林喜欢与胡欢喜
Lim Hee Hwa & Hu Hwa Hee
马来西亚边佳兰六湾岛
Tanjung Kelok, Pengerang, Malaysia
中国福建省诏安县四都镇上湖村
Shanghu Village, Siduzhen, Zhao’an, Fujian, China
鱼寮，马来西亚边佳兰泗湾岛
Fishing Port, Sungai Rengit, Pengerang, Malaysia
养鹅场,中国福建省诏安县四都镇马城村
Geese Farm, Macheng Village, Siduzhen, Zhao’an, Fujian, China
林喜欢，马来西亚边佳兰泗湾岛
Lim Hee Hwa, Sungai Rengit, Pengerang, Malaysia
胡欢喜，中国福建省诏安县四都镇上湖村
Hu Hwa Hee, Shanghu Village, Siduzhen, Zhao’an, Fujian, China
神庙, 马来西亚边佳兰泗湾岛
Chinese Temple, Sungai Rengit, Pengerang, Malaysia
神庙，中国福建省诏安县四都镇马城村
Chinese Temple, Machengcun, Siduzhen, Zhao’an, Fujian, China
公厕，马来西亚边佳兰头湾岛
Public Toilet, Kampung Jawa, Pengerang, Malaysia
公厕，中国福建省诏安县四都镇
Public Toilet, Siduzhen, Zhao’an, Fujian, China
佛光禅寺，马来西亚边佳兰五湾岛
Fo Guang Chan Si, Telok Ramunia, Pengerang, Malaysia
池塘,中国福建省诏安县四都镇马城村
Pond, Macheng Village, Siduzhen, Zhao’an, Fujian, China
虾米，边佳兰大湾岛
Dried Shrimp, Sungai Kapal, Pengerang, Malaysia
冥纸，中国福建省诏安县四都镇马城村
Incense paper, Machengcun, Siduzhen, Zhao’an, Fujian, China
鸡肉摊，马来西亚边佳兰泗湾岛
Chicken Stall, Sungai Rengit, Pengerang, Malaysia
鸡肉摊，中国福建省诏安县四都镇马城村
Chicken Stall, Machengcun, Siduzhen, Zhao’an, Fujian, China
马来西亚边佳兰泗湾岛
Sungai Rengit, Pengerang, Malaysia
中国福建省诏安县四都镇马城村
Machengcun, Siduzhen, Zhao’an, Fujian, China
相片，马来西亚边佳兰泗湾岛
Photographs, Sungai Rengit, Pengerang, Malaysia
相片，中国福建省诏安县四都镇马城村
Photographs, Machengcun, Siduzhen, Zhao’an, Fujian, China
林喜欢夫妇，马来西亚边佳兰泗湾岛
Lim Hee Hwa & Wife, Sungai Rengit, Pengerang, Malaysia
胡欢喜夫妇, 中国福建省诏安县四都镇上湖村
Hu Hwa Hee & Wife, Shanghu Village, Siduzhen, Zhao’an, Fujian, China
林文忠阖家, 马来西亚边佳兰泗湾岛
Lim Boon Tiong & Family, Sungai Rengit, Pengerang, Malays
胡细坤阖家, 中国福建省诏安县四都镇上湖村
Hu Xi Kun & Family, Shanghu Village, Siduzhen, Zhao’an, Fujian, China
林坤成阖家，新加坡武吉巴督
Lim Kun Sing & Family, Bukit Batok, Singapore
胡淑平阖家, 中国福建省诏安县四都镇上湖村
Hu Shu Ping & Family, Shanghu Village, Siduzhen, Zhao’an, Fujian, China
林瑞国阖家，新加坡蔡厝港
Lim Soi Kok & Family, Chua Chu Kang, Singapore
胡培央阖家, 中国福建省诏安县四都镇上湖村
Hu Pei Yang & Family, Shanghu Village, Siduzhen, Zhao’an, Fujian, China
林喜欢与胡瑶希
Lim Hee Hwa & Hu Yao Xi
This is a project about my family history.
In 1936, my great grandmother migrated from China to Malaysia with her son, leaving her husband and daughter behind. That son she left with was my grandfather and he was 2 years old when he left his hometown. In Malaysia, my great grandmother remarried a man by the surname of Lim. Initially, my grandfather’s surname was Hu. After the marriage, he adopted his stepfather’s surname, Lim.
Therefore, my surname is now Lim. I am supposed to be a descendant of Hu, but I grew up as a descendant of Lim.
My grandfather reconnected with his sister and cousin after being separated for 60 years. He has been visiting China often since then. In December 2012, I travelled to Hokkien, China with my grandfather and documented the first part of this project. The second part of the series was done in Malaysia & Singapore. By juxtaposing the sceneries between Malaysia/Singapore and China, I hope to engage the viewers to study the similarities and differences between the countries.
The title of this project (Who) resembles the pronunciation of 胡(Hu). It also echoes my anxiety for being unable to distinguish my own roots.
© 2013