As photographers, Philippe Leung, Willy Wong, and Marco Chan are interested in exploring the ways in which language shapes our understanding of the world around us. In this series of photographs, they focus on idioms, those peculiar turns of phrase that are unique to each language and culture.
Inspired by their own experiences traveling to the US without a driver’s license and facing difficult times back home in Hong Kong, Leung, Wong, and Chan turned to memes and idioms as a source of entertainment and amusement. They found that the humour and playfulness of idioms provided a much-needed respite from the stress and uncertainty of the world around them.
Using their cameras as a tool of exploration and discovery, Leung, Wong, and Chan set out to capture the essence of each idiom in visual form. From “Birds of a feather flock together” to “Better late than never,” they explore the many layers of meaning that these idioms contain, revealing the hidden connections and associations that lie just beneath the surface of our everyday speech.
They bring these idioms to life, transforming them from abstract concepts into real, tangible scenes that viewers can experience and enjoy. Through their photographs, Leung, Wong, and Chan invite viewers to share in their joy and laughter, to see the world through the lens of language, and to appreciate the richness and diversity of idioms from around the world. As recent graduates of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Leung, Wong, and Chan view this series as a testament to the power of friendship and creative collaboration. Their four-year journey at SCAD was a time of growth, learning, and exploration, and this project serves as a tangible representation of the bond that they formed during that time. Their friendship is a special and exclusive one, rooted in the unique experiences and challenges that they faced together as students at SCAD. Through their photographs, Leung, Wong, and Chan celebrate the power of humor and language to connect us to one another and to provide a moment of respite and joy in difficult times.
