I miss everyone 

"I did not know my husband but I was still excited to get married. He and I had each taken a photo for our wedding. After the ceremony, a man offered to turn them into portraits. I love taking photos but studio shoots are expensive. 

When the Japanese came, we evacuated to Pulau Ubin for safety. My first son was just born. We lived there for twenty over years. Life was very free and easy. Although we did not have much at home, there were more things to do then unlike now. 

How to be happy when you can’t remember? 

I miss everyone. My husband, my parents…but what is the point of missing? Everyone’s gone.

Thank you, thank you for taking my picture, I miss studio photos. Reminds me of my early days." 

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Madam Soo was born in Guangdong, China in 1916. Shortly after her arranged wedding, her husband was posted to Singapore to work as a clerk for a construction company. In 1936 when she was 20, Madam Soo departed on a five-week journey from Hong Kong to join her husband and raise a family in Singapore. Madam Soo is an introvert and a devoted homemaker who loves looking after young children. One of her most memorable experiences was watching her eldest son receive education. She also showed us her wedding portrait and was incredibly excited to have her photo professionally taken. Mdm Soo was smiling throughout the photo shoot. Madam Soo constantly reminds her son to “get another house”. She misses the carefree island life in Ubin where she feels free to roam around her compound compared to living in an urban high-rise flat.

Text by Adlina Maulod.

Commissioned to take portraits of Singaporean centenarians by the Centre for Ageing Research and Education (CARE) for their recent conference titled 'Are Centenarians the Realisation of Successful Ageing: Insights from a Global Study'.

These portraits also feature as an exhibition together with the conference titled 'SG100: A Celebration of Our Centenarians'.