America Seen

"AMERICA SEEN" explores the U.S. social landscape during the Trump era, capturing American identity and the pursuit of the American Dream through my Taiwanese lens, offering a unique perspective on identity, privacy, and national conflict.

AMERICA SEEN is a visual poem that portrays the social landscape of the United States during the Trump administration, aiming to explore American identity and the pursuit of the American Dream.

This project is linked to my receiving a U.S. Green Card in 2016. During this time of political unrest and uncertainty about the future, many issues prompted me to take a closer look at my second home: matters of identity, privacy, patriotism, and conflict. I aim to bring my outsider’s perspective to capture the essence of one of the most turbulent periods in American history.

Through my explorations of the land—from the spectacular cityscape of Manhattan to the tropical keys of Florida, the sprawling plains of Middle America, and west to the bygone town of Bombay Beach, California—stark contrasts come to life. I witnessed the heights of glamor and the depths of decline, the vastness of the land, and the diversity of race and culture. These differences are striking, given my upbringing in Taiwan, a small island country with an ethnically similar yet collectivist culture. The distinctions between the everyday souls I encountered on my journey were just as stark: from the happy dreamers to the lonely wanderers. My photography serves as a reflection of both my curiosity about America and my memories of Taiwan.

AMERICA SEEN is more than a personal exploration; it documents a pivotal era in American history. Through my lens, viewers witness how the divided emotions blend together in the pursuit of the American Dream.