Talking by Lim Kwong Ling

The tight framing of this photograph is an example of the artist's approach to photography. Lim Kwong Ling believed that one needed to deeply examine daily life to produce more meaninful works, and his desire for a documentary approach led him to reject the conventional approach of staging scenes, which was very common among photographers in camera clubs at the time. Instead of participating in field shoot with a club, which could have more than 30 members and often featured hired models, Lim preferred to photograph alone or with his family. This allowed him to get closer to his subjects, as shown in this candid shot, which captures the immediacy and liveliness of the conversation between these two women.

A businessman by trade, Lim Kwong Ling (b. 1932, Singapore) took up photography in his thirties, relatively late compared to other photographers. Spurred by the desire to take photographs of his family, he his career with a beginner's photography course at Singapore's Adult Education Board taught by Lee Sow Lim.

Talking, as well as other images by Lim and three other photographers (Lee Sow Lim, Lee Lim, Tan Lip Seng), are featured in Stories in Light, the first exhibition by National Gallery Singapore to be presented in a virtual gallery. See the exhibition here.

Wishing all readers of Perspectives Magazine a happy 2023 with their loved ones.