Nine Vessels, One Festival.【九九歸一】
The Nine Emperor Gods Festival was first introduced to me by my parents of the Taoist faith. The festival has continuously captivated me, and I found delight in participating and looking at how the festival is expressed through various forms of material culture – from ornate palanquins to traditional papercrafts and statues. I started capturing the festival in 2003 when I was just eleven, a young boy toying with a film camera. Somehow, the sentiments, curiosity, and fascination I have did not wear off, and I have been documenting this festival for more than 15 years.
As a Graphic Designer, the lack of documentation and visual references of the Nine Emperor Gods Festival motivated me to embark on this project. Through visual ethnography, the festival is analysed and documented, providing the materials to present the knowledge, practices, the community, and the human spirit that served the festival well for decades. This book aims to ignite the curiosity of the younger generation while clarifying some doubts that people may have.
The Crowbar Awards 2020
Silver Category: The Nxt in Good, GD06 Photography
International Photography Awards (IPA) 2020
Honourable Mention (Editorial / Press, Other)
PX3 – The Prix de la Photographie Paris 2020
Honourable Mention (Photobook)
Available for Borrowing @ NLB
© 2024 Dawin