Scott Cai

Scott Cai (b. China) is a contemporary photographer based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Known for his perceptive and quietly evocative work, Cai explores the overlooked details and subtle textures of everyday suburban life. Through his investigations the artist reveals the unexpected beauty that can be found in the most mundane and seemingly ordinary scenes.  

Cai’s photography often focuses on the patterns, objects and colours that shape our suburban neighbourhoods: inviting viewers to slow down and notice the richness of their surroundings. 

‘Wandering cul-de-sacs or venturing beyond the urban periphery, Tāmaki Makaurau-based photographer Scott Cai has been actively refining his craft – suspending quiet moments that might otherwise go unnoticed. Whether it’s the vivid, primary colours that glow with a subtle aura on a blue sky day, or the soft outlines of tropical plants pressed against a hazy window; Cai isolates commonplace details for his viewer to see in a new light. His work encourages a shift in attention - transporting the viewer into a mode of observation. Momentarily lifted from the noise of modern living, the artist reveals the beauty of vernacular compositions through his heightened perspective.’ - Nina Dyer

Cai’s artistic approach is informed by the practice of Vipassanā meditation—cultivating mindful observation—which parallels his photographic method of attentive seeing. Through this lens he highlights delicate moments and transient details that might otherwise go unnoticed; creating a body of work that encourages reflection and a renewed appreciation of the everyday.