“Wilfred (b.1988) graduated from Nanyang Technological University’s School of Art, Design and Media. He lived and grew up in a small fishing village at the seaside in Pengerang, Southern Malaysia for 18 years before pursuing his education in Singapore.
A fan of classical painting, he utilizes the photographic medium as a painting tool to convey his ideas, often presenting his vision and criticism through dream-like imagery. With Pengerang currently undergoing serious environmental destruction due to the construction of an oil refinery, his works seek to draw attention to and comment on the ongoing happenings in his native hometown.
Wilfred is the international winner of Undergraduate Award 2014 (Visual Art Category). He has also been awarded Noise Singapore Awards (Photography) and 1st prize for Invisible Photographer Asia Photo Book Asia Award.
About ‘Self-Portraits’
“Whenever I need inspiration for my projects, I always talk to myself. The young boy in the photo is a representation of the younger me when I was still living in Malaysia. Being Malaysian Chinese, I have experienced inequity and racial discrimination. I felt my voice constantly being suppressed and remain unheard. Photography thus becomes an outlet where I can voice my opinions.
This series was shot to serve as my commentary on the social-political happenings in my hometown of Pengerang, Malaysia. Unfortunately, Pengerang is currently undergoing serious environmental destruction due to the construction of an oil refinery. The scenarios presented in the images are heightened realities.
Through the manipulation of the metaphorical relationship between the environment and myself, these meticulously composited imageries also aim to criticize the political situation in contemporary Malaysia.”
