It’s one thing to be able to receive the same data-driven suggestions as someone else living a completely different part of the world, and another to come across novelty that transcends even today’s global reach of the Internet.
The democratisation of the photography via the smartphone camera has allowed images — universally understood yet infinitely complex as a language — to become the glue of the global online community. Greater reach and accessibility means a greater likelihood of fruitful and exciting creative collisions, but the warm glow of this multiplier effect somewhat wanes when the committing to the game of social media instead constantly overwhelms and encourages performative action, leading to echo chambers and a stifling of individuality and creative expression.
Inside jokes are no longer inside jokes if everyone is in on them, but this creative crisis is more than a coincidence to make light of for some of the world’s biggest professional image-makers. How does one stay relevant while being their most authentic self? If social media is always perceived to prescribe more than describe, how can creatives share their work without the application of the wrong labels — art or content? Or does it no longer matter?
Men’s Folio speaks to a special line-up of six image-makers — Peter Ash Lee, Rala Choi, Monika Mogi, Nikolai Ahn, Poyen Chen and Wing Shya — to find out. Here is what Wing Shya has to say about creating images in a social media era.
Zhou Yu’s Train (2002), Wing Shya
If you were to describe your photography style to someone who has never seen your works before, what would you say?
I don’t describe my photographs to people. If I do commercial work, it looks commercial. If I do personal work, it looks like my personal work. So I don’t really have a chance to describe to people. If they buy my book, they see my photographs of my book. I don’t describe my style like that. But people often describe my photographers to me, saying it is cinematic, sensitive, emotional at the same time. I actually do many different kinds of photographs, but this is what they say. That’s their point of view.
What about photography do you love the most? Has that reason changed over the years?
My feelings towards it keeps changing. When I first started, I enjoyed it because it looked cool. When I studied, I liked it because it was easy. Taking a photo is not like painting where you have to spend a lot of time to complete. When I started working, it was good too because I could make money. The people around all could tell that I loved photography. Then when I started doing my personal work, I was like wow I could have a medium of expression and I could control it. I knew what to do, how to do what I wanted to do. I was trying to find a way to make my style.
How has the smartphone camera changed photography for you and as a creative medium?
Nowadays it is so easy because we have cameras in our handphones. But I can always go back to do film, like a toy camera. I enjoy different kinds of media. Depends on what kind of job or what kind of moment. I can’t use one word to describe everything.
What is the creation process of a photo like for you?
I think everybody’s personal work is different. I can make personal work for a magazine but that’s not personal to me only. When you talk about personal, it is really personal, means it is just for me only. An example would be when I was in the forest — I did that a few years ago — shooting images for myself. I don’t show them to anyone people. That is why I say what I enjoy the most is the act of shooting. When I was in the forest, I stayed overnight, looked at the nature and environment, listen to the river, smell etc, that’s what is a really good experience for me. I don’t even care about what comes out.
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Which part of that process is your favourite? Why?
The process of shooting in itself.
Fundamentally, photography is about recording — turning a fleeting moment into something permanent. Is there something you recorded but wish you didn’t?
For work and other stuff I don’t really regret. When you don’t have a camera with you, it’s also planned that you won’t be able to take photos.
What about vice versa? Is there something you did not record on photo but wish you did?
Recently I found out that I don’t really take picture with my friends. Especially when I was younger. I am always holding a camera, and people always ask me to take for them. So I don’t have photo with old friends. I think photos are more important than most things. Yesterday I was working, I kept asking the team to send me back the photo, I want to keep it. When people ask me if I have a photo with Leslie Cheung or whatever, I realised I didn’t have. Any. We didn’t take at all. I was always the person taking the photo, not being in the photo. Nowadays we can take more conveniently with mobile phone. But I guess if I miss a photo, I missed the photo. It’s all part of life.
What do you think is the biggest difference between taking photographs in your early career and now?
Now I am more free. Before I had to take care of the whole company, I had to make money to feed them and myself so my intention was different. I needed to survive. I was more people-pleasing, I wanted them to call me back. But now I work with a much smaller group of people, I am almost a one person company, so it’s easier for me to survive. But the intention is very different. Now if I don’t like the project, I won’t want to do it. Before that, even if I didn’t like it I would have had to do it. I wanted to do it for the money.
I also realised I was lying too much when I was young. Even if the photo wasn’t that good, I would say it was.
Courtesy of Wing Shya
Given that we are living in a social media age where images make up a big part of communication (that has transcended the boundaries of time and space) and cultural exchange, how has social media affected your career?
I can now reach a lot more people. Most of the time, if I find reference, I go to social media. Last time I would mostly refer to books. When bought lots of books when I was younger, searching on the internet. Now social media is so easy, you can very easily location scout and get references so much easier. For me, it is a tool to get more information.
Does the prevalence of social media pressure you to create for the platform? Why or why not?
I always think my social media is more personal. It’s my diary to me. It doesn’t really matter if people like it or not, it is still my personal diary. It’s just information or things I want to share. I don’t really feel any pressure. (Laughs)
(Charmaine: Other photographers feel it because they are trying to build their name. Now it feels like you are really living as a creative.)
I’m really lazy now. I don’t want to fight for anything. I believe the universe has plans for everyone so I don’t particularly push for anything now. I’m usually a more go with the flow kind of person.
If a job is cancelled then so be it. Whatever happens, happens for a reason. I guess I’m really chill in some way.
(C: So you’ve never felt sad about losing a job before?)
I think more than that, a job lost is a lesson learnt. If they give me feedback about something they didn’t like then I learn even more. The good and bad will always find a balance. So I don’t get too affected by it. Even if they give me a big budget, I won’t have any feelings. I still eat the same noodles everyday. I won’t change anything about my life just because I suddenly have a big budget to play with.
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On that note, do you feel like the speed of image production on social media encourages an echo chamber of material and inspiration that limits cultural diversity? Is it necessary to make a conscious effort to keep your point of view authentic and original?
I don’t use social media as a creative medium. I create things on other mediums. I can use my hands to do a collage, I can do exhibitions. Social media to me is just not important. I don’t get jobs from social media. I mean I’m also not pushing to get work. That’s why I say social media is just my diary and I use it to reach people. To me, art is not only found on social media. The world is bigger than social media. I prefer to reach out to real things. Learn more from talking to real people, go immerse myself in nature. For me, creation can be even bigger.
(C: Do you then think young people are perhaps too caught up with the idea of social media? They forget to look beyond their phones.)
I think every step a creative takes is part of their learning journey. Everyone has their own journey. So I wouldn’t say you should not do this or do that. Maybe they need to go through this process to get on their feet. I don’t judge people for doing what they want to do. It’s not my journey they are on — it’s their own.
I myself keep changing too. When I first started social media, I would also post a lot, I felt that I needed to show off my work. But as I got older, I started to care less.
(C: So what is the main reason why you still create images?)
I like it. It’s very simple.
I know it’s a privilege to say it but it’s true. Even if people say “we have it”, “the job is done”, I’ll still want to shoot some more because I want to. I still enjoy it. I still do want to do more.
Courtesy of Wing Shya
Last but not least, what advice would you give to creatives who are trying to find a unique point of view to share with the world?
Keep struggling. Just keep going. It’s part of the learning process.
(C: Which part of your own career did you face the most struggles?)
When I was younger, especially when I had a team of 20 something people, I had to keep struggling. I don’t want to have to compromise but I had no choice. That’s the struggle I faced. Now, I understand I have to let go. Of some things. That’s balance. I wanted more in the past, so I also got more pressure from that desire.
During the struggle, I actually learnt a lot. More than the peaceful and easy seasons. Success is boring.
(C: That’s comforting to hear from someone like you. That we will each eventually find our place and pace of life.)
Yes, that’s because so many people like to label things negatively. I like depressing. I enjoy those words. Like “lonely”. Why put it in a negative light? You can always see it as a positive thing. Whatever happens, at least it happened. Why?
(C: So would you say you are an optimist?)
I would say I re-judged everything. I found it better after I changed the label of some things. I could cope better. Even in the art I create today; if I remove all these labels, the work becomes more pure. I find it easier to shoot objects because all those negative labels blocked and prevented me from truly exploring my creativity. So let go.
Actually, inspiration is easy to find. It’s everywhere. I guess these labels also were brought over from social media as well. They will prescribe what is good or not good. Maybe I don’t get enough likes on this photo. So? Does it mean that the more likes you get, the better the photo? That’s your thing. That’s really personal. It’s up to you.
(C: I guess not everyone has the maturity to think that way. It’s self expression, but like you said. In this day and age, maybe this is a necessary journey young people have to go through to find yourself and your own colour.)
Yes.
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Once you are done with this story, click here to catch up with out November 2024 issue.