TREASURE HUNTERS

Portrait Series by Emma Marie Chiang

There are those who become so attached to “things” that it becomes a part of their identity. They are always on the lookout for that particular item that’s missing from their collection, whether it is on a street corner or in an antique store.  Anyone can be a collector, but not everyone will let it consume his or her lives.  I became fascinated with how people identify themselves by their material collections.

While setting up each portrait I learned how the items people collected had a significant meaning in their life story.  Their collection not only took over physical space in their tiny San Francisco homes but also impacted their relationships with others in their communities.  Some collectors are a part of community groups who share the same common interests.  Each item has a story, and each collector is still on the hunt to expand his or her collection.