INTRODUCING SHARON GONG
I was born in the suburbs of California and spent my childhood thrown back and forth between the states and southern China. Right now I’m nestled in a safe little town in near L.A. It feels terrible here. There are many peacocks but there is no life. Once I graduate high school, I’ll be gone. I’m 16. I started taking pictures in the summer of ‘09 with a pink Casio point and shoot for a silly blog I made. It started with “fashion” (which really means neon hosiery and dopey posing) and evolved into what I do now. Which isn’t much different. I sort of fell into it. I loved to draw and I still do, but it can be a tedious process if you’re not feeling it. Photography is a click of a button. I like to be constantly creating. Flushing out new images and materializing new ideas. I want to be my definition of success, and I don’t call myself an “artist” or a “photographer” because I haven’t reached that point yet. Photography has given me many opportunities and associated me with some amazing people, but I’m just thankful I discovered it. My life and my state of mind bloomed. My art teacher at school had this great Nikon FM with the most incredible lens. I had to return it after a few months but those few months were sweet. Before this picture was taken, my friends were being chased by a bearded man with a wobbly cane. He took their clothes and ran off into an alleyway, and they arrived naked at my home, where I welcomed their frightful, shivering bodies with warm mugs of hot chocolate and a soft bed. I love Francesca Woodman, Nan Goldin, and Sarah Moon. I’m not sure what draws me to their work, but they’re all incredibly compelling.
