WHAT DO WE SEE? BY NICOLE QUEK
What do we see? What do they actually see? Do we see things the way they do? How does it feel like to be in the darkness. Sometimes I ask these questions to myself. For this project, I’ve embarked on a journey to get a closer touch to the visually impaired. Having a curious mind, I wonder what’s their story like. What kind of things do they see and what light and darkness is to both worlds. Now, let me take you through the journey that I’ve been through with these photos.
Moon 49 years old [Works at SAVH Mobile Massage] Moon was born partially blind, however he only became totally blind when he was 12 years old. This mishap began when he was running around one day with his friends and fell. The sand that went into his eyes when he fell made him permanently blind. He became a very independent person at a very young age. With the help of SAVH, he managed to find another place called home. This is where he’s able to spend time chatting with his friends and also discover and learn new things. With a very bright and outgoing personality, Moon loves listening to music, singing and going for outdoor activities such as cycling. If he could regain his sight, he would want to look at human beings; people. As he was born partially blind, he never knew how human beings look like.
Ng Swee Kuen 53 years old [Works at SAVH Dine in the Dark] Swee Kuen lost her left eye when she was a baby, she had retinoblastoma. The only way to save her right eye was to remove the left. However her mother refused to remove her left eye. As years goes by, the illness has spread when she was in primary 6 taking her PSLE. She faced much pain and difficulties coping with the exam. Later she opt for a radiotherapy and this radiotherapy’s side effect caused her right eye to become dry and eventually she lost both of her sight at the age of 35. During that period, she felt so frustrated and much pain as nothing could help her anymore when she knows that her sense of sight is fading away. She felt so lost as though she had sunken into the darkness. Then, there was a ray of hope for Swee Kuen. With much perseverance, she never gave up and found herself registering at the SAVH. She loves to cook so much that she chose to work at SAVH’s ‘Dine in the Dark’.
Zin 57 years old [Works at SAVH Mobile Massagevv] During Christmas Eve in the year 2004, Zin suddenly felt a bad headache. He visited the doctor and found out that there was a tumor in his brain. He decided to opt for surgery to remove the tumor. However it was unfortunate that the side effect of the surgery caused him to lose his sense of sight. He never felt so must frustration and depression that he almost attempted suicide. Not only that, he was even isolated by his family after becoming blind. Zin seek for help by turning to god. He prayed to god everyday and whenever he can. Zin have now found a place where he felt that he belong, at the SAVH and have been working for 2 years.
Special Thanks Michael Tan SAVH Lighthouse School Moon Zin Ng Swee Kuen
CONTACT Nicole Quek Email: nicolequekphoto@gmail.com Tel: +65 8126 7750 Website: nicolequek.com