Written by: Tang Kai Xian

Walking under the illuminated ‘library@orchard’ letters, past the video wall on my right, I was greeted by a standalone poster ‘A Thousand Words: Photography in conTEXT’ together with its 3 accompanying booths behind it. This exhibition is part of the annual Singapore Art Week that kicked off on 6 January 2023. It showcases the works of 40 artists and photographers of diverse backgrounds: professionals, amateurs, students. There are 23 physical works on display at the booths while the rest are played in a loop at the video wall at the main entrance.

‘A picture is worth a thousand words’ is a well-known adage. It refers to the notion that a picture can convey a story as effectively as a large chunk of text. This is not to say that words are impotent. Each artwork is paired with literature excerpts, such as Shakespeare. They not only bring in insights into how people perceive photography and literature but acknowledge the connection between both art forms. The artworks and their accompanying texts can be found in books in the National Library Board collection. Promoting cross-cultural understanding through literature and art, the exhibition explores the spectrum across which we understand, communicate, and find meaningful connections in our lives.

The cover picture representing this exhibition on the Singapore Art Week website is Long Wait, 2022 by Kantaya New. Kantaya New is a Singapore-based Urban Photo Artist. Her picture, Long Wait has won Silver Award, TIFA 2021 and Gold Award, BIFA 2021 and was shortlisted for SONY World Photography Awards 2022. Its accompanying literary text is Waiting for Godot, 1948 by Samuel Beckett.

This photo shows the seats of an open-air theatre in-between show times. Most of the audience has left and only 2 people have stayed to wait for the next movie to be shown. The guy has entered a slumber while the girl is checking her phone. She is having a dilemma on how to spend this lull time - Should she leave and come back at a later time or stay put and wait?

Waiting for Godot is a tragicomedy that is presented in two acts, written by Samuel Beckett. 2 characters, Vladimir and Estragon engage in a variety of discussions and encounters while waiting for a mysterious Godot who sends word that he is coming but fails to show up. Like Waiting for Godot, Long Wait examines the concept of waiting and the importance of patience since much of life has yet to be unravelled. In the photo, Kantaya mused on each moment and each chance encounter which is unique and therefore a need to deliberate and savour every moment.

You can appreciate Kantanya New’s as well as artworks by the other 39 artists and photographers in A Thousand Words: Photography in conTEXT held at Library@Orchard from 6 to 9 January 2023 from 11am to 9pm. Free admission.

You can find more information about this exhibition here: https://www.artweek.sg/events/a-thousand-words-photography-in-context

References:

https://budapestfotoawards.com/winners/bifa/2021/5877/

https://www.studysmarter.co.uk/explanations/english-literature/dramatists/waiting-for-godot/