Photographer and visual artist Ernest Goh is known for his work photographing wildlife and other animals. His latest book documents the strange world of chicken beauty pageants in Malaysia where he encountered a breed of bird called the Ayam Seramas, an ornate chicken raised not for its meat but purely for its appearance.
These chickens not only have decorative plumage but possess the ability to strike ridiculous poses. You might think these photos are somehow manipulated (or worse, the animals forced into these positions) but a behind-the-scenes video by Goh shows the chicken’s ability to strut just as depicted.
“As a photographer, I am always interested in photographing the human condition. But this human condition does not exist in a vacuum as we share the natural world with animals. My interest in photographing animals is a natural extension of my interest in the human condition, because we are all inextricably linked to each other. We cannot exist without the other. I hope that “Cocks” and my other animal series can in some way encourage us to reflect upon our relationship with animals.”
Ernest Goh – COCKS, Chicken Beauty Pageants
Ernest Goh – COCKS, Chicken Beauty Pageants} Ernest Goh is an independent Singaporean photographer. Covering major events from the SARS outbreak in Singapore, to his 4-year project of documenting the aftermath of the 2004 Tsunami in Aceh. Ernest’s interest in storytelling has led him to capture many stories for over a decade with his camera.
The book, titled Cocks: The Chicken Book, is available now through his website.
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