In 2018, I lost both of my parents, and it sent huge waves through my life. It made me stop and think about what was next, not only in terms of my future but also in how I could live openly as a gay man. Growing up in Malaysia, I never really had the freedom to be myself, and grief made that silence even heavier.

Two years later, in 2020, I was laid off from the aviation company I had been working with. My life felt like it was turned upside down. But even then, I didn’t let go of my motivation. I wanted to keep going and follow my ambition of becoming a photographer. That decision eventually brought me to the UK for my MA in Photography. All of those experiences shaped the work I do now, and this series grew out of that journey.