Photography
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Nikki Hung
Photographer
Photographer
© Nikki Hung
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© Nikki Hung
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© Nikki Hung
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Nikki discusses her love of taphophilia. I have been going for walks in cemeteries since I was in high school. I always enjoyed the quiet serenity of the grounds and the beauty of the monuments. As I got to explore more cemetery locations, I kept noticing so many different framed shots with my eye, and I kept thinking, ‘This would look nice photographed.’ I just started taking photographs of whatever I liked - statues, flowers, ground cover, buildings, detail work - whatever I wanted. And it just took off from there. I didn’t realize that “taphophilia” (the love or appreciation of cemeteries) has a fairly big online fanbase, and there are so many wonderfully talented photographers and artists who are also exploring the subject in their own unique way. Since I started, my taphophilia fanbase has rapidly grown. It gives me great joy to explore a subject that secretly gives so many others the same joy. Since 2018, I have traveled to five different states in the U.S., and I’ve photographed over 75 cemeteries. Last year, I had plans to travel to more states and to travel internationally, but that had to be delayed. Fortunately, there are so many beautiful places to explore right here in the Hudson Valley, so I was able to keep myself busy with local projects while dealing with the fallout of the pandemic. |
How would you describe your style?
I’m constantly trying to find the balance between dark art and traditional photography. I absolutely love portraying more unconventional subjects, but I’m also drawn to the beauty of a great landscape. There are many fans of my “taphophilia” works, but every once in a while, I’ll get someone who requests more traditional subject matter (e.g. my husband - ha!).
I’m constantly trying to find the balance between dark art and traditional photography. I absolutely love portraying more unconventional subjects, but I’m also drawn to the beauty of a great landscape. There are many fans of my “taphophilia” works, but every once in a while, I’ll get someone who requests more traditional subject matter (e.g. my husband - ha!).
© Nikki Hung
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© Nikki Hung
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© Nikki Hung
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"These days, my schedule is very much filled with running Womenswork.Art in Poughkeepsie, a full-time job in the community, and raising a family. I hope to have more time to explore new subject matter sometime this year, and I hope that we can all return to a sense of normalcy." ~ Nikki Hung |
What other subject matter interests you?
There’s so much that interests me, especially weird topics. One week, I’ll be reading up feverishly about the Yokai of Japan; the next week it will be the complete filmography of Ed Wood. Thank the gods for the Internet!
In the past, I have incorporated film scenes from B-horror films into my works. It would be nice to re-explore those themes again as photographs.
When weather permits, I love to hike and photograph local landscapes or other places I travel to. I particularly enjoy urbex photography (photographing abandoned buildings and sites). I am in the planning stages of a new series of photography that will highlight the abandoned buildings around Poughkeepsie, NY and in other Hudson Valley region locations.
There’s so much that interests me, especially weird topics. One week, I’ll be reading up feverishly about the Yokai of Japan; the next week it will be the complete filmography of Ed Wood. Thank the gods for the Internet!
In the past, I have incorporated film scenes from B-horror films into my works. It would be nice to re-explore those themes again as photographs.
When weather permits, I love to hike and photograph local landscapes or other places I travel to. I particularly enjoy urbex photography (photographing abandoned buildings and sites). I am in the planning stages of a new series of photography that will highlight the abandoned buildings around Poughkeepsie, NY and in other Hudson Valley region locations.
© Nikki Hung
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© Nikki Hung
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Womenswork.Art is a small, independent arts organization which focuses on women artists and curators from the Hudson Valley, and, more recently, on an international scale. In the summer of 2020, the organization started the process of becoming a not-for-profit and is currently selecting a board of directors, a group of advisors, a volunteer base and curatorial teams in order to reach a broader audience of artists and supporters. The hope is to expand programming and exhibitions once the pandemic is under control.
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Nikki Hung was born in Sleepy Hollow, NY and grew up in the Hudson Valley region. Her passion for the arts started at a young age, and she pursued various mediums and methods, including illustration, painting, ceramics, graphic design and photography.
She worked as a freelance graphic designer and illustrator with her company Cute Core Designs. In 2013, she started working with the Dutchess County Art Association/Barrett Art Center as a volunteer and eventually became a member of the board of directors. More recently, she became involved with Womenswork.Art, a new art gallery promoting 'under the radar' and emerging female artists in the Hudson Valley. She was appointed Gallery Director in 2019. Currently, she is focused on photography, especially concerning the following themes: nature, people watching, taphophilia and tombstone tourism. Her work has been exhibited in New York City and throughout the Hudson Valley region. She resides in Poughkeepsie, NY with her husband, daughter and their dog, Davey. |
