Mike Tsang is curious about his identity. As a London-born second-generationMauritian and third-generation Chinese, the mix of cultures in his upbringing hasprompted him to search for his roots.
This curiosity has inspired the 30-year-old photographer to showcase an exhibitionentitled "Between East and West" in London next month, documenting the stories of 15British-born Chinese and their families' lives in the United Kingdom.
Combining photographic portraits, interview excerpts and archived images, theexhibition is a striking portrayal of Britain's Chinese community, which traditionally hashad a modest profile in the country.
Tsang took 18 months to complete the project after receiving financial support from aHeritage Lottery Fund grant. He found his first interviewees through personalconnections, but as word about the project spread, many people volunteered to beparticipants.
"The challenge then was to make sure I interviewed people who were not immediatelyvisible," said Tsang, adding that he wanted to steer clear of public figures with mediaexposure.
His efforts were rewarded, and he managed to draw interviewees from a range ofoccupations – an actor, policeman, medical shop owner, music producer and artist, toname a few. Like Tsang, many of them also had families that lived elsewhere beforemoving to Britain.
The stories drive home the message that the 650,000 people who make up the UK'sBritish-Chinese community are diverse individuals with their own personalities, thoughtsand ambitions.
Tsang says he hopes to promote this diversity. "Most people in Britain have what Iwould consider a limited understanding of what the Chinese diaspora is.
"We are not just from China, but can also be from Malaysia, Singapore and otherplaces. We are still Chinese, but British as well," he said.
Tsang said that working on the project has helped him to better understand his ownidentity, and that of his Mauritian-born parents. "I think it has helped me to connect withmy parents more. My parents think they are Chinese, absolutely! But I find that quiteinteresting, because they've never been to China.
"So one of the interesting things I've learnt about my own family is that cultural valueshave been passed down."
Like many second- and third-generation British-born Chinese children, Tsang'supbringing made him value academic achievement. After completing a mathematicsdegree from the University of Warwick, he worked in professional services for fiveyears, before deciding to become a photographer.
He has completed several projects, photographing people as diverse as CEOs ofhedge funds to actors and dancers for their promotional headshots, before starting hisproject on the British-Chinese community, which he says is important to him from apersonal and professional standpoint.
"Between East and West" will be staged from Nov 6-16 at SW1 Gallery in Victoria,London.
