Too often, people with Down Syndrome are denied the chance to express their individuality, with strangers making assumptions about their abilities and personalities upon first laying eyes on them.
Fung Chan, a local fashion photographer, decided to cast Hongkongers with Down Syndrome in a new light for his final project at CityU.
“The Purest People” is a photography series that depicts people with Down Syndrome wearing outfits representing the hobbies they love, laughing with their families, or simply goofing around.
Chan, 27, was inspired to create this series after learning about Down Syndrome in secondary school.
His English teacher said, “People with Down Syndrome are the purest people in the world”, and those words stuck with Chan, who at the time had never met someone with Down Syndrome.
“I got to know more about them through volunteering for the Hong Kong Down Syndrome Association since 2012,” Chan says.
Behind the scenes of the shoots.
“I had the privilege to engage with them in conversations and activities, being touched by their purity and warmth. So I decided to provide them a chance to walk into the studio, like the other beautiful models, to shine on the set with their radiance.”
Here’s a making-of video for the series:
The photos will be exhibited over the next two months in Wan Chai and Quarry Bay.
What: “The Purest People” photography series (Second half)
When: 17-29 March
Where: A-Link, C.C. Wu Building, 302-308 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai. (Google Maps)
Price: Free!
What: “The Purest People” photography series (Full series)
When: 2 – 12 April
Where: LinkBridge, Lincoln House, Tai Koo Place, 979 King’s Road, Quarry Bay. (Google Maps)
Price: Free!
