Though born and raised in Hong Kong, Kawal didn’t really know how to speak Cantonese until the age of 12. But once she did, she found that her connection to this city went through the roof, and realised the power she holds as a woman of colour who speaks the local language.
Through her photos, she hopes to tackle what it means to be a “local” in Hong Kong. Most of her subjects might not look like someone you would consider a local if you happen to pass by them in the street. But if you take a closer look at their daily activities, you will spot a lot of similarities to what an average local Chinese person would do here. They buy groceries at the same wet markets, eat at the same cha chaan tengs, learn in the same classroom, and some even speak the same language. In Kawal’s words, “Besides the way we look or dress, how are we any different from the ‘local’ locals?”
She hopes that whoever sees her works will form some kind of connection with them, as she herself was deeply touched by how excited her models were when talking about their home.
