Photography professor pivots profession option to pursue her ardour

Before turning into an internationally acknowledged photographer, El Camino College professor Weng San Sit labored the shipyards.

After incomes an economics bachelor’s diploma from the National University of Singapore, Sit labored the chemical upkeep business in Singapore, specializing in stain removing and rust prevention for shipyards.

“When I was young my family would never talk about art,” Sit stated.

After a decade of service within the shipyards, she determined to vary her life and embrace her private pursuits.

“I photographed as much as I could,” she stated. “When I submitted the photo, I thought it was as good I could do. When I won, I won $10,000.”

Her first award, after half a decade of self‑research, was the 2008 United Overseas Bank Painting of the Year Award in Photography. A yr later, she earned her first certificates from the International Center of Photography in Singapore.

“The photo was published in the local newspaper and after that, one thing led to another and I moved to America,” she stated.

A decade as an educator later, her work obtained worldwide recognition, together with the Sundance Institute Uprise Grant and the Korea‑Singapore Exchange Grant in 2022.

Sit’s lengthy‑operating sequence “Routine As Repertoire” paperwork the on a regular basis gestures girls use to navigate sickness, incapacity, getting old and different transitions with lengthy‑publicity images and hint actions of sunshine.

In 2024, her collaborative exhibition “Timeless Youth,” created with Korean artist Choi Minkyung at Objectifs Centre for Photography and Film, examined cultural obsessions with youth, anti‑getting old industries and postcolonial histories.

“It’s terrific to have such a highly esteemed photographer conducting the exhibitions,” Dean of Arts, Media and Entertainment Amy Grant stated.

Students and alumni who’ve studied underneath Sit’s steering are given the chance to showcase their photograph prints throughout the Open Frame exhibition held within the Schauerman Library.

“During the 2022 exhibition [San] told me to submit works because she saw potential in my photographs. That really touched me,” scholar at California State University Northridge Victoria Crudup stated.

The Open Frame exhibition opened Tuesday, May 7, in the primary foyer of the Schauerman Library for the reception and the exhibit is open to the general public for viewing.