With a visual storyteller on architecture, light and interiors
With a deep appreciation for architecture, materials and light, Michael Chiang approaches both photography and interiors with a thoughtful eye for composition and atmosphere. We spoke about Murano glass, craftsmanship and why the objects we choose become part of our personal story.
How did your interest in architecture, interiors and photography begin? And how do structure, proportion, and materiality influence the way you create your home?
My interest in architecture, interiors, and photography began in 2016 when I worked at a heritage site in Hong Kong that brought together historic buildings and contemporary architecture by Herzog & de Meuron. During the five years I worked there, I became fascinated by the way light moved through the spaces and how different materials interacted with one another. Photography became a way for me to capture these relationships.
That experience trained my eye to appreciate the balance between old and new, and it continues to influence how I think about structure, proportion, and materials when creating my own living space. This harmony between heritage and contemporary design is something I always try to bring into my home.
How do you see the relationship between photography and interiors? Can a space communicate something about the person living in it?
Photography and interiors are closely connected because both are about composition, atmosphere, and storytelling. Photography allows us to interpret a space through our own lens, making the experience highly subjective and personal. What we choose to frame often reveals what we find meaningful or beautiful.
A space can definitely reflect the personality of its owner. The objects, materials, artworks, and furniture people choose, as well as how they arrange them, reveal their interests, lifestyle, and character. In many ways, a home becomes a visual narrative of a person's journey, carrying traces of their memories, experiences, and personal history.
Light seems to play an important role in how a space feels. How do you use lighting to shape atmosphere in your home?
Light plays a very important role in how a space feels. Rather than using lighting to deliberately shape the atmosphere in my home, I see it as something that guides me in experiencing the space. Depending on the time of day and the quality of light, the same room can feel calm, cosy, vibrant, or even dramatic.
I find that light has the ability to reveal different moods within a space, and in some ways, it can also reflect our mental and emotional states. The way we perceive light often influences how we connect with our surroundings and how we feel within them.
“Light has the ability to reveal different moods within a space, and in some ways, it can also reflect our mental and emotional states.”
What first drew you to Murano glass, and how do you feel the VETRO lamp fits into your interior?
I did some research when I started collaborating with VETRO and learned more about the history of Murano glass. What I love most is the craftsmanship behind it—each piece is handmade and therefore completely unique.
The VETRO lamp fits naturally into my interior because my aesthetic is very personal and story-driven. Every object in my home has its own story, and the lamp adds another meaningful layer to that collection.
Do you think everyday objects can become works of art? What makes a piece feel both functional and meaningful?
I’m someone who needs to wear glasses every day, and I’ve always been drawn to handmade Japanese eyewear. To me, they feel like works of art.
They are not mass-produced, and each piece carries a strong sense of humanity through its craftsmanship. Many are made to order, often requiring months of waiting before completion. That process of time, care, and precision is what makes them both functional and meaningful—the function is essential, but the meaning comes from how they are made.
In that balance between utility and craftsmanship, they become more than everyday objects.
