SCAD deFineArt Presents Shine Huang “Carry the Ocean“

SCAD presents "Carry the Ocean," an exhibition by alumnus Shine Huang (M.F.A., photography, 2017), in which he photographs Ethiopian and Eritrean communities in Atlanta, Georgia. His series "See Me as I Am" is an exploration into culture, communication and shared experience through black and white portraiture, photographs and photograms of objects.

Huang has photographed approximately 20 families in black and white film over the past three years. During his photo sessions, Huang learned about Habesha culture, and the resulting images honor this culture through a formal portraiture in which the subjects wear traditional textiles and dress. Additionally, the artist created photograms of various objects relating to the subjects’ daily lives, such as drums, spice bowls, religious books and pitchers. The images are sleek icons, void of decoration and ornament.

While Huang is celebrating a culture outside of his own, he finds a parallel in his own experience as an immigrant to the U.S. Through this shared experience, he finds common ground between himself and a culture in which he was an outsider. The artist views communication, respect and acceptance as central to the project: his acceptance by the families, and the communication with his subjects as well with his viewers through photography.

Reception: Tuesday, Feb. 20, 7–8 p.m.
Gallery hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public.

This exhibition is part of SCAD deFINE ART 2018, held Feb. 20–23 at university locations in Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia, and Hong Kong. SCAD deFINE ART is an annual program of exhibitions, lectures, performances and public events that highlights emerging and established artists and visionaries.