by Shina Peng
 

Artist Statement
sylvia is a shoot inspired by the Lunar New Year. This series is the beginning of an ongoing fashion series that explores Asian Americana. Lunar New Year is a celebration that I grew up with. Back then I don’t think I tried to take part in the tradition as much as I want to now. Now that I am older, there is a desire to be closer to my culture and my family. In this stylized studio shoot, I wanted to tie in elements of the Westernized environment I was raised in while paying homage to my traditional roots.

About the Artist
Shina Tser-shiuan Peng (彭澤萱) is a photographer based in Tokyo and New York City. She graduated New York University Tisch’s Department of Photography and Imaging, magna cum laude, with a minor in Psychology. She grew up in Kobe, Japan as a Taiwanese American and moved to New York City for university. Her international upbringing has heavily impacted the themes she explores in her artwork. Through her work she questions society’s definition of identity and also attempts to understand her own multicultural background. She focuses on moments of the “in-between” and the dichotomies that people exist in. She aims to be an East Asian creator who pushes for more Asian representation in global media. In New York City, she is working as New York Times photo editor and photographer, Jeffrey Henson Scales’ assistant. During the pandemic she moved to Tokyo. Within her first year of freelancing, she has had the opportunity to work with New York Times, Elle Japan, i-D Japan, and more.

Credits:
Model: Sylvia Yun @sylv.yun
Stylist: Blair Cannon @blaircannon_
Set Designer: Miles Barretto @milesbarretto
Makeup: Takamasa Nakamoto @go_ny_go_ny
Hair: Yukie Yamasaki @yukikie