Close to the Heart
This is a publication of photographs which showcase the value held in possessions treasured by five young immigrants as they settled in to NewZealand.
Accompanied by different real-life stories, each person has their own story to tell of the fondest memories about their families or friends, signified by ordinary impermanent objects from daily life.
Through common themes, on value,and love, the photographs aim to convey the emotion and bond each owner has with their treasured possession. The idea of disconnection and discomfort of being alone lead to the appreciation of valuing each and every loved ones that they were attached to.
Accompanied by different real-life stories, each person has their own story to tell of the fondest memories about their families or friends, signified by ordinary impermanent objects from daily life.
Through common themes, on value,and love, the photographs aim to convey the emotion and bond each owner has with their treasured possession. The idea of disconnection and discomfort of being alone lead to the appreciation of valuing each and every loved ones that they were attached to.
© Vialli Ang Design & Photography 2011
The Diary -- Helen Li
“May this journal take you to see many places
Far from the dark walls and every day faces,
To see you stand upon a mountain so high,
And write the thoughts from your mind that you see fly by,
To see you lay in the grass of the meadows below,
And write the dreams in your heart that you’re
learning to know,
Don’t be afraid to walk paths unknown,
Seeds will soon fl owers and blossom well grown,
Take your time and let things unfold,
Express with words and all will be told.
To keep all the love that’s given to you,
Leave all the bad memories in blue,
To take off that fake mask of yours,
And leave those lies in their hearts,
To diminish the pain that was press onto you,
To distant their soul and lead a way through.”
Far from the dark walls and every day faces,
To see you stand upon a mountain so high,
And write the thoughts from your mind that you see fly by,
To see you lay in the grass of the meadows below,
And write the dreams in your heart that you’re
learning to know,
Don’t be afraid to walk paths unknown,
Seeds will soon fl owers and blossom well grown,
Take your time and let things unfold,
Express with words and all will be told.
To keep all the love that’s given to you,
Leave all the bad memories in blue,
To take off that fake mask of yours,
And leave those lies in their hearts,
To diminish the pain that was press onto you,
To distant their soul and lead a way through.”
The Diary -- Helen Li | Age: 23 | Guang Zhou, China
"My close friend gave me this journal as a memento to remember her before she moved outto Whakatane, which is a few hours drive from Auckland. She knew that I always kept things to myself instead of sharing, therefore the journal acts as a way of pouring out my true feelings instead of just keeping it inside. Th e journal refl ects my voice; as each written
word refl ects every detail of my life. Th anks to her, I am able to communicate without any hesitation, as there are no worries. She always supports and tells me to be positive, and to keep on believing in myself because she knows my positive attitude will lead me to what I want. It was quite an emotional farewell as we spent our last day together lying on the vast grassland."
"My close friend gave me this journal as a memento to remember her before she moved outto Whakatane, which is a few hours drive from Auckland. She knew that I always kept things to myself instead of sharing, therefore the journal acts as a way of pouring out my true feelings instead of just keeping it inside. Th e journal refl ects my voice; as each written
word refl ects every detail of my life. Th anks to her, I am able to communicate without any hesitation, as there are no worries. She always supports and tells me to be positive, and to keep on believing in myself because she knows my positive attitude will lead me to what I want. It was quite an emotional farewell as we spent our last day together lying on the vast grassland."
The Diary -- Helen Li
The Watch -- Evan Laksmono
The Watch -- Evan Laksmono | Age: 20 | Surabaya, Indonesia
"I received the watch about five years ago from my younger brother. However, it was not actually given to me because my brother and I worked hard to earn money for it. When we were younger, we were not as fortunate as we currently are and we did not spend as much time as possible with each other. We always worked and saved up penny-by-penny
each day so that we could have some savings for our own needs. As a teenager, we had so much stuff that we really craved for, but then again, earning money had been the worst obstacle for us. Fortunately, in the end, we saved up lots of money for about three years, and we fi nally were able to aff ord the down payment of a car. I saved up most of the
money since I am older, and I knew how to earn and save money more wisely. In order to thank me, my brother decided to give me a watch while we were having our brotherly talks as usual along the beach that we usually go to. My brother has done well to make me feel proud to be his elder brother. Since that day, we became closer and closer still, even
though we are studying in diff erent countries."
"I received the watch about five years ago from my younger brother. However, it was not actually given to me because my brother and I worked hard to earn money for it. When we were younger, we were not as fortunate as we currently are and we did not spend as much time as possible with each other. We always worked and saved up penny-by-penny
each day so that we could have some savings for our own needs. As a teenager, we had so much stuff that we really craved for, but then again, earning money had been the worst obstacle for us. Fortunately, in the end, we saved up lots of money for about three years, and we fi nally were able to aff ord the down payment of a car. I saved up most of the
money since I am older, and I knew how to earn and save money more wisely. In order to thank me, my brother decided to give me a watch while we were having our brotherly talks as usual along the beach that we usually go to. My brother has done well to make me feel proud to be his elder brother. Since that day, we became closer and closer still, even
though we are studying in diff erent countries."
The Watch -- Evan Laksmono
The Soft Toy -- Queenie Chiu
The Soft Toy -- Queenie Chiu | Age: 24 | Hong Kong
"Four years ago, my mom accompanied me to Auckland as I decided to continue my highschool study, moving away from the comfort of home back in Hong Kong. I was playing too much back in the days, as Hong Kong was a lively city full of entertainment. So I thought a change of environment would change my lifestyle and thus, will be able to concentrate on my academic studies. Mom was a little bit reluctant at fi rst, as she did notwant to leave me as I never left home before. Mom stayed with me in Auckland for a few days upon reaching the city. While back in Hong Kong, both of us always slept together as we had a very close relationship. As a result, I am used to having her beside me every night. On the day she had to return back to Hong Kong, I was really sad because we had to say our goodbyes. Mom gave me this pig soft toy to replace her, as she knows I love pigs and according to her, I do resemble a pig (the fact that I love to eat and sleep.) Shetold me the pig soft toy would replace her every night to accompany me to sleep. It was raining really heavily on the day my mom left for Hong Kong. Before she left, she walked with me to school in Mount Roskill for the last time. We said our goodbyes reluctantly and when she left, I cried on the spot. I still remember that moment this very day. But I
know we will meet again one day when I fly back home.
"Four years ago, my mom accompanied me to Auckland as I decided to continue my highschool study, moving away from the comfort of home back in Hong Kong. I was playing too much back in the days, as Hong Kong was a lively city full of entertainment. So I thought a change of environment would change my lifestyle and thus, will be able to concentrate on my academic studies. Mom was a little bit reluctant at fi rst, as she did notwant to leave me as I never left home before. Mom stayed with me in Auckland for a few days upon reaching the city. While back in Hong Kong, both of us always slept together as we had a very close relationship. As a result, I am used to having her beside me every night. On the day she had to return back to Hong Kong, I was really sad because we had to say our goodbyes. Mom gave me this pig soft toy to replace her, as she knows I love pigs and according to her, I do resemble a pig (the fact that I love to eat and sleep.) Shetold me the pig soft toy would replace her every night to accompany me to sleep. It was raining really heavily on the day my mom left for Hong Kong. Before she left, she walked with me to school in Mount Roskill for the last time. We said our goodbyes reluctantly and when she left, I cried on the spot. I still remember that moment this very day. But I
know we will meet again one day when I fly back home.
The Soft Toy -- Queenie Chiu
The Result Slip -- Edra Wijaya | Age: 20 | Jakarta, Indonesia
The Result Slip -- Edra Wijaya | Age: 20 | Jakarta, Indonesia
"It happened back in June 2009 when I picked the wrong subject in my foundation year.I took calculus, that I had never done before up until the fi nal year when I failed this subject. My parents knew that I was struggling with the subject; however, they reassured me saying, “It’s okay.” Although, I knew the result made them feel disappointed. Turns
out, I failed calculus for the July 2010 exams; therefore I decided to go back home to Jakarta. There, I made the decision to retake the exam later on the post foundation programme, which started in February 2011. With the little time I had left, I trained and prepared myself to improve on the subject before returning to Auckland to have a second chance at Calculus. Six months later, I fl ew back to Auckland and I still found it to be a challenge to improve my calculus. Unfortunately the result still was not good enough to enter university. I was quite stressed but my parents were supportive towards me during
that diffi cult time. It has not happened before, because I have not experienced any failures before in my life. My parents gave me the encouragement to work hard till the final exam. In the end, I managed to pass calculus and was accepted into Auckland University of Technology. I remember during that period of time, I would always go to a park near my house just to hang around. The nature helped me to think clearly and always calmed me down. Though the result slip is just a piece of paper, however, it is an evidence and reminder to me on how my parents constantly always giving their support. They will
always love me, no matter what happens in the future, and will continue to respect the results that I get if I try my best".
"It happened back in June 2009 when I picked the wrong subject in my foundation year.I took calculus, that I had never done before up until the fi nal year when I failed this subject. My parents knew that I was struggling with the subject; however, they reassured me saying, “It’s okay.” Although, I knew the result made them feel disappointed. Turns
out, I failed calculus for the July 2010 exams; therefore I decided to go back home to Jakarta. There, I made the decision to retake the exam later on the post foundation programme, which started in February 2011. With the little time I had left, I trained and prepared myself to improve on the subject before returning to Auckland to have a second chance at Calculus. Six months later, I fl ew back to Auckland and I still found it to be a challenge to improve my calculus. Unfortunately the result still was not good enough to enter university. I was quite stressed but my parents were supportive towards me during
that diffi cult time. It has not happened before, because I have not experienced any failures before in my life. My parents gave me the encouragement to work hard till the final exam. In the end, I managed to pass calculus and was accepted into Auckland University of Technology. I remember during that period of time, I would always go to a park near my house just to hang around. The nature helped me to think clearly and always calmed me down. Though the result slip is just a piece of paper, however, it is an evidence and reminder to me on how my parents constantly always giving their support. They will
always love me, no matter what happens in the future, and will continue to respect the results that I get if I try my best".
The Result Slip -- Edra Wijaya
The Electric Guitar -- Ty Jepsen
The Electric Guitar -- Ty Jepsen | Age: 21 | Phnom Penh, Cambodia
" Meet Scarlett, a rose coloured Gibson Flying V electric guitar that I treasure. It used tobe my friend’s father’s guitar. When their family finally decided to emigrate from Fiji to Australia they left the guitar to me, as a memento. Th ough I was born in Cambodia, I spent most of my childhood in Fiji. My friend Zac and I used to play together in a small 4-piece band. We used to play in the garage of his house or just drive to quiet places at night just to perform in public places (with no audiences). We just played cover songs, nothing special. We never wrote anything either so it was just a good way to kill time
on weekends. I was pretty much family, because I used to sleep over at their house from Friday after school to late Sunday most weekends. I used to have a huge crush on my mate’s sister Scarlett, who the guitar is named after. However, that was all in the past, it never gets anywhere."
on weekends. I was pretty much family, because I used to sleep over at their house from Friday after school to late Sunday most weekends. I used to have a huge crush on my mate’s sister Scarlett, who the guitar is named after. However, that was all in the past, it never gets anywhere."
The Electric Guitar -- Ty Jepsen
Promotional Poster for RAW Exhibition
