IN THE CORNER of the room is a tree. Dangling from its branches, among the green leaves, are photos of a Chinese family - the Lams, from Manchester. The family tree forms part of an exhibition at London's National Portrait Gallery exploring photo albums from the perspectives of Chinese living in Britain.
The Lams, who run a Chinese restaurant, are one of six families that took part in the project, entitled Cherish: Chinese Families in Britain. Gypsy Lam, a father of two children, spent hours working with photographer Yan Preston devising interesting ways to represent his family. Preston - one of three photographers involved in the project - was born in China and recently moved to Britain after marrying a British man.
Next to Lam's tree is a wooden wardrobe. On the inside of its doors he has pinned a handwritten note: the Lam family rules. They include: Don't kiss; Don't smoke; No swearing; Don't bully; No sleep- overs; and Boyfriends only after university.
Lam's wardrobe has elicited a mixed response in the show's visitors' book. Some say it misrepresents Chinese families, giving the impression that they're austere and controlling. Yet one reads: 'That's exactly what we say in our family.'
The exhibition, for which families across Britain were invited to explore what the notion of family meant to them using photography and other media, was developed in partnership with the Chinese Arts Centre in Manchester.
Project manager Rebecca Connock says one of the families decided to do something stereotypical, representing themselves through Chinese food.