Statement by Steven Lee

I am most drawn to individuals with stories to tell, common people with imperfections. I see my own vulnerability in theirs.
In this series, I photograph people in the neighbourhood that I grew up in. Being one of Singapore’s oldest housing estates developed by the government’s public housing authority, Queenstown is populated with curious characters. Some have lived in this area all their lives, building a tight knit social group within the estate, while others are foreigners, making this place home temporarily.
I find myself being captivated by the way these individuals move and rest in their spaces. My approach focuses on my sitters’ personalities, relationships and their spaces. Often photographing them in their homes and workspaces, the images offer an insider’s peek into the psyche and lives of Singaporeans, while subtly suggesting how people deal with loneliness. While the nation is often conveniently dismissed as monotonous and operating with clinical dentistry, the presence of these tenderly ordinary individuals enchanting.


Alecia Neo is a photographer based in Singapore.
To view more of Alecia Neo's work, please visit her website.