The media coverage of the Hong Kong protests in 2019 has always been deeply complex and highly controversial, oftentimes portraying a distorted reflection of the events that took place as well as their underlying causes. Through my work, I sought to unpack the layers of media bias that have shaped their narrative on a global scale.

The three sets of clear acrylic sheets show moments before, during and after the violence of the protestors. Various elements within them are highlighted as standalone layers with one accompanied word each lifted from testimony provided by my parents who were living in Hong Kong during that time.

These elements are layered physically and conceptually to create a sense of depth to reflect the multifaceted nature of the protests. The answers given by my parents to the questions I had for them regarding the protests are engraved on five separate frosted acrylic sheets, serving as an anchor between media coverage and lived experience.

The materials and techniques I used are an integral part of this process. The frame of the shelf is fixed in place whilst the layers of acrylic are not, allowing for elements in the background to be brought to the foreground. The construction and deconstruction of the various layers of the archival images is crucial in empowering the viewer with the ability to bring emphasis to unintended details captured by their photographers.

The Hong Kong protests, like many movements across the world, reveal the power of media to shape, manipulate and present information in the digital age. My final Media Studies project attempts to create a dialogue with the viewer by inviting them to reflect on the biases that define our shared understanding of pivotal moments in history.