Sayang 2025 | Finalist in William & Winifred Bowness Photography Prize

My mother, Shuhana, has always been a strong and shaping presence in my life. Each time I return home to Malaysia, I often slip into a younger version of myself, navigating the delicate balance between cultural expectations of respect and my own adult identity. Photography has recently become a way for us to connect – an unspoken language and space where we can spend time together and where I can express myself freely. Through the lens, our relationship becomes both subject and collaboration. Sayang, a Malay term of endearment, captures this intimacy – a word that holds love, care, and tenderness. This work reflects our evolving bond and the quiet negotiations between tradition, identity and affection.