"Life in the 1960s and 1970s was tough. Only major events were photographed. Familial portraits, prized possessions, a wedding… the birth of a child.
"There was hardly enough money to go around, let alone material possessions. With a family of 6 siblings, that meant that everything needed to be shared. Photography was something we couldn't afford. Besides the camera itself, there were also film rolls and film development to pay for.
"Its cost meant photos were only taken if we dressed well. Even at home, we had to be dressed well enough to deserve a photo. We only wanted to remember the beautiful moments after all, and not mundane, everyday happenings.
"Paintings—that were what photographs symbolised. Photos were physical copies of memory. A family gathering, the children’s growth, or an outing. Back then, the only way to commemorate family was not through social media, but personal memory. Photographs were only for super important occasions, because when memory fails us, pictures don't.
"In the kampong, family included aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents and even neighbours. Everyone lived so closely, the lines between families blurred. Family photos could have over 20 people, since it was more worth it to take photos with more people in it—it used up less space on the film roll.
"It's formal, the poses were standard: we stood stock-straight, the toddlers in front, us taller children at the back; only sometimes will Ma or Pa join us. Everyone huddled in the centre of the photo, and the backdrop can be seen clearly. We smiled little, as that makes the photos less formal.
"Even if it may have been a happy and fun day, we certainly didn't show that in our photos.
"Ma or Pa hardly photographed themselves unless it was important. “A waste of effort and money,” they would say.
"However, it wasn't long before photos became less formal. In the 80s, posing and smiling for photos became the norm, and family photos started involving less people. As families got wealthier, and the children got older, and photography became more affordable, family portraiture started having more variation.
"It seemed as though coloured photographs brought colour to our reality."