Differently Similar, Shannon Wong, 2020
I believe that loneliness is everywhere. It can be found in the most unexpected places. The subjects of my photo are ornaments- a physical representation of the togetherness that is found during the holidays.
Loneliness can be concealed. It is not an embraced mental state, and I feel that many people seek to quash this feeling by forcing themselves to be “normal”, feel “accepted”, and blend into the crowd. The ornament in the centre of my photo is a symbol of this- no matter how hard you try to be someone else, you’ll never become someone you’re not.
My work, inspired by my personal experiences, is an examination of internalized and concealed loneliness. As a “third culture kid”, moving from country to country was normal. I often ended up in new places where I didn’t know anyone.
With this image, I want to redefine what “loneliness” means, and change our common perceptions about it as being something exclusive; rather, it is a silent phenomenon that affects all of us, and influences our thoughts and actions.