Spotlight: Photo Projects from Temasek Poly students

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Everyday Muslim4.1km² and I’m Not Sick : Final Year Projects from students at Temasek Polytechnic.

I was recently invited to Temasek Polytechnic by Chow Chee Yong and Isidro Ramirez to offer some critique on the final year diploma projects of their photography students. While I did not see all the projects, there were a few encouraging ones from the lot I critiqued. Here is a preview of three projects from Nadyah Binte Azman, Don Chi and Charlene Yong. Hope this spotlight is a little encouragement to them and all students of photography in Singapore.

Everyday Muslim, by Nadyah Binte Azman

One of the most unnerving things about what Islam and Muslims are perceived as in this day and age, is that we are beings that are completely alien to others. Fear is prevalent, revolving around the concept of ‘us vs them’. When people outside of Islam feel that they cannot relate to Muslims, the hate and prejudice stemming from the fear of the unknown intensifies. Keeping this in mind, The Everyday Muslim is a photographic project that aims to utilise the funny, mundane situations Muslims may find themselves in and translate them into a quirky series of photographs.

Nadyah Binte Azman is a third year student currently pursuing a diploma in Communication Design, Temasek Polytechnic. Although majoring in Photography, Nadyah enjoys creating delving outside of the field and into graphic design as well. She hopes to imbue her works with a sense of purpose by ensuring her nawaitu (intention) for each piece is for the sake of the ummah (muslim community) and her fellow muslims. Photographs and text by Nadyah Binte Azman, more on: http://nadyahbazman.portfoliobox.io.

 4.1km², by Don Chi

 4.1km² was developed from an interest and curiosity of a Singaporean growing up in a fast paced, technologically-wired society; being transported back in time to an island similar in size to Singapore by 4.1km² but with vast differences.

Travelling once every month for the past 4 years as a volunteer at a local orphanage – Yayasan Mentari Dunia, these trips had opened up my fascination to this island, how there is an aspiration and struggle to stay relevant in an ever-changing world.

I begin asking myself questions of progress while exploring Batam, seeing it not just as an island but a city of development. By photographing Batam and its infrastructures, I aim to represent a bigger picture of how people work around given spaces regardless of its limitations or abundance, to create discussions on social constructionism, how we as citizens of our own country, are not just defined by what we are but also by what we are not.

Don Chi is a Singaporean photographer pursuing a Diploma in Communication Design at Temasek Polytechnic, majoring in Photography. With an eye for framing and a heart for the community, he uses photography as a medium to explore, capture and comment on social phenomenas in the world we live in today. Photographs & text by Don Chi, more on: http://donchizhien.wixsite.com.

I’m Not Sick, by Charlene Yong

I’m Not Sick is a photographic exploration which aims to find the answer “To what extent does auto-immune skin diseases affect the way we dress?” Auto-immune skin diseases includes Eczema, Vitiligo and Psoriasis. Such diseases can cause terrible scarring, thick itchy plagues and red patches which are often heavily covered with long clothing. It is common that covering up itchy patches would derive from the fear of any social rejection.

Motivated by believing in the freedom to wear what she wants despite what (disease) she has, Charlene Yong hopes that the process of finding out the relationship between autoimmune skin diseases and fashion apparels could also be therapeutic for those who participate. Photographs and text by Charlene Yong, more on: http://charlene-yong.com.

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Here’s to hoping our young talents brave and ride above the rapid tides of pragmatism in Singapore. Thanks to Chee Yong and Isidro for the opportunity.

 

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