Nation Work In Progress by Nicole Quek

“Nation Work In Progress” is a photographic project in celebration of Singapore’s 50th anniversary (SG50) as well as of the people who have worked hard and contributed to our nation. Over the years, Singapore has prospered economically and we have grown stronger as a nation – fostering a stronger bond between our people regardless of race or religion. In line with the nation’s eﬀorts to promote inclusiveness and unity in diversity, this project is targeted at both local and foreign talents who have played an important role in shaping our nation.We do not limit our nation to only people of our nationality i.e. Singaporean. As such, regardless of their class of work, this project will showcase people of various professions. Nation Work in Progress is a project that, as the title would reveal, an ongoing progress. Nicole Quek

MAX LIM MC DONALD’S DELIVERY SERVICE

HAMZA YUSUF VALET ATTENDANT AT THE FULLERTON HOTEL

LORRAINE KOH BOOK AUTHOR

HAN FU CHEN (CHINA) CLEANER

Z.W TAN K.C LEONG OFFICER & WARRANT OFFICER OF THE SINGAPORE ARMED FORCES

CHOO SOOT ANN RICKSHAW DRIVER

CINDY TAN AIR STEWARDESS OF SINGAPORE AIRLINES

SIM BOON HWA CHIEF BUS CAPTAIN

CHARLIE OASAN (PHILIPPINES) PRIEST

KHALIDI KHAIRON FIRE FIGHTER AT CENTRAL FIRE STATION

ISIDRO RAMIREZ (SPAIN) PHOTOGRAPHER EDUCATOR

SWARAN SINGH DOORMAN AT RAFFLES HOTEL

ZHEN ZHU NEWSPAPER DISTRIBUTOR

BERTRAND LEE FILM DIRECTOR

THOMAS TOH PILOT

BENSON KOH POLICE OFFICER OF THE SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE

PAULINE CHOO SALES PERSON AT DUTY FREE

HAZMI ARIS PARAMEDIC

DAVID QUEK FORMER NATIONAL RUGBY UNION TEAM CAPTAIN

MARY THOMAS SENIOR LECTURER AT TEMASEK POLYTECHNIC

ANG AIK KOON KEYSMITH

DZUL ADLY DHL DELIVERY

YEO LEONG ICE-CREAM & DRINKS VENDOR

ROSIHAN DAHIM SURREALISM ARTIST

AMIRUL RIDIQEL MOFL SAZAR DASS RADAO ALI (BANGLADESH) GRASS CUTTERS

Info 125

Macdonald’s Delivery Drivers

115

Valet Attendants

With your convenience, they deliver your

Providing a pleasant valet parking experience

meals 24 hours round the clock right at your

for customers, they anticipate the needs

doorstep, making sure you’re lovin’ it.

of every customer and look to exceed their expectations with each interaction. They maintain a positive attitude at all times.

120

Book Authors

145,700

Cleaners

They are unique as they consists of the

From all races and citizenships, these

country’s 4 main languages: English,

people help keep our country clean and

Mandrin, Tamil and Malay. It also portrays

green. Singapore is one of the few cleanest

various aspects of society and forms a

countries in the world.

significant part of the culture of Singapore.

1.200

Oﬃcers of SAF

300

Rickshaw Drivers

These men are the backbone of the Singapore

Rickshaws were an integral part of the city’s

Armed Forces operational and training units

transportation in the past. Now it is a form of

to develop key competencies in leadership,

sightseeing for foreigners.

tactical warfighting expertise and front-end training supervision.

7,800

Air Steward & Stewardess

Bus Drivers

They have served us around the world with

With high demands of bus services, these

smiles and ensures our comfort. They have

men always greet us with a smile onboard.

made Singapore Airlines the world’s best

We also have one of the most efficient

airlines and its’ service.

transport system in the world.

142

1,800

Diocesan and Religious Priests

Fire Fighters

They share their experience and spread the

These brave and efficient fire fighters risk

love of God to the small catholic community

their lives everyday to save lives and property

in Singapore. They shower us with the many

for a safe and secure Singapore.

blessings and some protect us from evil.

3,500

Photography Educators

140

Newspaper Distributors

With them, many young ones with passion

Without them, we would not recieve everyday

get to learn more of the arts of photography

news. They play a part in keeping busy

through those with years of expierence. They

Singaporeans updated with the current

help expand the arts scene and talent locally.

issues all over the island.

2,300

38,600

Pilots

Policemen

They have flew us around the world safely

In this dynamic and rapidly changing nation,

and with class. They have made Singapore

the Singapore Police Force’s core function

Airlines the world’s best.

is to protect the people from all manner of criminal harm. Singapore is one of the safest country thanks to the best security we have.

280

Paramedics

100

National Athletes

Paramedics are trained to provide

They have won medals for our nation over the

first-class pre-hospital care. They keep calm

years at the SEA Games, Olympics etc. These

and are quick to the victim’s injuries. They are

athletes have recorded history for us.

hope in times of distress and pain.

260,000

Teachers & Lecturers

350

Ice-Cream & Drink Vendors

Singapore’s education system is currently

With Singapore’s warm weather, these ice-

ranked 3rd in the world. With these teachers

cream and drink vendors are always around

and lecturers, they work hard keep students

the corner to quench your thirst or satisfy

up to date with skills and intelligence.

your cravings at a very cheap price from $1.

2,500

Surrealism Artist

Grass Cutters

Rosihan is an award winning surrealism

Despite not being local, they do their best in

painter and he has made it big in the local

keeping the country’s garden neat and tidy

art scene. He is currently the only surrealism

under the scorching sun. Without them we

artist in Singapore.

would not have a nice and green city to live in.

TEAM #TPSG50

NICOLE QUEK (SINGAPORE)

TONI CUHADI (INDONESIA)

Nicole Quek, 20 - mixed Thai and Peranakan born in Singapore.

Toni started photography in 2009, photographing his friends,

Currently studying as a 3rd year in Temasek Polytechnic School of

family and events in his school.

Design, diploma in Visual Communication - Major in Photography.

Born in Indonesia and raised in Singapore, Toni grows passion in

Since 2011 till present, Nicole specialise in live music photography.

wedding journalism, narrative photography and travel.His personal

Having such passion, other than just concert photography she

style is narrative oriented and humanistic. He never stop at a

aims to gain experience at other aspects of photography.

frame; capturing little details alongside with portraits of people of the places and events he documents.

NATION WORK IN PROGRESS

IN THIS SPACE WE SHARE TOGETHER, TIME STOPS.

“Nation Work In Progress” is a photographic project in celebration

This project started out from an observation of our everyday

of Singapore’s 50th anniversary (SG50) as well as of the people who have worked hard and contributed to our nation. Over the years, Singapore has prospered economically and we have grown stronger as a nation – fostering a stronger bond between our people regardless of race or religion.

interactions with each others. In ever-growing population of Singapore, together with her sparse amount of land, people work around this limitation and find way to interact and socialize with one another.

RUDY WONG (SINGAPORE)

Rudy Wong, a 19 year old student of Temasek Polytechnic School of Design, currently pursuing the Diploma in Visual Communication, majoring in photography. Drawn to the ordinaries of life, she has high interests in social documentary, and in capturing the human behaviour in everyday life. She also believes that the presence of humans define spaces in landscapes.

IN THE BOSOM

HDB towns create living environments that provide community spaces for residents to mingle and interact, which builds cohesive communities within its towns. It is our neighbourhood where we live, work, and play together, as a community, as Singaporeans.

CREDITS

SPECIAL THANKS TO ISIDRO RAMIREZ MAX LIM HAMZA YUSUF LORRAINE KOH HAN FU CHEN Z.W TAN K.C LEONG CHOO SOOT ANN CINDY TAN SIM BOON HWA FR. CHARLIE OASAN KHALIDI KHAIRON SWARAN SINGH ZHEN ZHU BERTRAND LEE THOMAS TOH

BENSON KOH PAULINE CHOO HAZMI ARIS DAVID QUEK MARY THOMAS ANG AIK KOON DZUL ADLY YEO LEONG ROSIHAN DAHIM AMIRUL RIDIQEL MOFL SAZAR DASS RADAO ALI

IN CELEBRATION OF

ORGANIZED BY