Melissa Tritter, MALD '05

A Diverse Asia: Singapore & the Hunan Province of China

Just three years ago, Asia was Asia to me. Many U.S. depictions of "Asia" lump the countries into one basket despite stark differences in race, culture, economics, climate, etc. That sort of simplification seems unthinkable now after I've lived in both China and Singapore and have traveled all over the region.

I was teaching in the Hunan Province of China during 2002 - the first time I had ever lived outside the Northeast United States. The photos of that experience were an attempt to describe a life that was very different from the one I had known; and in particular to capture a moment in the rapidly-changing society, where massive construction projects and Mao statues stood side-by-side.

The following year, I lived in Singapore. It was interesting to observe life in this prosperous city-state after I'd just come from provincial China. Instead of noticing Singapore's Chinese roots, I tended to notice the westernization of the society. My photographs no doubt reflect that point of view.

By no means do either set of photos do justice, or even attempt to describe, what life in "Asia" is like. Rather, they attempt to show that such an exhibit is not possible and the need to celebrate the beauty of diverse places. I hope you enjoy viewing these photographs as much as I enjoyed taking them.