🏆 MASK/ UNMASK

Extract from Author

Some events in history change the world we live in. In the years after 1945, we called it the “post-war” era. After 2000, we had a “post-911” era. Now, it seems that we are in the midst of the next one - the “post-COVID-19” era.

Judges’ Comments

What do you look like, Singapore? In his series of photographs, Edwin Koo reminds us all that we’ve not become anonymous just because our faces are covered now.

Author’s Reflection

What is your personal takeaway from your SOAP story?
A new norm post-COVID-19 would be for people to learn to emote from behind those masks. We risk losing half our human-ness when we are all masked up.

Now that your story has been published for some time, do you have any reflections to share post-publishing?
Looking at places in the USA where people are so adverse to donning masks, I'm thankful that we live in Singapore. Even though mask-wearing is in part a legal requirement and not so much a civic-minded self-initiative here, at least we are a reasonable people who listen to good advice when its being doled out. I certainly hope that masks and social-distancing do not make us more emotionally distant — but more united as a people fighting a common enemy in the pandemic!

What did you hope to convey to readers through this story?
Even though masks take away half our faces, we shouldn't allow masking to take away our humane-ness. Continue to smile — true smiles are seen in the eyes, not on our lips!

How do you feel for being recognised for your work?
It's a pleasant surprise, since it wasn't published in mainstream media, or even alternative media. Perhaps there is a future for quality content on self-publishing platforms, beyond the memes and the selfies.

Photographed by
Edwin Koo

Monday,
6 April 2020

Visual of the Month, Winner