WENG IAN KITSANA CHEONG
“I hope this [campaign] encourages more conversations for people to know that they're not alone – those feelings they have and those [societal] pressures they feel – we all feel it too. I hope that I'm more open about [my Thai culture], and that I become more willing to talk about it, share my take on it, and listen in.”
As a first-generation Asian-American, I find immense reward in forming friendships with those born in Asia, simply to understand a life I would never experience but still feel connected to. Beyond our immediate connection under unique circumstances, Weng and I share a deepened friendship fueled by our shared passion to empower our Asian roots. I’ve learned so much about myself through Weng’s commitment in sharing her Thai and Macanese ethnicities, which offer a unique blend of characteristics and values that make Weng a force to be reckoned with. Her creative direction in capturing the Roots & Radiance photos only provide a glimpse of the graceful talent she has in uplifting Asian stories, and we’re so grateful to have her involved in our first NYSU campaign.
Introduction written by Phuong Mai Nguyen
Weng Ian Kitsana wears a Chut Thai, ชุดไทย from Thailand.
Photography / creative direction: Weng Cheong
Editorial direction : Now You See Us
Production : Mai Nguyen & Kevi Nontasak
Post-production : Mai Nguyen
Production Asst. : Leah Chin
Make up : Kellie Jo Poitra
Website & design : Kirsten David
This marks Part I of the conversation among Weng Ian Kitsana, Danica Kevi, and Phuong Mai.
Weng Ian Kitsana: This has been a pretty eye-opening project for me. I've always known there are different ethnicities that sit within Asia. Being from Asia myself, being mixed, and being raised in a multicultural household, I always knew every country has its own thing. Each country has its own cultural attire, its own food, its own sense of humor, but I've never been in a room where the visuals of it are all in one room. To see everybody be so comfortable in what they wear was really [nice]. It was nice to be reminded of how vibrant Asian culture is.
Phuong Mai: As the photographer of this [project], what was it that really opened up your eyes? Your role is different. What you were seeing through the lens — creatively directing the whole shoot itself with each model — was a different experience for you. What did that mean for you as a photographer?
Weng Ian Kitsana: I was in the process of starting a photography side hustle, and I’m still trying to figure out my voice, my tone, and what makes me stand out in comparison with other editorial photographers out there. I'm so new to [creating editorial campaigns] that we were just really brainstorming.
Initially, I wasn't going to pack this project with that much meaning. [Yet] over time, [the idea] just kind of progressed to mean so much more with the added storytelling component, the behind the scenes, the production, and all the models’ anecdotes. [All the added elements] just made it so much more special [for me].
I love contributing to how to prioritize making people feel good. There's just something special about [the models] putting on their [Traditional attire], getting their makeup done by a professional makeup artist, getting their hair done, looking pretty, feeling good, putting on their favorite playlist, and posing for these [beautiful] pictures. They devoted an hour to do something that’s just for them. These models seemed to enjoy and were proud to represent their culture and heritage. That made me feel good.
Phuong Mai: Yeah. Yeah. I think it did start out as just a fun project, but I think what you said with [this project] growing with meaning is so significant. What makes this project different – a deeper meaning that grows through the process – from other photoshoots you've been doing?
Weng Ian Kitsana: I think the storytelling portion, really. With most of the clients I've worked with so far, the photos are taken for their portfolios. I don't really get to know them on a personal level or why [that batch of photos] are important to them (if they are).
Having that added emotional component to [this campaign] made photographing the models so much more fun. On top of that, I also modeled in this campaign. Being an immigrant myself, it was really cool to be on the other end of [the camera] and get to represent my culture as well. I rarely get to be so Thai and be in all of my glory. It was just really cool to be able to do that openly.
Phuong Mai: I'm growing to love [this campaign] more and more because the whole process is almost opening up its own layers of what this means to each of us personally. It's not that we are doing this for somebody else or we're doing this because somebody hired us. It's because we chose to do this for that personal connection and that personal meaning too.
I mean, [this campaign] started because you found this dress in my closet that I got made in Vietnam. I'd never really explored what my connection to Vietnamese dress meant. I have that dress here in my New York apartment and thought, ‘Wait, we can wear this, photograph it, and it could be for ourselves.’
Then there’s this vulnerable piece too. Based on my conversations with the models, I’ve learned that there is a vulnerability aspect that uncovers what it even means to wear a dress not because we're going to a family occasion or we're going to a specific Thai event or Indian event or Viet event, but because it’s just for ourselves.
We're wearing this in front of other people who aren't used to [our own] traditional wear or are familiar with them. That feels almost exposing, but it’s also nice.
Read Danica Kevi’s story for Part II
