ARTIST BIO
Mel Tjoeng is a portrait photographer. Being born in Australia and growing up between Papua New Guinea and Hawai’i gave her a unique lens to the world. Living across cultures ignited her love for people, places and all the things that make us, unique. Melanie started photographing people around her at a young age, but it wasn’t until she went to college that she really dived into the world of the still image. For her, the process of taking portraits is more than just that - it is an act of surrender, a catharsis, and a journey into herself through getting to know other people. Melanie says that when taking someone’s portrait, it’s a non-verbal conversation between her and that person.
“I want to see what we have to say to one another”.
Melanie studied fine art photography at ICP in New York in 2015, and has exhibited in Los Angeles, London, New York, Hawai‘i and Mexico between 2010-2023. She was awarded one of the top photographers to follow on instagram by TIME magazine, and elected for photographer of the year by the Governor of Hawai’i. She has been published in many publications worldwide.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Even in silence, the world is always speaking. In my work, the most important thing I am trying to convey is a feeling of not just something to be understood, but something to be felt. Photographs transcend language barriers, allowing a moment of connectedness free from restraints. I use my practice to fuse the internal and external landscapes, a way to connect with people and myself. Bridging a gap, so to speak, moving beyond ourselves to say, ‘I see you’.