This is a project about my family history.
In 1936, my great grandmother migrated from China to Malaysia with her son, leaving her husband and daughter behind. That son she left with was my grandfather and he was 2 years old when he left his hometown. In Malaysia, my great grandmother remarried a man by the surname of Lim. Initially, my grandfather's surname was Hu. After the marriage, he adopted his stepfather's surname, Lim. Therefore, my surname is now Lim. I am supposed to be a descendant of Hu, but I grew up as a descendant of Lim.
My grandfather reconnected with his sister and cousin after being separated for 60 years. He has been visiting China often since then. In December 2012, I travelled to Hokkien, China with my grandfather and documented the first part of this project. The second part of the series was done in Malaysia & Singapore. By juxtaposing the scenes between Malaysia/Singapore and China, I hope to engage the viewers to study the similarities and differences between the countries.
The title of this project (Who) resembles the pronunciation of 胡(Hu). It also echoes my anxiety for being unable to distinguish my own roots.
这是一部取材自我的家庭历史的摄影作品。
我的曾祖母在1936年离开丈夫和女儿，独自带着儿子从中国漂洋过海到马来西亚。当年，我的阿公只有两岁。到了马来西亚之后，曾祖母改嫁给了现在的曾祖父。原本姓胡的阿公，在曾祖母婚后把姓氏从胡改成了林。而"林"也顺理成章地成为了我的姓氏。
分离六十年后，阿公靠着书信地址找到了身在中国福建的姐姐与堂哥；并时常回去探望。二零一二年十二月，我跟随阿公一起到中国福建走了一趟，也做了一些摄影纪录。这部摄影作品的的英文标题"Who"的发音除了与"胡"相似之外，也深刻地表达了我对无法定义自身姓氏的不安。
In 1936, my great grandmother migrated from China to Malaysia with her son, leaving her husband and daughter behind. That son she left with was my grandfather and he was 2 years old when he left his hometown. In Malaysia, my great grandmother remarried a man by the surname of Lim. Initially, my grandfather's surname was Hu. After the marriage, he adopted his stepfather's surname, Lim. Therefore, my surname is now Lim. I am supposed to be a descendant of Hu, but I grew up as a descendant of Lim.
My grandfather reconnected with his sister and cousin after being separated for 60 years. He has been visiting China often since then. In December 2012, I travelled to Hokkien, China with my grandfather and documented the first part of this project. The second part of the series was done in Malaysia & Singapore. By juxtaposing the scenes between Malaysia/Singapore and China, I hope to engage the viewers to study the similarities and differences between the countries.
The title of this project (Who) resembles the pronunciation of 胡(Hu). It also echoes my anxiety for being unable to distinguish my own roots.
这是一部取材自我的家庭历史的摄影作品。
我的曾祖母在1936年离开丈夫和女儿，独自带着儿子从中国漂洋过海到马来西亚。当年，我的阿公只有两岁。到了马来西亚之后，曾祖母改嫁给了现在的曾祖父。原本姓胡的阿公，在曾祖母婚后把姓氏从胡改成了林。而"林"也顺理成章地成为了我的姓氏。
分离六十年后，阿公靠着书信地址找到了身在中国福建的姐姐与堂哥；并时常回去探望。二零一二年十二月，我跟随阿公一起到中国福建走了一趟，也做了一些摄影纪录。这部摄影作品的的英文标题"Who"的发音除了与"胡"相似之外，也深刻地表达了我对无法定义自身姓氏的不安。
