PBS’s “Independent Lens,” the long-running showcase for documentary filmmaking, presents a fascinating story of artistic rediscovery this Monday with “Who Is Michael Jang?” The film centers on the work of the titular San Francisco artist, whose collection of photographs – taken primarily in his 20s and then hidden away for years – presents a unique view of a specific time and place.
Jang’s images capture candid moments of both celebrity encounters and everyday Chinese American family life. It’s a rare and engaging combination, a cross-section of experience that’s not often documented with such intimacy and humor. Having spent years as a working commercial and portrait photographer, Jang now seeks to share his earlier, more personal work with the world, adopting a guerilla-style approach to getting his art noticed.
“Who Is Michael Jang?” is not just about the photographs themselves; it’s about the man behind the lens, his story of artistic evolution, and what it means to rediscover one’s own creative past. The documentary airs this Monday, May 19 at 10:00 PM ET on PBS.
