This photo series reflects my exploration of cultural identity, with each image representing Chinese mythological stories or characters. As a Chinese-born, first-generation immigrant raised in South Africa, I’ve never felt fully rooted, lacking a connection to both my birthplace and upbringing. Growing up in transnational environments distanced me from my ethnic identity, and my tie to China feels more like a myth. Similarly, in South Africa, my ethnicity automatically marked me as foreign. This sense of detachment was intensified by the code-switching required between home, where tradition thrived, and the outside world, where different behavior was expected.

I began exploring the idea of constructed environments, recognizing that individuals and their identities are shaped by their surroundings. The objects we choose reflect aspects of ourselves and the identities we craft. In this series, I explored how objects, placed in different contexts, can construct and transform identity. I gained access to various homes, randomly selected to highlight the unconscious diversity of influences on identity. Using their furniture, objects, and household items, I recreated scenes that aligned with Chinese myths. By inserting myself into these environments, I reconstructed my own identity. Each setup existed only within the frame for two hours, after which everything returned to its normal state.