Chinese girls in NY are girls born and raised in China who later migrated to New York. Ouyang crafts environmental portrait-style narratives from a female gaze of aesthetic, empathy, and self-exploration. She shoots in locations that carry a sense of intimacy: their homes, studios, or places reminiscent of their hometown. The concept of semi-documentary narrative, enriched by elements of construction and re-staging, aims to paint a factual image of Chinese girls living abroad, exploring their cultural identity and sense of belonging at the moment of their transnational lives. The images also respond to the narrow beauty aesthetics and cultural stereotypes of Chinese girls portrayed by the mainstream media.
