From Darkness Comes Light

This personal project first started the day before my Dad passed in 2015. I took a year off from it due to a severe fracture in my family that came immediately after his passing. Consequently, I was in a very dark spot right up till recently. Working on this series helped me recover emotionally, find fulfillment, and hope that things will get better.

Now why orchids as the subject? I have always had a keen interest in this family of flowering plants. Back in my schooling years, before I could own a proper camera, I would draw orchids. Nothing fancy, but I think they did not look too awful. Still, the camera is my preferred tool for artistic expression. My Dad introduced me to the National Orchid Garden, which I think is the gem of Singapore's Botanic Gardens. He told me one of my granduncles, blessed with green fingers, contributed moth orchids to Singapore’s Botanic Gardens from his collection. It was through him that my Dad came to appreciate orchids. Likewise, through my Dad, I too grew to like them.

I have been experimenting with this low-key brooding look with architecture and street shots, and I thought it would be interesting to utilize this style with exotic orchids. What I did not expect was the permeation of my state of mind onto my photographic works.

Project was first conceived in August 2015, and completed in October 2017.