In this series of portraits inspired by Asian erotic paintings, European Chinoiserie art, Instagram makeup trends, and contemporary gay culture, Melbourne artist Scotty So challenges the notion of cultural aesthetic appropriation of Asian cultures.

Exhibited as part of Photo 2022 International Festival of Photography, dispersed amongst the Tianjin Garden above Parliament Station on Spring Street, each image in Shungay incorporates clothing styles of the Song and Ming dynasties in images recalling historical events, queer folk tales like the Rabbit God and the split peach, and Asian queer films such as M. Butterfly.

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Commissioned by Photo Australia

Supported by the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund, an Australian Government initiative