China

This photography series is called 'China', it was created during my travels to China. My Dad’s family live and are Malaysian Chinese but several generations before me they are are originally from China. I became interested in Chinese contemporary art and culture and travelled around there for a month and a half. I learnt a lot about Chinese art and cuisine and connected with my family’s roots whilst I was there. I spent time in Beijing, Nanjing and went out into the countryside. I got to experience city life and spent time in an ancient inn in the countryside. This photographic series marks my journey of outsider to insider, I photographed subjects I connected with or things that stood out to me.

The series has more photographs in it but I was only able to showcase 6. You can choose as many photographs as you would like from the series.

  • Emma Sywyj
    Photographer
  • Date Taken:
    December 7, 2009
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Camera:
    Nikon FM3A Black 35mm SLR
  • Lens:
    50mm
  • ISO / Film:
    400
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Annual Copenhagen Film Festival
    Copenhagen, Denmark
    April 19, 2018
    Winner
  • Avalonia Festival
    Rhode Island, USA
    April 20, 2018
    Winner of The Avalonia Photography Traveler Award
  • Paris Play Film Festival
    Paris, France
    May 31, 2020
    Finalist
  • Hollywood Art & Movie Awards
    Los Angeles, USA
    January 25, 2018
    Finalist for Best Art Photography
  • LifeArt Festival
    Los Angeles, USA
    June 18, 2018
    Finalist
  • Aphrodite Film Awards
    New York City, USA
    May 7, 2019
    Finalist
  • FESTPRO Film Festival
    Moscow, Russia
    May 1, 2020
    Finalist
  • Calcutta International Cult Film Festival
    Calcutta, India
    March 28, 2018
    Finalist for Best Photography
  • The Mediterranean Film Festival (MedFF)
    Sicily, Italy
    May 10, 2018
    Finalist for PhotoArt Challenge
  • Los Angeles Photography Awards
    Los Angeles, USA
    April 14, 2017
    2nd Place Best Documentary Photographer
  • The International Film Festival “Ambitus”
    St. Petersburg, Russia
    February 13, 2020
    Semi-Finalist
  • The International Film Festival "Catharsis"
    Moscow, Russia
    December 7, 2019
    Semi-Finalist
  • Angeles Documentaries Festival
    Los Angeles, USA
    April 24, 2018
    2nd Place for Best Documentary Photographer
  • Near Nazareth Festival
    Nazareth, Israel
    June 3, 2018
    Semi-Finalist for Photography Contest
  • Virgin Spring Cinefest
    Kolkata, India
    July 7, 2018
    Honorable Mention
Artist Biography

I have been an artist for 14 years, 5 of those years I was based in London whilst studying photography at the Camberwell College of Arts at the UAL. From there I received a BA Honours in photography and a Foundation Diploma in Art & Design. I have exhibited my artwork internationally in the US in New York, LA & San Francisco and Athens in Greece and Budapest in Hungary. I have also exhibited nationally in the UK and London several times, where I currently live and work. I have also been published in several independent art magazines in the UK.

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Artist Statement

My artwork aims to capture and show life at it’s most vibrant & exciting. The photographs I take encourage people to see the intricacies & beauty beyond the everyday. My artwork is often centered around my immediate environment and cultural identity. I celebrate culture in all its varied forms all over the world. I have photographed Europe and Asia capturing countries and cultures as I experience them. My work encourages viewers to feel awe and joy in the travelers quest and the rewards that experiencing other cultures can bring whilst developing my own cultural identity through photography.