The Light of Traditions: 2020 Photography RUNNER-UP
Photography by Mey Yeng Wong.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MEY YENG WONG.
ARTIST STATEMENT
This photo was taken in Hội An, Vietnam. The shot was pretty much composed for me, but what drew me to capture this image was a strange sense of juxtaposition: it’s a serene scene with riotous colours and the craftsman nestled within his constructed forest of flowers. I felt like this encompassed the place and craft featured quite well. Hội An is a preserved trading port town whose buildings reflect a mix of cultural influences, while the featured lanterns’ form has morphed over time from inherited Chinese and Japanese traditions. To me, there's something beautiful about the anachronism in his act of creating this craft of long history, like anticipating the future of the past.
EDITORIAL NOTE: This article has been reuploaded and was originally published in 2020.