Pictorial depictions of racial discrimination against Asians
21-year-old Daniel Adams captures the experiences of discrimination against Malaysians
Yes but it's all the same really when you're Asian PHOTO: DANIEL ADAMS
A 21-year-old Conceptual Fashion photographer who graduated from Falmouth University, UK, recently launched a collection called, "Why Is Your English So Good?" Daniel Adams, the photographer, grew up in Malaysia and his work is centred around complex ideas of identity, nationality, culture, and topics of gender, race and sexuality.
His Malaysian background explains the idea behind his latest collection. The entire project is based on racial discrimination that Asians, and in particular Malaysians, face in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
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The collection contains 15 eye-openers with captions that explain why they had been taken a certain way and the experience of the subject. The pictures experiment with light, colours, and make use of different types of props in an attempt to accentuate the experience of discrimination.
The prologue to the collection explains Adams' intent:
"Racism in the United Kingdom & Ireland is a widespread problem. This series is based upon fellow Malaysians experiences with racism and ignorance who are either living or studying in the United Kingdom & Ireland."
You wouldn't have got into this university if it wasn't for colonialism. PHOTO: DANIEL ADAMS
This guy was telling me how great colonialism was – ‘We gave you justice, railroads, your country wouldn’t be progressive if it wasn’t for us’ – and then he told me: ‘You wouldn’t have gotten into uni if it wasn’t for colonialism’. Izyan Hay, London.
I’ve had comments like ‘Ching Chong Ching’, ‘Go back to China’, and ‘Konnichiwa’ shouted at me across the street. And, once, a bouncer looked at my Malaysian ID and said: ‘Shit airline, shit country.’” Aryssa Chai, Dublin
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When he asked where I was from, I naturally said Malaysia, as that is my country of origin. We spent the night together. But the next morning he asked why I could speak English so well since I was Malaysian. I told him I was half English. To which he replied. ‘That’s cheating, I thought I was sleeping with a full Asian chick.’ And he got dressed and left. Evelyn Bee, Wadebridge
Why Is Your English So Good? PHOTO: DANIEL ADAMS
A guy came up to us to ask for a filter paper and stayed to chat. We then told him that a few of us were from Malaysia: Shaz, Shaun and I. He said, ‘How come your English is so good though?’ Jason Vincent, Bristol
Well, I'm sure you guys enjoyed the slavery PHOTO: DANIEL ADAMS
A group of us were discussing why so many Asians are intimidated by white people. I reminded my English housemate that many of us are still aware of the power that the UK holds over its former colonies. To this, he said, “Well, I’m sure you guys enjoyed the slavery.” He thought it was appropriate to joke about slavery to a table of Asian and Jamaicans. He didn’t apologise and assured us that it was a joke. Tasnem Aljoffery, London
I was on my way into town on the bus, chatting with a girl. ‘Can you speak Asian?’ she asked. Mitch Hermens, Nottingham
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The pictures above highlight some of the main problems that Adams is trying to explore through this specific collection; language. The fascination that white people show towards people of colour who can speak fluent English has been of an interest to many scholars and researchers.
Daniel Adams' collection attempts to uncover the struggles of Asians living in white-dominated societies and to show his audience these experiences.
His Malaysian background explains the idea behind his latest collection. The entire project is based on racial discrimination that Asians, and in particular Malaysians, face in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Is racial discrimination an issue in Pakistan?
The collection contains 15 eye-openers with captions that explain why they had been taken a certain way and the experience of the subject. The pictures experiment with light, colours, and make use of different types of props in an attempt to accentuate the experience of discrimination.
The prologue to the collection explains Adams' intent:
"Racism in the United Kingdom & Ireland is a widespread problem. This series is based upon fellow Malaysians experiences with racism and ignorance who are either living or studying in the United Kingdom & Ireland."
You wouldn't have got into this university if it wasn't for colonialism. PHOTO: DANIEL ADAMS
This guy was telling me how great colonialism was – ‘We gave you justice, railroads, your country wouldn’t be progressive if it wasn’t for us’ – and then he told me: ‘You wouldn’t have gotten into uni if it wasn’t for colonialism’. Izyan Hay, London.
I’ve had comments like ‘Ching Chong Ching’, ‘Go back to China’, and ‘Konnichiwa’ shouted at me across the street. And, once, a bouncer looked at my Malaysian ID and said: ‘Shit airline, shit country.’” Aryssa Chai, Dublin
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When he asked where I was from, I naturally said Malaysia, as that is my country of origin. We spent the night together. But the next morning he asked why I could speak English so well since I was Malaysian. I told him I was half English. To which he replied. ‘That’s cheating, I thought I was sleeping with a full Asian chick.’ And he got dressed and left. Evelyn Bee, Wadebridge
Why Is Your English So Good? PHOTO: DANIEL ADAMS
A guy came up to us to ask for a filter paper and stayed to chat. We then told him that a few of us were from Malaysia: Shaz, Shaun and I. He said, ‘How come your English is so good though?’ Jason Vincent, Bristol
Well, I'm sure you guys enjoyed the slavery PHOTO: DANIEL ADAMS
A group of us were discussing why so many Asians are intimidated by white people. I reminded my English housemate that many of us are still aware of the power that the UK holds over its former colonies. To this, he said, “Well, I’m sure you guys enjoyed the slavery.” He thought it was appropriate to joke about slavery to a table of Asian and Jamaicans. He didn’t apologise and assured us that it was a joke. Tasnem Aljoffery, London
I was on my way into town on the bus, chatting with a girl. ‘Can you speak Asian?’ she asked. Mitch Hermens, Nottingham
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The pictures above highlight some of the main problems that Adams is trying to explore through this specific collection; language. The fascination that white people show towards people of colour who can speak fluent English has been of an interest to many scholars and researchers.
Daniel Adams' collection attempts to uncover the struggles of Asians living in white-dominated societies and to show his audience these experiences.