). Shortly thereafter, he formed his own photography company Norm Yip Photography, in addition to Studio 8, a semi-public photographic and art space located in the district of Sheung Wan — where he hosted private and selected exhibitions in the mediums of photography, painting and graphite.
As a photographer, Norm’s work has appeared in HK Magazine, WHERE, Global Investor and American Express’ Centurion magazine. Celebrities he has photographed include Zhang Yimou, Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, Destiny’s Child and Korean pop-star Rain. In photography, Norm’s work was first recognized when his photographs of Asian men was selected to appear in publications 2Blue and Dreamboys 2, both special editions of a claimed Blue Magazine, known for its excellence in fine art photography. Since then, his work has been featured in The Best of International Nudes Photography III by Feierabend Unique Books and The Romantic Male Nude by James Spada. Recently, he moved his studio to Chai Wan, an industrial neighborhood, where he continues to photograph, paint and draw.