Award-winning photographer, Wing Young Huie, explored the topics of representation, duality and authenticity in his photography during the Visual Culture Lecture Series at the University of Minnesota Duluth on Tuesday, Sept. 14. This event was held in the Solon Campus Center on the UMD campus, as well as over Zoom at 6 p.m.

Huie is an award-winning artist known for his globally-circulating projects and exhibitions surrounding the subjects of authenticity and reality. Most notably he was named the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Artist of the Year in 2000, as well as receiving the Mcknight Distinguished Artist award in 2018. His seventh book, “Chinese-ness,” also won him a Minnesota Book Award. Despite his many accomplishments, Huie stated his love of teaching the next generation.

“I feel like the most impact I have is in classrooms,” Huie said.

This may explain why he has spoken at many schools, sometimes using students as the subject of his photos.

Huie began by asking the audience a simple question: “Of all the photographs you’ve seen, how many do you feel do not authentically reflect reality?” Answers were high, one audience member answering “75%.”

Growing up in Duluth, MN, Huie explained that he stood out for most of his school years. It wasn’t until junior high that Huie was introduced to another Asian student. Huie admitted that he avoided this student, not feeling as though he related to him — instead identifying himself with popular culture and media that didn’t reflect an accurate representation of himself.

Due to the lack of representation he saw, Huie strived and continued to work toward representing an authentic reality in his photography. Huie noted, “to understand who I am, it is important to understand ‘who are we?’”

Huie’s career in photography has spanned over 35 years. His interest began during his time in college where he majored in journalism. He pursued photography, as he admitted it paid better. He was then exposed to street photographers, which sparked the desire to follow in their footsteps. This can be attributed to his photography style today.

However, his journey wasn’t all uphill. Huie revealed he had been fired from his first photojournalism job, yet explained that “it was one of the best things that ever happened.” He took this opportunity to expand his art and spend more time with his subjects.

Huie explained why he likes to spend the day photographing his subjects, mostly all strangers. “It gets me out of my bubble,” Huie said. “It’s not easy to do. I’m in my head a lot.”

Huie plans on continuing with his photographic work, and wants to expand on the theme of duality. Duality, to him, expresses the complexity in our character.

Visual Culture Lecture Story: Wing Young Huie