Photographing Weird, Quirky & Strange Singapore: "There's Always A Story Behind" | Dear Singapore

Key Concepts

• Eggbang Chia (ABC)
• Self-taught photography
• "Little India Tonight" project
• Street photography
• Documentary photography
• Mundane and ordinary
• Beauty in imperfection
• Life reset
• Curiosity and observation
• Underdogs
• Singapore dream

1. Introduction to Eggbang Chia (ABC) and His Photography Journey Eggbang Chia, known as ABC, is a 57-year-old self-employed individual who began his photography journey around the age of 40. He is entirely self-taught, having never attended any photography school, and emphasizes making do with available resources, starting his work with an iPhone.

2. The "Little India Tonight" Project: Documenting a Hidden Universe ABC dedicated three years to his project, "Little India Tonight," which aimed to document the vibrant, often unseen, nocturnal life of Little India.

• Dedication: Every night after his day job, he would walk around Little India until 2-3 AM on weekdays, and until the next morning on weekends.
• Transformation: He highlights the stark contrast between Little India during the day and its "different universe" at night, where "the streets are ours."
• Intimate Observations: He gained "a peak into their living quarters," observing residents who were "very chill," sitting on beds, and talking to family on the phone. He noted their hospitality, as they often offered him snacks.
• Human Connection: He recalls a cook sitting on a spiral staircase and residents proudly showing him family photos upon realizing he was a photographer, allowing him to see "a slice of their life working in Singapore."
• "Alleys as Playground": ABC considers the alleys of Little India his "playground," describing them as "the prettiest area that you can find in Singapore."

3. Photography Philosophy: Beyond the Postcard ABC's approach to photography is deeply rooted in finding significance in the everyday and overlooked.

• Stories in the Ordinary: He believes, "I always felt that the mundane and the ordinary, there's always a story behind."
• Rejecting "Postcard Singapore": While acknowledging the need for "postcard images to attract tourism," he deliberately avoids this style, stating, "The reason why I don't pursue it because people are doing that. So why should I want to do that?"
• "Beauty in Imperfection": His personal motto is, "Dear Singapore, there's beauty in imperfection."
• Authenticity and Acceptance: He aims to "capture as it is," accepting that "if I miss the moment it's okay it's not the end of the world."
• Observational Skills: He describes Singapore as "a very difficult place to shoot," but clarifies, "It's not boring. It's just whether you're observant enough." He stresses that "Curiosity is very important."
• Focus on the Quirky: His artistic inclination is "always geared towards the quirky, weird, or strange people than supermodels or pretty faces." He cites an example of a lady who carries her "Winnie the Pooh doll" everywhere (to eat, watch movies), which he finds "a very beautiful thing," despite others potentially finding it weird.
• Non-Judgmental Perspective: He advocates, "don't judge people," recognizing that "we all have our different kind of love towards different thing and I don't think it's wrong."

4. Career Transition and Life Reset After nearly 30 years in the creative industry, ABC made a significant life change.

• Quitting for Passion: Last year, he decided to "quit my job and do what I love to do, that is photography and creating art."
• "Resetting My Life": He views this transition as "basically just resetting my life."
• Defying Expectations: Despite advice from close friends to "stick to your job and, you know, work until you retire at 65," he followed his conviction, asking himself, "if I don't do it now then when?"

5. Life Lessons and Personal Growth ABC reflects on personal growth and resilience.

• Overcoming Regrets: He previously worried about the future and looked back at his past "with regrets and all that."
• Learning from Mistakes: He shares the story of an "ex gangster from the famous gang Akong" who, after prison, now "just want to live a simple life."
• Process of Moving Forward: He concludes, "At the end of day we make mistakes we learn. We move on. We let it go. We rebuild."

6. Community, Inspiration, and Recognition Beyond his individual work, ABC finds community and inspires others.

• Pastime and Community: When not photographing, he enjoys cycling. He met a group of friends through cycling a couple of years ago, some of whom share his love for photography.
• Inspiring Others: A friend attests to ABC's unique vision, stating, "I always say when I stand next to ABC, I cannot see what he sees. He tells their story underdogs." This friend, experiencing burnout, found inspiration in ABC's continued activity at his age, noting, "age is just a dumb."
• Gratitude and Humility: ABC feels "very blessed" by the experiences that have shaped him. He never expected recognition but acknowledges it's "a good feeling." However, he maintains humility, stating, "that doesn't mean that you're good. There are always others better than me and I just continue to do what I love. And if people like it, great. If not, it's okay."

7. The Singapore Dream and Individual Paths ABC offers a perspective on personal aspirations.

• Individual Versions: He believes "everyone has their own version" of the Singapore dream.
• Non-Comparison: He advises against comparison, emphasizing, "We shouldn't compare. At the end of the day, you're living your life. You're not living others people dream."

8. Synthesis/Conclusion Eggbang Chia (ABC) exemplifies a profound dedication to self-taught street and documentary photography, driven by a philosophy of finding beauty and untold stories in the mundane and imperfect. His "Little India Tonight" project showcases his commitment to capturing authentic life beyond conventional tourist imagery. At 57, he made a courageous "life reset" to pursue his passion, advocating for curiosity, non-judgment, and the importance of living one's own truth. His journey serves as an inspiration, demonstrating that age is no barrier to pursuing one's dreams and that true fulfillment comes from embracing one's unique vision rather than conforming to external expectations or comparisons.