Simon Chang: Halfway Home

I rarely show photographs of my birthplace, Taiwan. Almost never. I have lived in Europe for over 20 years. Taiwan has become something in-between for me; something that no longer exists, but has not yet completely disappeared. Halfway home.
I miss it in unexpected ways, especially when I see the sea. That's when homesickness sets in. Not exactly for my hometown, but more for the feeling. For a home that is no longer there.
When I look at the photos I took in Taiwan, I feel like I'm watching scenes from a movie. They are memory and fiction at the same time. I no longer know how real they are. I only know that half of it is a consequence of longing...
— Simon Chang
Simon Chang is a documentary photographer who has lived and worked in Europe since 2003. His work primarily focuses on the stories of people whose voices are rarely heard, marginalized communities, and issues of mental health in post-conflict societies.
After completing his studies at the Department of Communication Arts at Fu Jen University in Taipei, he moved to Prague in 2004, where he was accepted into the master's program in photography at the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts (FAMU). Since 2010, he has lived and worked in Ljubljana.
His works have been presented in museums, galleries, and festivals across Europe and Asia. His latest photo book, Shepherds and Slaughterhouse, received the award for the most beautifully designed book at the Slovenian Book Fair in 2023.