Yian Huang, co-founder of co-working space The Great Room, was set for a financial consultancy career until photography got in the way.
Yian Huang, co-founder of co-working space The Great Room, was set for a financial consultancy career until photography got in the way.
His resume reads like that of a CBD denizen: Bachelor of Sciences in Economics and Engineering from University of Pennsylvania, Master degrees in Journalism and International Affairs at Columbia University, followed by work as a management consultant at Bain & Co, Silicon Valley.
Yet, in between the academic highlights were blistering spells snapping ethnic conflict in Ramallah. The year was 2004, and Singaporean Yian Huang, hungering for adventure and life experience, had just arrived as a freelance photographer in the Palestinian city. It was safer than Darfur, a veteran photographer had advised him in Paris, where Huang was gunning for a job at a photo agency. “He said that if you survive the first few weeks, you’ll be fine,” the father of two relates now, seated in a plush chair of his just launched co-working space at 1 George Street.
Taking his colleague’s pointer, Huang stayed put in his room that first night, despite the incendiary sound of gunfire outside his window. “I didn’t have any friends or fixers, so maybe it was the right decision at the time,” the 43-year-old reminisces. He would stay for two years to deliver photos for the Associated Press. When he left, it was to enrol in Columbia to better understand what he was photographing.
Says Huang: “I am an introvert. Photography gives me a reason to reach out to people.” It’s why he is at ease being boss of a co- working space now. “I talk to all kinds of people here; it’s exciting.” Besides, he hasn’t put down his camera yet. Here, he documents people on the edge of passion.
PILLOW FIGHT, NEW YORK People just showed up at Union Square at noon with pillows under their jackets. I am not a pillow fight kind of person, but photography gave me an excuse to be among them.
ZAKARIA ZUBEIDI, WEST BANK I met this Palestinian militant leader at a polling station in Jenin. He came with his gang of 15 guys, all carrying machine guns, and calmly handed over his IC card. A tense moment was defused.
SAPEUR-POMPIER, FRANCE Fire fighters protesting for better working conditions and danger pay.
SAN PEDRO CUTUD, THE PHILIPPINES Every year, the city of San Fernando reenacts the crucifixion of Jesus. The pilgrims caught me trying to photograph a young girl and got me to carry the cross so they could photograph me instead. I carried it for 500m before they took pity on me.
