As the country basks in the warm afterglow of a 50th birthday party done in a most spectacular fashion, one Singaporean artist chose to pay tribute in a much more sapient manner in his new project called “The Land of My Heart”.
Recently featured in TWENTYFIFTEEN.SG — a contemporary compilation of work from various homegrown artists — New York-based photographer John Clang cuts through all that PR bullshit and presents Singapore in its most truest, most fundamental facet: its heartlands.
Clang juxtaposes the iconic Singapore Airlines girl (commonly associated with excess, luxury and affluence) with the mundane surroundings of HDB estates, swimming pools, wet markets provision stores and more, accompanied by poignant handwritten statements reflecting on the state of everyday Singaporeans. The combination of elements — gorgeous ad-ready former SIA stewardesses, familiar surroundings and melancholic musings — result in a staggering vista of what Singapore truly is.
You can check out more photos on Clang’s website and find out more behind his thought process in an excellent conversation with VICE. When asked about his sentiments about his homeland in its 50th anniversary, he had this to say:
“Singapore is a country where I care about its past, I look forward to its future, but I never [think of its] present. The present slips past us every minute that we are talking. If you live for the present, then there will never be a future. Singaporeans are careless about the present. They think more about the past and they worry about the future. That’s what Singapore is.”
Photos: John Clang Facebook page
