Singapore: Work in progress
Masjid al Mukminin, Jurong
I have passed the halfway mark of my one-month residency at Objectifs Center for Photography and Filmmaking in Singapore. I’m teaching workshops, making presentations, and working on a project, a series of photographs (with audio and possibly video) about faith and spirituality here.
It took me two weeks of making photos in houses of worship to get any perspective on what I have actually been producing. I realized that the photographs are less about people’s “faith” and much more about the places of worship themselves and the rituals performed there.
Sri Krishnan Temple (Hindu), Waterloo Street
To gain access to these places, I have behaved like a journalist, trudging from mosque to church to temple (and telephoning as well), approaching officials, and asking for permission to photograph and record interviews. So far, I have made my pitch at roughly a dozen houses of worship, been granted varying levels of access at six, turned down by two, and don’t-call-us-we’ll-call-youed by the rest.
Hong San Si (Daoist), Kembangan
Once I have gained access, however, I have responded more like a visual artist than a reporter. I’m now working from a distance, often from the side or behind, not getting in people’s faces. I’m trying to portray something essential about the rituals of worship without turning them into exotic spectacles, and I’m trying to balance my literal, newsman’s impulse with my desire to be more lyrical.
Masjid Sultan, Kampong Glam
I think that by backing off I have granted myself a reprieve (subconsciously) from my usual journalistic confronting and prodding. But I’m also responding to the sacredness of these spaces for the worshippers. I’m not religious. In fact, I’m a rather hardheaded secular humanist. I am deeply mistrustful—and sometimes afraid—of people who use religion as a weapon to diminish, divide, and destroy those who don’t practice as they do. But I have encountered a number of exceptional people of faith in my 20-plus years as a traveling journalist/human—men and women for whom belief, not simply religion, is the organizing principle of their lives. I don’t have to understand or emulate them, but I respect them. So rather than poking and prodding people here to explain and justify their faith, I’m doing my best to look and listen.
Bethesda Chapel, Kembangan
More to follow.
16 April 2010
The pictures are beautiful…
I’m from Singapore btw. S’pore is a multi-racial and cultural place. Lots to see and learn from here:)
chariot13
2 thAmerica/New_Yorkp30America/New_York04bAmerica/New_YorkFri, 16 Apr 2010 13:36:10 +0000 2009 at 13:36
great images!
thanks for sharing
http://www.tracyzhangphoto.wordpress.com/
Tracy
2 thAmerica/New_Yorkp30America/New_York04bAmerica/New_YorkFri, 16 Apr 2010 13:59:09 +0000 2009 at 13:59
beautiful, brian. your words as well as the images. this is the smoothest, most insightful and accessible explanation of where you are literally, emotionally, professionally. i’m so happy to see this. and congrats for wordpress front page run. B
Bari
2 thAmerica/New_Yorkp30America/New_York04bAmerica/New_YorkFri, 16 Apr 2010 16:33:40 +0000 2009 at 16:33
Great – I am particularly impressed by the Singapore’s progess in such short time. Adam Khoo, one of the youngest millionaire of Singapore has also narrated Singapore’s success in his book and one of the lessone I learnt was: Nothing is impossible. You may read more on http://wp.me/pHUHq-9e
It was really nice to see a journalist with such ideas to listen to religious people and take photos. We look forward for more picture and more experience sharing from your side
Malik Mirza
2 thAmerica/New_Yorkp30America/New_York04bAmerica/New_YorkFri, 16 Apr 2010 17:35:01 +0000 2009 at 17:35
this is great a steping back was a great idea
Gerard H. Gaskin
2 thAmerica/New_Yorkp30America/New_York04bAmerica/New_YorkFri, 16 Apr 2010 17:51:15 +0000 2009 at 17:51
Singapore is a great place. Nice pictures.
Remain.Simple
Remain.Simple
2 thAmerica/New_Yorkp30America/New_York04bAmerica/New_YorkFri, 16 Apr 2010 20:25:50 +0000 2009 at 20:25
it is interesting to see this other aspect of the ways you see appear in this new body of work. I am looking forward to watching it unfold.
Ian Summers
2 thAmerica/New_Yorkp30America/New_York04bAmerica/New_YorkFri, 16 Apr 2010 20:28:20 +0000 2009 at 20:28
It is lyrical and dream-like. Wonderful seeing and hearing the process and discoveries of making these photographs.
Yuko Uchikawa
2 thAmerica/New_Yorkp30America/New_York04bAmerica/New_YorkSat, 17 Apr 2010 01:21:06 +0000 2009 at 01:21
oh my God, that’s really cleanness, clean people, human being peace in the world, greeting for Indonesia
soepri
2 thAmerica/New_Yorkp30America/New_York04bAmerica/New_YorkSat, 17 Apr 2010 02:11:50 +0000 2009 at 02:11
nice picture.. interesting blog..
Simon
2 thAmerica/New_Yorkp30America/New_York04bAmerica/New_YorkSat, 17 Apr 2010 04:34:52 +0000 2009 at 04:34
Great photos!
Kris
2 thAmerica/New_Yorkp30America/New_York04bAmerica/New_YorkSat, 17 Apr 2010 06:34:59 +0000 2009 at 06:34
[...] Singapore: Work in progress from when the dust clears – Great pictures from the far side of the world. [...]
RegenAxe Goes Viral « RegenAxe
2 thAmerica/New_Yorkp30America/New_York04bAmerica/New_YorkSat, 17 Apr 2010 12:56:32 +0000 2009 at 12:56
I found your site from the WordPress.com page which has several sites that are strong enough to make the page.
Your site is wonderful and beautiful..
Thanks.
unforgivens
2 thAmerica/New_Yorkp31America/New_York05bAmerica/New_YorkTue, 18 May 2010 20:14:49 +0000 2009 at 20:14
[...] The busiest day of the year was April 16th with 612 views. The most popular post that day was Singapore: Work in progress. [...]
2010 in review « when the dust clears
2 thAmerica/New_Yorkp31America/New_York01bAmerica/New_YorkSun, 09 Jan 2011 10:24:23 +0000 2009 at 10:24