My name is Hsin Yi, Wang.  I am a photographer from Taiwan. The grand justices in Taiwan announced that not allowing same-sex marriage is unconstitutional in the year of 2017, and they requested that the law be amended within two years after the announcement. Taiwan may be the first country in Asia where same sex marriage will be legal by 2019. However; opponents continuously spread rumors and discriminatory speeches on the streets and internet, and there launched three ridiculous anti-same-sex marriage referendums on Nov. 24th, 2018 to cause more pain for LGBTQIA community. As one of them, I am also deeply saddened.

I started the Taiwan drag queen photography project in 2017, with the wish that it could help push further equal rights movement in Taiwan. From interviews to photoshooting scenes to track their private lives, I tried to present multiple looks and dimensions of every drag queen, with the hope of revealing to the public how lives are, and could be for these people who are different than most people. Through competition, exhibition and photography books (one of a series has won bronze medal in PX3 and 2nd place in IPA photography competition, selected work in photography category at the National Art Exhibition in the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts and Young Portfolio Acquisitions at Kiyosato Museum of Photographic Arts in Japan) , I believe that we can’t change others’ beliefs directly, but only through knowing and understanding that there will be possible empathy and respect. I wish everyone in Taiwan, or even in the world, could live and express themselves freely, regardless of what his/her sexual orientation is. I’ve spent a large amount of personal funds on this project, including the cost of accommodations, travel, cameras and equipment.  The following work, output and publishing can only be maintained through the aid of funding.  I highly appreciate your support.

Awards:

2015 PX3 - Prix de la Photographie, Paris – Bronze
2015 PX3 - Prix de la Photographie, Paris – Honorable Mention
2018 Tokyo International Foto Awards – Honorable Mention
2018 Tokyo International Foto Awards – Honorable Mention
2018 PX3 - Prix de la Photographie, Paris – Bronze
2018 International Photography Awards (IPA) – 2nd place

2019 Selected Work in Photography Category at the   

         National Art Exhibition in the National Taiwan           

         Museum of Fine Arts.
2019  Young Portfolio Acquisitions at Kiyosato Museum of Photographic Arts (Japan)

Website  https://hsin-yi-wang.com