Location: Venice High School, Venice, California. The exterior used for Rydell High in the 1978 film, Grease.

Portrait composite shot at GLIUSTUDIO in Hollywood.

Wardrobe: 1970s-80’s pink prom dress.

Photography, lighting, make-up, wardrobe, and performance by Ginger Liu

Ginger Liu

Saudade: American

Saudade is a Portuguese term for a deep melancholic longing or nostalgia for a person, place or time that has gone forever.

American is a portrait of an inveterate exploration into an identity which is defined by an intangible cultural heritage. The Saudade is for the loss of an imagined life.

I was born in the United States and grew up in England and have lived my adult life, equally between two countries. By reconstructing the past using the family album and archives, autobiographical memory, familiar and popular culture, oral and national history, I (re)invent the past using self-portraiture and digitally manipulated photographs to explore perceptions of memory, identity, and multiculturalism.

Digital Image Composite
Location: Venice High School, Los Angeles (external school shot location for the 1977 movie, Grease)
Composite: Hollywood
Wardrobe: Pink lace full-length prom dress

Ginger Liu

photography@gingerliu.com
twitter.com/gingerliu
Ginger Liu

MA Show
30 September – 8 October 2016

Fri 30 Sep- Sat 8 Oct (Private viewing on Thu 29 Sep, 5.30pm-8.30pm), Manchester Art, MMU, Cavendish Street, Manchester, M15 6BR, 0161 247 1751, Mon-Fri: 10am-6pm, Sat: 10am-4pm, closed Sun 2 Oct, FREE,