Personal Work

Shun Yong Kit, from Occupations Series, 2017 Digital Inkjet Print 60” x 76”

Kit is one of the subject from my Occupations Series. To learn more about Occupations Series, click here.

Occupations Series

In 2016, feeling a sense of loss. I returned to Malaysia, shadowed my family at their occupations to understand the reasons behind their immigration from China to Malaysia. Joining my cousin to the rubber plantation, my uncle to the fruit farm. From spending time with them, I learned that my grandparents moved to Malaysia due to Britain’s Occupations. They were part of the hard labor brought by Britain to work in the rubber plantation. Documenting these experiences in my Occupations series, I started to better understand my identity and found a way to share it through photography.

Shun Yong Mr Diamond, 2025 Mixed Media Installations

Work in Progress - To learn more about Mr Diamond Series, click here.

Mr Diamond

As a middle-aged, queer, and single Malaysian-Chinese person, I’m often told I prioritize work over dating. In this context, we are labeled "Mr. Diamond"—a term that truly isn't a compliment. This made me question whether other queer Malaysian-Chinese in the U.S. choose to be single or struggle with dating. Motivated by this, I’m traveling to connect with others Malaysian-Chinese like me. This series is in its early stages, I plan to photograph, interview my subjects, collect their clothing, turn it into papers, print their portraits on these paper to create an art installation for my solo exhibition (2026) in Tell-Space.

Shun Yong C-F-H, 2023 Mixed Media Installations

To learn more about C-F-H Series, click here.

C-F-H

This photo series consists portraits of the hands of more than 40 climbers who are people of color.

Left
The photographs are printed on newsprint and installed inside a historical building in Yilan, Taiwan. Newsprint was chosen because its color temperature matches the ambient of the building. I wanted the light to pierce through the newsprint, making the hands glow within the space. The light weight of the prints allows them to move as viewers walk by, adding a dynamic element to the prints.

Right
In this exhibition, I printed on paper that I made.

Shun Yong C-F-H and Occupations, 2023 Mixed Media Installations

MCAD-Jerome Exhibition

Left
C-H-F is installed typologically to provide a sense of order and power.

Right
Occupations Series installation includes portraits of immigrants and landscape taken by 4x5 large format camera; printed on handmade paper recycled from previous installation to represent the idea of occupied land being remodeled and given a new life under British colonization. Frames with legs mimic wooden house from home and holds prints. Allowing viewers view on top of gallery. This series has evolved from a photographic body of work into mixed-media installation. I’m now exploring new materials by making paper from durian and rubber tree.

Shun Yong CarryOn Homes, 2018 Mixed Media Installations

CarryOn Homes

CarryOn Homes is dedicated to telling the stories of immigrants and refugees in the USA through art. By engaging the public with cross-cultural dialogue, we create spaces for immigrants and marginalized communities to feel a sense of belonging and empowerment. New portraits with same background and idea will be created for different locations for the community in that location.

As a collective, CarryOn Homes has undertaken numerous projects for various communities. It is often challenging to represent our comprehensive work with a single image. To learn more about our projects, please visit our website.