ART + DESIGN SENIOR EXHIBITION
Kosal Touch
BFA Photography
ARTIST STATEMENT: Stand there, pose, snap, check, adjust, and repeat. These steps are the process in how I would take photographs.To me, photography is a way to “capture a moment” in time in which I’m able to share with others or look upon it at a later time for memories, but it is also a way for me to preserve said moment or subject since most the things that we see are temporary and I want to prolong its existence.
My work is usually inspired by my travels and the experiences that I have encountered on my journeys. Whether it be from traveling to the big city and going crazy to chilling in the countryside and taking it slow, I like to record my experiences so that I am able to share them with others. I usually like to travel to countries in Asia, whether it is to the busy city of Seoul, South Korea, or the more rural areas of Cambodia. I travel to these places because it helps me learn more about my cultural roots and helps me grow as an adult by broadening my horizons. But also because of my frequent travels to Asia, my works are mostly influenced by Asian culture one way or another, not only because it’s my cultural background, but also to inform the public and preserve it for the future. I like to take pictures that represent or show the pop culture, foods, fashion, and landscapes of the country's culture that I am in, allowing it to not only inform people but also entertain them.
But when my photos aren’t about my travels, I like to take portraitures and landscapes. My photos may look. casual, similar to an Instagramy style, but I prefer that style because I like the candid look of the content and subjects looking natural, without much human influence involved.Even if the subject is purposely posing for the camera, I like them to not look “too stiff” and more relaxed, possibly catching them in mid-movement or not so serious posture. To me, photos should be taken that highlight the subject's most natural state, whether it be the model’s reactions and interactions or having as little human manipulation or influence as possible.
Eastern Foreign Beauty Artist Statement:
Growing up, I have always been surrounded by aspects of Asian culture. Whether it be how we should act or look, to what we should hold value to, and how to strive for success. And as I grew up, I became more influenced by the youth culture within Asia such as media, styles, and news. I hope that through my work, people will come to understand how great and beautiful my culture is, despite the differences that everyone has.
This project was inspired by the app Douyin, which is known to be the Chinese exclusive version of TikTok. On Douyin, there is a trend called Jiē Pāi (街拍), which is essentially Chinese people dressing in a wide range of styles and genres and walking in public as if it as the normal thing while being photographed and recorded along the way. This trend was created as a way for Chinese people to show and take in national pride in who they are and where they are from. Eventually, it became more well-known and became a trend across the world, gaining the universal name “Chinese Street Fashion.” The style I specifically took inspiration from is more on the traditional side, where they would people would sometimes wear traditional cultural garments, the hàn fú (汉服) and qípáo (旗袍), and casually walk in modern settings.
The purpose of this project is to show and proclaim national pride within Asians and Asian Americans. For the past year (2020--2021), A movement of Anti-Asian Hate was created to protest against the recent violence on Asians. This series is to help with that movement, but instead of fighting back upfront with more protest, it fights back by presenting the beauty of Asian culture and where these models come from. The hope for this project is that people will become more interested and amazed by the beauty of Asian culture and not hate.
