Object and Representation of Self
My grandfather always wore a hat when he leaves the house. He was a man with pride, therefore I assumed the hat was to make him look presentable, and to cover his balding head. The hat covered what seemed to be vulnerable to my grandfather, the way I use the hat to cover my face during this period of grief from losing a person.
I shot these images with the intention of conveying the loneliness of being left behind and the inevitability of death as a living being.
My face is hidden in the photo as I believe that the inner turmoil of a person cannot be fully expressed on the outside. I want the viewer to experience emotions without being restricted by my facial expression in the image, just like in Magritte’s paintings.
The photo was taken from a distance with a wall in between to isolate and separate the viewer from the subject matter, the way death separates people.
The shadows in this close-up shot adds solemness to the image.
I felt that the perspective successfully conveys the inevitability of death. The depth gives the illusion that the subject matter is approaching and confronts the viewer in a manner which cannot be avoided.
My World
Singapore is not a place I have an attachment to as most of my close relatives are in Japan. Rather than choosing a place that is significant to me, I approached this project by thinking about the difference between Singapore and Japan. One of the greatest difference is that Singapore advanced as a country so rapidly and drastically to the point that the people aren’t keeping up with the pace, in my opinion. It seems to me that Singapore is trying too hard to be something she isn’t, neglecting the culture and the essence of the people of her origins. I find this a pity because Singapore has a rich culture worth being proud of instead of promoting a forcibly built reputation like being a “clean and green” city. I wished Singapore embraced her somewhat true self instead of putting up a fake front. Thus in this photography project I captured the raw and unglamorous side of Singapore.
I like the contrast of light between the dark alley way and the bright signboard lights. It is a sight not often seen in modern malls.
Laundry is a mundane routine in life yet there is intimacy in it as there are clothes and underwear a person wears. I captured these shots of hung laundry as I liked that the laundry is exposed to strangers outside despite it being quite a private possession.
I meant for this image to be an invasion of privacy therefore it was shot from a bottom up perspective.
This image captures the wear and tear of the building, as well as the fallen pieces of laundries which are just left there. I feel that it conveys the intention of showing the unglamorous side.
