Founded 10 years ago by social entrepreneur, Bonnie Chiu, a Hong Konger whose grandmother was an Indonesian refugee, Lensational’s core vision has always been the empowerment of women through photography. Current CEO Lydia Wanjiku, currently residing in Kenya, continues to carry forward this commitment. 

What started out as a Facebook group, Lensational is now a global initiative. A registered charity in the United Kingdom, they have members and volunteers from more than 20 countries across Asia and Africa. 

Lensational’s Hong Kong branch is led by a team of volunteers, with the majority of their members made up of Filipino and Indonesian migrant domestic workers (MDWs), who – despite representing more than 5% of the city’s total population – often have a difficult time getting their voices heard. Through the lens of a camera, these women have found a platform for self-expression and an outlet for emotions that can sometimes be hard to describe.

Photography is an artform that transcends gender, social status, and belief. It can bring people together, but can also push them apart. Images have the unique ability of evoking a varying array of feelings and emotions for the observer purely through the sense of sight.

Leeh Ann Hidalgo, one of Lensational’s MDW volunteers and photographers, shares how she developed her love of photography back in 2014, whilst waiting for her new employment visa in Macau: “At that time I really wanted to leave and go home. While I was at the beach, I saw a mother and her child; since I did not have a camera, I took photos with my tablet. When I looked at the photos back at my boarding house, I realised that photography was a way for me to divert my sadness and homesickness. It turned out to be a form of therapy for me.”

Migrant worker life can be tough to say the least. Living away from family and constantly worrying about their well-being, grappling with homesickness and loneliness, it can be hard to maintain a cheery disposition at times. Working hours can be long and the work load can take its toll. But despite all this, migrant women are admirably resilient; it is this same resilience that elevates their grasp of the subjects of their photography.

There is a haunting beauty to Leeh Ann’s photos. She captures what look like intimate and personal moments, giving a feeling of privilege of having peeked behind what she is seeing and perceiving through her own eyes.

Through her art, she has learned a valuable virtue that only the experienced photographer can gain: patience. Her love of shooting daily Hong Kong scenes also means the subject is constantly in motion, fluid, and unpredictable – hence patience is key to capturing the perfect moment, the perfect snapshot. 

Lensational not only offers its members the chance to learn photography, but also the opportunity to showcase their journey, their struggles, and their hopes and dreams. This paves the way for sharing the experiences of MDWs with the local population, introducing them to the vibrant culture of thew migrant community.

One of their latest projects, A Story About You Me and Us, features photographs and stories from eleven women in Hong Kong from all walks of life. Their works were displayed during a 14-day exhibit earlier this year, where the artists went on a journey of self-exploration through internal dialogue, an unfamiliar yet intimate practice. Drawn from this experience, the women presented their vulnerabilities and the source of their strength and happiness. Their mantra: what does not kill you, makes you stronger.

The photographs and stories from this exhibit have now been published into a photobook that can be purchased at 七份一辦館 1.7store.hk and at Book Punch 一拳書館, both in Sham Shui Po.

While Lensational continues to enrich and empower the lives of women around the world, the Hong Kong team remains firm on their dedication to amplify the voices of women, making sure that their stories are heard, understood and, appreciated. 

Lensational offers a much-needed community where their stories are not only celebrated among their peers, but also touch the hearts of others who encounter their art.

What better way to convey their thoughts than through images, a universal language that needs no translation. As the saying goes, ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’; every image is has its own eloquence and stirs up individual emotions we hold dear in our hearts.

As many migrant workers struggle to find their identity and sense of belonging in Hong Kong society, coupled with the loneliness and anxiety for the families they have left behind, Lensational continues to offer a safe and welcoming place for its members to share photography that reflects their rich inner lives.