"Close to Home" is a documentary photo project exploring the pivotal decision of whether or not to continue living in your hometown. Set in the small towns of British Columbia, Canada, the project is captured through the lens of the Chinese-Canadian photographer Kalum Ko, who was born and raised in the small town of Kimberley, British Columbia. From October 1, 2024, to October 1, 2025, the project will engage with the locals capturing an intimate look at the range of people’s sense of belonging, and the pushes and pulls of their communities. It will use documentary photography to capture portraits and candid moments of the local community members/organization, Kalum's family, and locals found through street casting. I would use the scholarship funding to assist in the costs of travelling on the road to capture the images and to develop, scan, and process the medium format film I capture the project on. With my intimate connection to Close to Home’s theme and deep commitment to the work, I aim to create a body of images focused on Canadian culture that are timeless, comprehensive, and resonate globally. I will use the body of work to further my artistic practice with projects that investigate Canadians’ way of life and identity.
