Andrew Kung

The All-American II is a photo series that recontextualizes traditional notions of masculinity and belonging. I imagine and construct scenes of strength, intimacy, togetherness between Asian men that I’ve rarely witnessed in an American context - tender moments that rebel against monolithic constructs of masculinity that have "other-ed" them as weak, undesirable, and not American enough. Just as much in front of the camera, I document my journey of reclaiming my own masculinity through a visual diary of self love - embracing new perspectives and intimate relationships with family, friends, self and dismantling old perspectives that has often compensated for how I viewed my own identity and masculinity.

I portray my family, friends, self in spaces deeply personal to me - my current bedroom, my bedroom growing up, parks I used to visit growing up, my current neighborhood - and often times in my own wardrobe, to ultimately reinforce a connectedness with my subjects, my memories, and my journey of self-discovery. The images center on the dignity and diversity of my subjects, my relationship with my subjects, and my relationship with my own masculinity, all in an attempt to humanize the desexualized Asian American man.

Website http://www.apkung.com/