Ephemeral Intimacy

Ephemeral Intimacy explores dating apps as a space for identity, desire, and power. As a Southeast Asian raised in a conservative family, I photographed men I met online, revealing vulnerability, racial dynamics, and the complexities of modern love now.

“Ephemeral Intimacy” delves into the blurred boundaries of connections on dating apps and the individual exploration of love. As a Southeast Asian growing up in a conservative big family, I was taught to conform to societal expectations of heteronormativity. However, my journey of self-discovery began when I turned to dating apps to explore my own identity. I photographed men whom I met online, visiting their living spaces and capturing vulnerable moments. This process also exposed the subtle but pervasive power dynamics that shape contemporary relationships, particularly within the Western world. It led me to question conventional notions of desire, confront issues of race, and navigate the complexities of contemporary dating culture.