Photographer Tommy Kha has created a hilarious series of self-portraiture that revolves around kissing. Inspired by Lilly McElroy’s 2006 series ‘I throw Myself at Men,’ Kha came up with the idea for ‘Return to Sender,’ a collection of photos that feature him disinterestedly receiving kisses from friends, lovers and strangers.
Kha spoke to Slate about wanting to explore notions of intimacy, the cultural depiction of Asians in the media (specifically their absence as ‘protagonists’), and methods of self-portraiture. In terms of the intimacy angle, Kha says, “I think [the motivation] was wanting to belong, of wanting ‘to be seen,’ to be an object of desire (as the receiver of the kiss) but at the same time, to appear reserved and contradictory by denying the kiss.”
The end result, while thought provoking, is also hilarious: Kha looks apathetic and blasé while receiving some seriously passionate kisses – all of which are on the lips.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Intimacy Exploration
- The trend of exploring unconventional ways to depict intimacy in art through photography, like Tommy Kha's series 'Return to Sender,' opens up opportunities for artists and photographers to challenge traditional notions.
- Asian Representation
- The trend of questioning the representation of Asians in media, as highlighted by Kha's desire to address their absence as protagonists, presents opportunities for filmmakers and content creators to tell diverse and inclusive stories.
- Contradictory Portrayals
- The trend of using contradictions and mixed messages in self-portraiture, as seen in Kha's disinterestedly receiving passionate kisses, offers possibilities for artists to challenge societal expectations and create impactful visual narratives.
Where This Applies
- Art
- The art industry can benefit from the trend of exploring unconventional ways to depict intimacy, presenting new avenues for artists to push boundaries and provoke thought.
- Film
- The film industry has an opportunity to address the representation of Asians as protagonists, incorporating diverse narratives and challenging stereotypes.
- Photography
- The photography industry can leverage the trend of contradictory self-portraiture to create visually striking and thought-provoking images, pushing the boundaries of traditional photographic techniques.
