Join photographer & artist Ken Lam (he/him) talk and discussion on mental health and photography as a therapy!
About the host
Kenneth Lam is a photographer, filmmaker and writer from London and Hong Kong. Trained as a fashion photographer, his work moves effortlessly through intimate portraiture, luscious still life and street photography. Lam’s work often takes on a dreamlike quality as he traces both individual and familial memory. Put together, his works serve as personal narrative- a continual rumination on queerness, British-Chinese identity and familial bonds. His work has appeared in publications such as GQ, The Sunday Times, Conde Nast and Wieden + Kennedy. Much of his work stems from an autobiographical narrative - dealing with themes many can find challenging. Throughout his career he has found photography to be an expression and a form of therapy.
The session will include
An introduction to Ken Lam's work and an exploration of aspects and issues that the LGBTQ+ community face and subsequently impact on their mental health. Ken will share his intimate journey of healing through art, photography and writing , his experience of coming out, queer identity, relationships, grief and devotion, transformation and queer love.
- Introduction: Ken's career journey
- Depression and Anxiety: regaining confidence with photography, techniques to reintroduce yourself to creativity
- Coming Out - (Series Coming Out in China): visual storytelling of connection and how it helped him to build a sense of belonging and community
- Relationships, Grief, Devotion (Far-NEAR- New York): a discussion on abusive relationships in the LGBTQ+ community and coping with grief
- Mother’s Death (Dinner with Mother Lam, I am Mother Lam): coping with loss, transforming things he wanted to say and discuss through photography
- Queerness - Identity - finding one's identity, through photographic series and imagery, meeting other queer artists; discussion on series on being Queer and Asian (Queer Love)
- The healing process: books, artists, podcasts
Plus, plenty of good conversation and a chance to meet new people at the exciting new LGBTQIA+ multidisciplinary venue Glass House!
- By the end of the session, you will
Hopefully, by the end of the session, you'll be equipped with a new perspective on the therapeutic power of photography, art and writing and how getting in touch with your own experience through creativity can heal, connect, and empower. You will be able to reflect on your own, and others’, unique stories and come away feeling more connected and represented.
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