Wk 4/ AOTW - Maika Elan
About the Artist
In 1986, Maika Elan was born in Hanoi, Vietnam. Elan attended the University of Social Sciences in Hanoi, studying Sociology. She is a freelance photographer who is well-known for her project, 'The Pink Choice'. She first started out her career shooting for fashion firms in her country which developed into a documentary photographer. Maika is recognized for using Lomography cameras which givers her photography a different yet unique style. Maika is also known as Nguyen Thanh Hai is quite an experimental artist. She revolved around ideas and controversies such as gay couples in Vietnam. She also had a very popular project called, 'Like My Dad', which is many pictures of her father who was at the time, battling cancer.
Formal Analysis
I noticed in Maika's work she uses a strange filter in her pictures. It almost looks like Instagram or Snapchat filters, so it is something that is more silly and relaxed than other pieces of work I have seen. She uses lots of different bright colors, not neon colored, but faded colors like the sunlight hitting the lens. Her work also includes lots of people in her work, she uses mostly her same ethnic types.
Content Analysis
Maika explores lots of different controversies and changes in the world, and in her home country, Vietnam. She created her project, 'The Pink Choice', which is about gay couples in Vietnam. Many have let gays into their heart, but in Vietnam it is not there and it shows the true love between these couples. They go through rough times with society in Vietnam, so she shows the love and passion in her work, that everyone is equal and are people just like everyone else. Her pictures of the couples doing what everyone else does, taking baths, hanging out in their rooms and most importantly, smiling. You can see the happiness in their face and eyes through these pictures, and it needs to be seen and spread more, so people can see this. It is expressing so many emotions, and the idea of equality no matter sexual orientation.
Synthesis/My Experience
Overall I really like this work by her. She is truly passionate, you can really tell by the pictures and the quality. Maika is truly passionate and wants to spread all these ideas and beliefs, so she takes these amazing pictures and they are truly emotional. I have many gay relatives who struggle with their family not accepting them, so this concept really hits me at home. I am so happy people all around the world are spreading awareness and showing that everyone is truly equal and just like everyone else.
