ENG, Teresa - Speaking of Scars

- sold -

Personal statement by photographer Teresa ENG, background information

"The (out of print) photography book 'Speaking of scars' deals with trauma and memory. Over a period of three years, Chinese-Canadian photographer Teresa ENG used photography to process an experience that could not be processed. In the book, memory takes the form of images as it repeats and reconfigures itself around new and existing experiences. Despite the fragility of the images, the book expresses its brutal theme in a sensitive way, exploring the complexity of trauma. The details of mundane life offer a world where things that once seemed harmless become threatening; yet beauty has resonance. 'Speaking of Scars' is an expression of the unspeakable, transforming unimaginable events into a visible language." (Teresa ENG)

Reception

'It is a wonderful book that deals with feelings that are almost impossible to describe. In fact, the book exists only because of a terrible incident. I am grateful that Teresa Eng writes about it in her epilogue:' 'I was in Calais working on a photography project about displaced migrants when I was raped. I tried to process what had happened, but was overwhelmed by traumatic states in the process. The return to everyday life was accompanied by agonizing flashbacks. I always found words insufficient to talk about trauma. Through photography, I was able to transform the unspeakable into a visible language.' (Teresa ENG)
And this is exactly what Teresa ENG has done. With her images, with the sequence in which some photographs are shown multiple times, and with handmade features such as foldouts and pasted images that half-cover others. Please handle with care!" (© Hannes Wanderer, 25books)
What's left to add to that? Thank you, Hannes!

Additional information

This photo volume, 'Speaking of scars' by Teresa ENG, was shortlisted at several photography book festivals:

• Paris-Photo Aperture First Book Prize
  Les Rencontres Arles, Prix du Livre.
  Dummy Prize, Photo Book Festival

About Canadian photographer with Chinese descent, Teresa ENG

Photo books by as well as with works by Teresa ENG