Assignment 7 : In-dependence (Stage 2)

After thinking about sense of comfort and how I could go about taking the photos in the Singapore context, I decided on 4D after more clarifications from Mr Reddy. In Singapore, 4D is quite prominent and even some young people engage in the activity. I think many people see it as a form of leisure and there are different sorts of dependence in this case.

-----------------------Distress'-----------------------

For someone who engages in 4D buying and depend on it to strike it rich, it has a tendency to become an addiction and as time passes, the level of distress increases when he or she doesn't win. For this photo, the 4D tickets are like fallen leaves and the unfeeling concrete floor doesn't provide any consolotion to the person in distress.

-----------------------Hope'-----------------------

Many of the older generation do not hanker after wealth desperately. Rather, buying 4D is something they have done for decades and when they reach old age, it is a different dependence. Buying it gives them a sense of comfort and hope. It is an anticipation that they get out of it. If they don't buy it for a week, they would feel some discomfort. Not because they are worried that they wouldn't win, but because there is nothing for them to look forward to. For my grandmothers, they would say "mai wan wan" (buy for fun) and if they win, it is a bonus to them.

-----------------------Miracle Numbers'-----------------------

Another interesting thing about 4D is what they call "zhen zi" (miracle numbers). As long as it is numbers, it has the potential to be a winning number. In times of disaster, such as an accident or fire, they would buy the numbers on the number plate of the car that got into a crash or the house unit that was on fire. I find it really amusing. 4D buyers seem to have a special eye as they see the mirable numbers everywhere, even the garbage dump.

-----------------------Frustrations'-----------------------

I found these vandalisms really interesting. It doesn't really make much sense and I saw the chinese characters which says "quit gambling". It seems to show someone who has no control over his gambling habits and rather scribble down his frustrations amongst other vandalisms.

After further discussion with the group over the flow of the exhibition, "hope" and "miracle numbers" would be on exhibit. But I would have to improve on the granny's hands to make them look more formalistic. For the miracle numbers, I like the first shot better personally. Some of them preferred my second shot maybe because it looks more fine arts. But to convey the message that the miracle numbers could be found even on garbage dumps some mentioned that the first shot could show it better. Mr Reddy said the first shot has more character and he suggested I could try cropping around to improve it visually.