More Than Art
As cliché as it may sound, local photographer Daniel Adams’ impressive portfolio proves that pictures are worth more than a thousand words and might just be what we need for a change in perspective
Local photographer Daniel Adams works to drive a change in perspective through his compelling visuals
When it comes to Daniel Adams’ work, he doesn’t pull his punches—nor does he intend to do so. Vivid in colour and full of character, every picture he’s taken isn’t without its purpose. Ever since his parents had gotten him his first camera at the age of 14, the now 24-year-old conceptual photographer makes it a point to put meaning beyond the lens, wanting to initiate much-needed conversations about topics that, in Adams’ words, “hit close to home”; creating emotionally charged images that not only shed light on social injustices that happen both at home and across international waters, but shares the stories of minorities affected by long-standing discrimination and even reveals the personal journey of grieving the loss of a loved one.
One such example of his knack for storytelling was a collaborative project he’d done last year for an
exhibition hosted by GOFY, a Singapore-based creative community that curated the latest of Southeast Asia’s art scene. Tasked with the theme of reinterpreting western artworks through a local perspective, he, alongside fellow artist Abinaya Dhivya, put their own spin on Gustav Klimt’s ‘Woman In Gold’, wanting “to create a discussion on the oppression faced by the Indian community in Malaysia”.
Named ‘A Woman Bound In Gold’ by the artistic duo, the photograph at first glance dazzles with its yellow-gold motif, but it’s the devil in the details that draws the eye: according to Adams, the nine bloodied darts that pierce the massive target looming above the model represented the number of victims that died in custody from 2009 to 2020; their names, which are scrawled along the outlines of the target’s circular bands, serve as another grim reminder of what happens in the aftermath of violent bigotry. The bleeding pottu on the centre of the model’s forehead further paints a bleaker image, as it represents her being the subject of constant scrutiny no matter where she went.
Powerful in its message, it is this human element where the young photographer excels at; so much so that in June 2017, the Guardian featured his final year project, ‘Why Is Your English So Good’, while he was still pursuing a photography degree at Falmouth University. The series made its rounds on the internet, portraying the experiences of Malaysian students facing racial discrimination in the UK as well as Ireland. “The reason why I became interested in photography in the first place was because I was able to pour all these thoughts and emotions that I’d bottled up,” Adams shares. “It’s a cathartic process where I could articulate myself better with my audience and capture the moments in life that were significant for me.”
In 2019, two years after his mother’s passing due to
breast cancer, he published ‘A Love Once Lost’ as a dedication to her, which comprised a series of images that showcased people who had close relationships with both himself as well as his mother. “It was one of the most challenging things I had done,” he muses candidly. “I was terrified. I’ve always been terrible with change. So I hadn’t wanted to do anything about it initially. So you can imagine how difficult it was for me to have to suddenly live without her, or experience things and not having her around.
“But I did it anyway, because in the weeks I’ve gone to therapy, my therapist eventually sat me down one day and said, ‘why don’t you express your feelings in your work then?’ And I was like, ‘oh my god, why didn’t I think of that!’—it was literally what got me into the industry in the first place! However, when I finally got around to doing it, I realised that I was turning it into work to emotionally distance myself despite it being therapeutic.”
“Of course I’m scared of the consequences myself, because I’m always afraid I’d get someone into trouble for the things I’m speaking up about… but at the end of the day, all I want is to start a conversation” —DANIEL ADAMS
Adams described the year-and-a-half he took to create the project as a long journey of self-realisation; which eventually led him to successfully raise funds for Cancer Research Malaysia, solidify his own approach to photography, and break free of the comfort zone he’d boxed himself into. The experience had also led him to become more willing to push boundaries as well, allowing Adams to explore issues about human society that many consider taboo and uncomfortable.
“Self-awareness is a pretty tough thing to achieve, because it makes you question the norm, and it makes you feel indescribable things you’d rather not think about,” he explains. “And here’s the thing: what’s the point of it all if you aren’t moved? How do you educate yourself if you don’t ask or talk about the ‘whys’?
“Of course I’m scared of the consequences myself, because I’m always afraid I’d get someone into trouble for the things I’m speaking up about… but at the end of the day, all I want is to start a conversation.”