"My photography is an attempt to make sense of the figments of my life. They are usually impulsed undertakings, spontaneous in nature and never really planned. Life is varied and unpredictable and that is how I like my photography to be as well – a spontaneous response to what life throws at me – being born a Chinese, living in Singapore, my relationships etc. Because if you listen with your eyes, you can hear life talking."
Kang Li (b.1984) is a first-generation Singaporean Chinese, born to parents who migrated from Malaysia. His ancestral roots lie in Guangdong province, China. His photography pursuits began with a stint in Nepal, where he covered the nation's abolishment of its monarchy and the rise of the Maoists into parliamentary powers. Later, he returned to college, from where he graduated as top journalism student and class valedictorian in 2009.
Awards/Grants
2011 Pocket Rocket Fund, National Arts Council, Singapore
2009 International Travel Grant, National Arts Council, Singapore
2009 Selected for Eddie Adams Workshop XXII
2009 First Prize (General news), Third prize (Political) & Honorable Mentions (Sports, People), Prix de la Photographie Paris (Px3) in photojournalism
2009 First prize, Foreign Correspondents Association (Singapore) Multimedia Award
2009 Valedictorian, Class of 2009, Bachelor of Communication Studies (first class honours), Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
2009 Top journalism student, awarded Singapore Press Holdings Gold Medal Award
Exhibitions
2012 "At Our Doorsteps", Singapore
2011 Angkor Photo Festival, Siem Reap
2010 "Himalaya", as part of Edinburgh International Film Festival, Filmhouse, Edinburgh
2010 "Himalaya", as part of Himalayan Film Festival, The Nehru Centre, London
2009 Prix de la Photographie, Espace Dupon Gallery, Paris
2009 “Multipli-City”, as part of International Symposium of Electronic Art, Ormeau Baths Gallery, Belfast
2009 “I’m not a Woman”, as part of Chobi Mela V photography festival, Dhaka
2008 “Ayo Chorkali” (Group), The Believe Collective, Brecknock Museum, Wales
2008 “From People’s Movement to Constituent Assembly” (Group), Kathmandu
2008 “Hamro Nepal” (Solo), Kathmandu
Books
2012 "At Our Doorsteps", supported by National Arts Council Pocket Rocket Fund
2011 "I remember", as part of Singapore Arts Festival, Singapore
2011 "Politics is Personal", as part of "GE 11: We Were There", Singapore