Video

How This Photographer Used Selfies To Explore Layers Of Identity

How can selfies become a meditation on culture, politics, and personal identity? In this video, Nerdwriter and the National Gallery of Art explore the extraordinary work of photographer Tseng Kwong Chi, whose iconic series East Meets West (1979–1989) blends self-portraiture, performance, and satire. Posing in a "Mao suit" before American and international landmarks, Tseng created the character of the "Ambiguous Ambassador" to provoke questions about identity, diplomacy, and belonging.

This video is part of a broader conversation inspired by the "The 70s Lens" exhibition at the National Gallery of Art, which explores how 1970s photographers used the camera to examine shifting identities. It was created by Nerdwriter in collaboration with the National Gallery of Art.

Dive into the layered genius of Tseng Kwong Chi-and see how one artist turned the act of taking a photo into an exploration of self and society.

The image shows the upper half of a person in the foreground of a nighttime scene. The person stands slightly turned to the side, looking upward and outward to their right. Their facial features are highlighted by the lighting, showing a focused expression, with short, dark hair styled neatly. The person is dressed in a uniform with a mandarin collar, buttoned up and featuring a high level of tailoring, and worn over a plain shirt. There is an identification badge pinned to their left chest pocket. The person is holding an object with one hand, though details of the object aren't clear. The background prominently features the brightly illuminated dome of the United States Capitol Building, and the contrasting dark sky accentuates the architectural details. The area surrounding the capitol appears well-lit, emphasizing the structure's iconic presence.

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Two Black men stand in a subway car facing the camera. Both are shown from the hips up. The man on the left wears a black leather jacket and brown fur hat, and wraps his arms around the body. He has a neutral expression but direct gaze. The man on the right wears a black leather jacket over a brown sweater. He points a finger on each hand at his head, which is topped by a brown newsboy cap.

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