Spotlight.
Andrew Wang
INTRODUCTION
Andrew Wang is based in the Scottish Borders and is founder and organiser of ESEA Outdoors UK, a grassroots community celebrating the representation of East & Southeast Asian people in the UK outdoors and fighting racism. In his writing and speaking, Andrew explores inequities of access to the outdoors and its role in the climate crisis through the lenses of running and walking.
INTERVIEW
What themes do you tend to interrogate in your creative practices?
I am inspired by how outdoor activities, such as running, walking or climbing, let me build connections with and tell stories about landscapes, rivers and rural heritage. I enjoy using this connection to motivate the urgent need for increasing access to the outdoors for underrepresented people, such as those in the East & Southeast Asian community - the solutions to nature crises simply cannot exist without it.
What advice would you have for creatives of colour looking to get into your creative practices?
Across outdoors and nature media, pockets of journalists and editors are now realising that they need to platform diverse voices in order to tell unheard stories and sustain the future of the public's relationship with the outdoors. Joining community directories such as those of All The Elements or We Are Here Scotland allows your work to be discovered. Don't be afraid to state what your community needs from the outdoors and nature world - there are organisations in the sector itching to learn from your lived experiences.
What are you currently working on?
I'm currently working on a creative piece for the British Mountaineering Council's "We Wild Camp" campaign for wild camping - stay tuned!