WAITING, an Afterword
by Caron Toshiko
My first encounter with Terri Chong was during the Making an Artist’s Photobook workshop facilitated by Gueari Galeri in collaboration with Photobook Club Kuala Lumpur, Zontiga and Canon Malaysia as part of the Exposure+ Photo Festival 2023. At that time, she was having first seen the advertisement of the workshop on social media. Terri was relatively new to the photobook scene and felt need to verify the authenticity of the event with Steven Lee, co-founder of the Exposure+ Photo Festival, before joining.
Terri submitted a street photography project featuring images captured during her business and leisure travels, particularly to China and Vietnam. Many of her photographs depicted market vendors, especially elderly grandmother and children. During the ideation and conceptual exploration process of each participant’s project, I, as a one of the facilitators, asked her about a particular photo showing an elderly woman sitting and selling goods. I used photo-elicitation techniques to help participants reflect more deeply on their imagery choices.
Terri fell silent for a moment, then began recalling her memories. She said the photo reminded her of waiting for customers with her grandmother, who was a vegetable vendor when she was a child. She went on to share stories of growing up with very little, a stark contrast to the life she has now. In order to escape that hardship, she worked tirelessly despite having a limited educational background. Eventually, she and her husband were able to support their two children to pursue higher education.
One of the memorable moments in her photography journey was visiting a 99-year-old grandmother in rural Vietnam. Terri spent an entire day with the grandmother and her family, and the experience left lasting impression. Sharing a simple meal with them was especially touching, as she witnessed the genuine hapiness on their faces. The moment reminded her of the power of family togetherness, especially during hard times. She fondly recalled her favorite childhood memory was waiting for her grandmother to serve food to the family, a cherished moment her family still reminisces about.
As Terri shared her story of childhood struggles and perseverance, I felt my tears falling. It felt like we had walked similar paths. Her story remiinded me of my own grandparents, how even spreading a thin layer of butter on bread to save money was a significant act, and how my father has to work hard and earn a scholarship to be able to attend college, as higher education was considered a rare privilage at the time.
Waiting, something many people try to avoid in this era of instant gratification. As Jason Farman argues in his book Delayed Response: the Art of Waiting from the Ancient to the Instant World, waiting is a silent yet powerful force that shapes our social interactions. It plays a crucial role in human connection and communication, influencing many aspects of our lives. Waiting can lead to meaningful outcomes. Losing the ability to wait might mean losing vital elements such as social intimacy, deep knowledge and creative pursuits, things that flourish in the spaces created by waiting.
Everyone has meaningful moments of waiting in their lives. Whether it’s a child waiting for food, a vendor waiting for a customer to earn enough to support for their family, someone waiting for the birth of a long-awaited child, for financial stability, or for their artwork to come to life, each moment of waiting holds the potential to impact many lives.
For me, Terri’s photobook Waiting serves as a mirror, a reflection of the importance of process and presence. As I write this afterword, I am too anticipating the moment when I can finally continue my studies to a higher level, after years of waiting and countless effort. And I hope Terri’s photobook resonates with every reader and reminds us all to appreciate the waiting moments in our lives.
February 2024, Bekasi-Indonesia
Caron Toshiko
Gueari Galeri
*The text is my afterword for the photobook WAITING by Terri Chong
*All photographs and photobook editing by Terri Chong
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Terri Chong, born and grew up in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, remembers taking her first decent photograph 27 years ago with a point-and-shoot camera. The photo was of her daughter as a baby. In 2019, she decided to pursue photography more seriously. For her, photography holds a deeper meaning, emphasizing the importance of intention in creating meaning and the desire to share her work with an audience that understands and appreciates the depth of her images. To Terri, photography is a powerful tool for capturing fleeting moments in time, where human emotions and everyday life unfold in a split second. Her work has been exhibited in Kuala Lumpur and Taiwan, including Taiwan International Alliance of Culture and Art exhibition, where it has been recognised for its artistic merit.
In July 2024, she launched her self-published, fully handcrafted photobook titled Waiting, a project developed from a series of photographs exploring different kinds of human behavior while waiting for something to happen. Waiting was developed during her participaction in in Making an Artist’s Photobook Workhsop as part of the Exposure+ Photo Festival 2023, facilitated by Gueari Galeri in partnership with Photobook Club Kuala Lumpur, Zontiga and Canon Malaysia.
Terri is deeply inspired by Daido Moriyama’s high-contrast and spontaneous work. She admires his “ARE, BURE, BOKEH” style, which adds mystery and profundity to his images. She also draws inspiration from film director Wong Kar Waki, particularly his themes of identity, use of color and emotional storytelling.
terri@niyung.com | @terrichongkt | https://www.facebook.com/terri.chong.3
In July 2024, she launched her self-published, fully handcrafted photobook titled Waiting, a project developed from a series of photographs exploring different kinds of human behavior while waiting for something to happen. Waiting was developed during her participaction in in Making an Artist’s Photobook Workhsop as part of the Exposure+ Photo Festival 2023, facilitated by Gueari Galeri in partnership with Photobook Club Kuala Lumpur, Zontiga and Canon Malaysia.
Terri is deeply inspired by Daido Moriyama’s high-contrast and spontaneous work. She admires his “ARE, BURE, BOKEH” style, which adds mystery and profundity to his images. She also draws inspiration from film director Wong Kar Waki, particularly his themes of identity, use of color and emotional storytelling.
terri@niyung.com | @terrichongkt | https://www.facebook.com/terri.chong.3