INTERVIEW
Why do you take and create images?
I began taking images to remember the things close to me but now I choose to confront and make sense of reality and the world around me.
How do you define your photographic/artistic body of work?
What subjects do you often explore in your work? My photographic work so far is all about telling the story of my youth as I live it, floating around and looking through the world of my generation. I try to ponder on themes of growing up, identity and transitions.
What motivates your work?
I am motivated by the myriad stories that make up the lives of my friends and other people outside my small world.
What relationship does your work have with reality?
As mentioned, I see my work as a confrontation of the reality inside and outside my world.
For you, what is the purpose of art?
The purpose of art is to interrogate reality and its pressing issues through visual interest.
How do you want the public to respond to your work? Do you have a particular audience in mind?
I generally would like people who view my work to input their own memories from seeing my work, like an impetus for remembering things forgotten. I don’t have any particular audience in mind as I believe images transcend through different demographics.
What is your training? Were you trained as a photographer?
I started photography from curiosity and eventually trained through workshops by mentors locally and abroad. I currently have no formal education as a photographer.
How do you define your actual professional situation? What are your expectations?
I don’t define myself as a professional yet because making photographs has been all about paying tribute to those I love. I would like to leave to chance where my work will take me professionally.
It’s hard to live off art. Does this affect you and your work?
It is difficult to live off art as a main source of income and deal with the financial strain that come with photography as a medium, but I believe this limit is what fuels my creativity sometimes.
Have you worked with gallerists, curators, institutions and other art professionals? Can you discuss more about this particular relationship?
I have only worked with art professionals as a mentee, such as Kevin WY Lee, the founder of Invisible Photographer Asia, who I owe to shaping my photographic journey in discovering my visual language. I hope to work with more art professionals and institutions in the future.
In your opinion, what is the current state of contemporary photography in the Philippines?
I think contemporary photography is not lacking right now because talent is everywhere. The only problem I see is that there is a lack of cohesiveness that connects photographers with each other for collaborative work and showcasing photographic work in general.
How do you want contemporary photography to develop in the Philippines?
I would want contemporary photography’s to further blur the boundaries of the traditional and the progressive definition of photography.
CV
Name: Christine Chung
Location: Quezon City, Philippines
Email: christine.chung.a@gmail.com
Website: www.christineachung.com
Education:
2011-2016 Bachelor of Arts, Humanities, Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights, Quezon City
Awards and Recognition:
2012 & 2017, Invisible Photographer Online Mentorship Program Scholarship Grant, Singapore
2015, Angkor Photo Festival Workshop Participant under photographers Antoine d’Agata and Sohrab Hura, Siem Reap, Cambodia