Legendary lensman Eric Peris, 87, on originality, memory and his late family's enduring legacy
DECAY seems to be everywhere.
Eric Peris, a renowned Malaysian photographer and artist, recently opened his home to a reporter in Johor Baru. Despite the dilapidated exterior, the house reveals a treasure trove of memories, art and family history. Eric, born in 1939, spent 25 years as the photo editor at the New Straits Times before becoming a pioneer in Malaysian fine art photography.
His father, O Don Peris, was a painter, and both parents were artists in their own right. The walls of Eric's living room are adorned with his father's oil paintings, including a sunset taken from their bakery in Johor Baru. A Buddhist altar and photographs of his family adorn the mantelpiece. Eric, known for his distinctive perspective, credits his physics studies for enhancing his photography skills.
His life has been a blend of art, science and storytelling, capturing the essence of Malaysia through his lens.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
