Capturing the multiplicity of brown Asian masculinity, Hidhir Badaruddin aims to change the narrative

“As a brown Asian male, being able to tell my own story or vision was important to me,” explains Hidhir Badaruddin, “photography is just an outlet for me to do this.” A recent graduate from London College of Fashion, photography wasn’t always the obvious mode of expression for Hidhir. He grew up in Singapore where he found that “a career within the creative industry wasn’t an ideal path for a young Asian man”. But with time, this couldn’t stop him. He would go on to explore the nuanced multiplicity of Asian male identity through the medium, examining the gaps between the Western presumptions of such an identity while using his own experiences of self-discovery too. 

From a young age, he would visually capture anything and everything that caught his eye. Over time, he became more attuned to how people (amongst other things) change with circumstance and age. He developed a fondness for recording such moments on the cusp of transition, moments which could never be replicated again. This soon became second nature and in turn, the photography followed as a natural progression for Hidhir, leading him onto the path we are celebrating today. 

His interest in photography flourished when he came to London, moving in tandem beside his other diverging investigations of cultural identity, sexuality and gender. “Being in London but coming from a different cultural background allowed me to be proud of who I am, more than I ever allowed myself to be back home in Singapore. I began to understand my sexuality and my ethnic identity and I translated that into my photography, just as my view of the world changed.” 

Now he presents this worldly perspective in his striking portfolio centred on portraiture. Hidhir’s images are subtly framed by both the sitter’s and his own vantage point; thoughtful composites highlighting a range of personalities that don’t align with the canon. It’s an extensive portfolio for someone just graduated, a body of work which an artist with twice his experience would be pleased to present. Speaking of his process and journey in making this work, below, we hear from Hidhir himself on the work he’s produced and what he hopes for the future. 

INT: Your work considers both Western and Eastern points of view in its exploration of Asian masculinity and what mainstream culture portrays it as – but do you have a particular audience in mind when you create your work? Is there a particular demographic you’d like to target with your work? 

HB: Growing up in Singapore and moving to London allowed me to have both Western and Eastern points of view. My photography reflects the inclusive vision that challenges Eurocentric beauty standards, where light skin or features have been largely favoured. My photography is directed to the representation of LGBTQ+ and BAME communities, but ultimately my goal is for my work to reach a wider audience. Normalising the presence of Asian identities of different shades and sexualities in the media is one of my main goals. 

As a queer brown Asian male, I’ve found myself excluded from the narrative of what people in the West perceive to be Asian masculinity. Being able to see yourself, your community or identity portrayed is so important – especially for the younger generations growing up right now. It should never be a checklist or a trend to have diverse ethnics or sexualities. I’ve always believed that diversity should be both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. I wanted to create a photo series which explores both the themes of Asian identity and masculinity, so what better way to express this than through visually capturing it myself.

INT: What's the most valuable lesson you learned during your time at university?

HB: Gaining knowledge and experience through working with creatives I admire in the industry taught me so much. Waiting on a brief to be handed out to me in class had only its limitations. I quickly realised that if I wanted to learn more, I had to learn outside of university. Working with my peers during university has been incredibly valuable. Collaborative projects or simply gaining feedback from my peers has definitely shaped my thought process. You can get so caught up in your own thoughts especially with creative work. I think being open to hearing different opinions – and knowing how to process them – is vital.

INT: Speaking of the future, what would be your dream project to work on, and with who? 

HB: This is a very tough question for me as a recent graduate as I would love to explore every possibility I can get my hands on. I feel like a dream project for me would be to expand my photo series Younglawa into a bigger platform, something to empower young Asian men of all backgrounds in fashion or in the media. Prior to coming to London, I’ve always been a huge fan of Jonathan Anderson’s work with Loewe and his namesake brand J. W. Anderson. I love how he pushes gender norms in fashion. It would be amazing to work with him someday. I would love to work with pop artist Troye Sivan on a visual project exploring gender diversity and challenge masculinity in pop culture. He has always been such a prominent queer figure for me growing up.