Arts-based participatory action ethnography in Hong Kong

By Kelly Tran

be/longing is an arts-based participatory action ethnography project that utilizes storytelling across visual genres (photography and creative writing) to counter narratives that define ethnic minority communities as oppressed, and to instead center individuals’ voices and agency in the narration of their own experiences. In particular, be/longing will revolve around culinary traditions and practices amongst ethnic minority communities in Hong Kong, starting with the communities in Yao Tsim Mong district (including Chungking Mansions), in order to promote dialogue about and address racial injustices faced by these communities.

be/longing contrasts with other ethnographic projects in that it employs the use of ethnomimesis, which combines ethnographic participatory work with visual/artistic/poetic representations of research.

As such, this project will allow me to directly engage with members of the ethnic minority communities in a way that empowers them and amplifies their voices, rather than in a manner that centers the narrative on what can be perceived through my own perspective.

In this way, I hope to be able to learn about, encourage, and honor the rich cultural contributions EMs bring to Hong Kong through a method that most authentically represents their own reflections on being, longing, and belonging in Hong Kong. Furthermore, by closely collaborating with participants to showcase their creative works in a public exhibition, I hope to encourage other Hong Kongers to become more open-minded about social inclusivity, community building, and race/ethnic relations.

Learn more by visiting the exhibition’s WordPress website or Instagram.