Challenging stereotypes through kisses

Tommy Kha takes on stereotyping through a series of kisses in his photographic series, "Return to Sender." Though the images appear humorous at first--a man of Asian descent staring passively in to the distance as men and women passionately kiss him--the photographic series covers more serious matters. On his website, Kha explains, "While my passive character mirrors stereotypes of the Asian men—usually almost always depicted as neutered, asexual, or submissive within media, it is my transgression as the photographer that undermines this passivity." Though Kha appears distant and disinterested, it is truly he who is control. As the photographer, he intends these images "…to question and confuse the role of the photographer and sitter, protagonist and supporting character, self-portrait and performance."

∆ Image credit: Tommy Kha