Huh Nam

Nam is a curator and researcher living and working in the Northern England, whose work navigates migration, diaspora, and the representation of marginalised communities in contemporary media and art. With a background in curatorial practice and working as a doctoral researcher in Communications and Media in progress at Loughborough University, her research critically engages with identity, visibility, and power structures. She has been selected for curating exhibitions and screenings internationally, including at Fringe Arts Bath, Migrations Matter Festival(Sheffield), No Bounds Festival(Sheffield), Assembly House(Leeds), and the Seoul Photo Festival, working with artists who challenge dominant narratives through emerging technologies such as VR, sound art, and AI. Her practice is committed to accessibility, social justice, and transnational dialogues, bringing together artists and communities to highlight overlooked perspectives.

PGR Supervisors: Dr Alena Pfoser and Dr Taeyoung Kim

This research traces the evolution of documentary cinema, focusing on the portrayal of East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) migrants in the post-internet era's new media landscape. It analyses the shift in documentary formats with the advent of VR, animation, and interactive media juxtaposed against traditional found footage techniques.

The study spotlights underrepresented ESEA migrant narratives in the UK, particularly in the less documented northern regions. The project adopts a genealogical approach to assess visual representations from the 1950s onward, examining the contrast between Western depictions and those crafted by Asian filmmakers with an authentic perspective. It explores the intersectionality of race, gender, sexuality, and class within documentary films to uncover the layered experiences of Asian minorities, with an emphasis on the emerging creative expression among the ESEA diaspora in Northern England. Key to this exploration is the investigation of post-internet archival materials and their role in contemporary media. The study interrogates how documentaries influence and reflect collective memories, societal views, and the construction of new cultural identities within the ESEA migrant context.

Ultimately, this research aims to elucidate the complex dynamics between migrant representation, cultural identity, and media technology. It seeks to contribute to the discourse on minority portrayal in documentaries, providing insights into the transformative potential of the genre in shaping public perception and the cultural integration of Asian migrants in the UK. The research outcome will be presented in the thesis and the exhibition in mutual complementary ways.