Gather the researches and information I came up with this artwork to relate the vicious cycle of poverty in the elderly people of Singapore. Also, based on my personal interpretations, these elderly were facing in the state of unseen and unheard. This contradicts the fact that the poverty rate of Singapore is at 0 percent.

 

Embarking on this research, I realized that many of the elderly out there especially those homeless, lack of job or abandoned by their children were making money through selling daily trash. This trash actually means a lot to them just like gold. One of the elderly people commented in Mandarin “ 我们吃一天，活一天，过一天“. This means that they are grateful for the meals that are available for them in last few years of their lives. Upon hearing this, my heart sank. It is hard to come across such life stories of elderly people in this flourished city. The thought-provoking note to myself is that one may see certain things as trash whilst someone else may regard it as treasure.

 

Using the concept of “Trash to Treasure” I decided to collect trash items like newspapers, magazines and books. These items will be used to create an artwork expressing the idea reuse and recycling. Also, these creations will solely be based on my personal thoughts from the interview with the general public and the elderly people.

 

The portrait that form by bit and pieces of newspapers depict the a trash symbol that means a lot to them as a daily need, the portrait sculpture that form out by the newspaper depict a moody less and goalless expression that there were in a state of loss hope toward the country. The background collage which form by the photography of the elderly, symbolizes how this elderly struggling with their life all hidden and under the carpet of Singapore.

 

It is so underground that with the state they are facing is equally suffering in a hidden side of Singapore. An underground side that is unseen, unheard and unsung. This portrait sculpture I created, hope to educate the mass public/audiences, as one people, one nation, we’ll work hand in hand and move forward together. No one should be left behind. This poor elderly was also part of the history of Singapore and they were the generation that built our nation.