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A Closer Look

From a tank of live fish in a Hong Kong restaurant to an aerial view of Shanghai, the following student photographs from a recent Weatherhead East Asian Institute exhibit are instantly eye-catching. Not immediately obvious, though, are the social, economic and political realities the photos reveal. “A Closer Look,” as the exhibit’s name urges viewers to take, shows narratives of family life, bustling cities and time-honored traditions.

The exhibit was the result of the institute’s third annual student photography contest, which began last summer with a call for photos of East and Southeast Asia taken in the year between September 2010 and 2011. A panel of students, staff and faculty selected the final 25 images out of 130 submissions; they were then displayed at the institute from November through February and for the month of April at Standard Auto Parts Building Gallery in Long Island City. Here, six of the College students included in the exhibit explain what’s hidden behind their images.

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Compiled by Karen Iorio

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Behind the Storefront

Location: Bangkok

“This is a typical sweatshop where people work seven days a week. Small businesses are frequently family-run. Family, occupation and survival are melded into one.” - Bennett Hong -11

Photo: Bennett Hong '11

Call the Police

Location: Kuala Lampur

“This was to be a peaceful rally calling for free and fair elections in Malaysia. The only people who seemed unaware of this was the ruling regime, which had a few weeks earlier declared this planned rally illegal and said anyone wearing yellow, the symbolic color of the rally, would be arrested.” -Su Ann Lim '12

Photo: Su Ann Lim '12

Duties of the Family

Location: Vientiane, Laos

“The family of a patient camps outside of the intensive care unit of Mittaphab Hospital. In Laos, it is customary for families to take care of stabilized patients in this way. Family members will rotate in and out of the camp, forgoing work, until their relative is ready to go home.” -Bennett Hong '11

Photo: Bennett Hong '11

First Shave

Location: Hong Kong

“A boy confronts himself. At a much-anticipated moment, he raises his jaw with the solidity of a grown man. He is maturing though his face is still young. And even in old age, as in youth, he is supported by a band of brothers. The figures dance in celebration on the wall behind them.”-Shivina Harjani '13

Photo: Shivina Harjani '13

Fish in Hong Kong

Location: Sai Kung, Hong Kong

“Diners are encouraged to handpick their seafood meal before it’s prepared. Hong Kong’s fishing industry has been in decline for many years due to overfishing. Reform is needed in fishing practices and regulating food quality.” -Bennett Hong '11

Photo: Bennett Hong '11

Go Go Power Rangers

Location: Singapore

“This was taken at a national Comic-Con. Viewers will note how absurd it is not only for a Power Ranger to be photographing Sailor Moon and a SWAT officer but also for the Power Ranger to take the picture while his helmet is still on. Even though he probably cannot see what he is photographing, the Power Ranger refuses to break character.” -Anna Sacks '13

Photo: Anna Sacks '13

Moving Forward

Location: Xi’an, People’s Republic of China

“Look at how the lights are interwoven with the traditional architecture and how the building hovers over the people who are silhouetted against its backdrop. Can you tell who they are? Are they just another silhouette in the cultural landscape? Is it a hopeful picture or an ominous one? My picture is about stirring up emotion and curiosity.” - Russell Varriale ’13

Photo: Russell Varriale ’13

Portrait of a Buddha

Location: Bangkok

“Worshipers, one by one, applied gold-leaf to the Buddha’s face after offering prayers and incense. The beauty of the collage is the result of a collective and spontaneous effort, and I like how the Buddha’s face changes with each contribution.” -Anna Sacks '13

Photo: Anna Sacks '13

View from the Top

Location: Shanghai, People's Republic of China from atop the Oriental Pearl Tower

“I hope to highlight the organized chaos of the city below. This image represents the incredible development of cities in China and the emergence of the fast-paced lifestyle that accompanies it. Like the city of Shanghai, the traffic circle is a never-ending stream of cars and people, entering and exiting, all heading toward the future.” -Jiawen Tang '15

Photo: Jiawen Tang '15

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A Closer Look