Following a headstart in retail and furniture, Aik Beng Chia was almost a flight steward. Just for a little bit (he never signed the contract); it was largely to fund a design diploma. Which is another endeavour that he didn’t pursue thanks to a job offer from a design firm. That step consumed the next decade of his life, before an ensuing career in advertising spanned more than double that duration. The 57-year old photographer regrets nothing, and is moving towards being a fulltime artist. What better time to speak to the man behind Singkarpor REMIXED.

What is it about your work do you think people resonate with? Maybe it’s because I don’t photograph postcard images. I'm more interested in the mundane, because I’m an uncle (laughs). It's important to me to record the everyday life that people often overlook. I've influenced many photographers and sometimes they share photos with me and say, “this is so you”. I’m happy to hear that and know they are doing it, so I don't have to run around. I don't have the energy. Let the younger generation do lah.

Is creativity innate or cultivated? Hmm honestly, I don't know. I picked it up by watching movies. When I stopped being an illustrator, I wanted another outlet to express myself. I’ve always loved photography, and behind-the-scene stills of movies inspire me. I'd notice details of how a cinematographer frames, and try to replicate [them]. I can’t duplicate, but I can adapt it in the way I photograph. Especially Wong Kar Wai films. I recently met Wing Shya, who shot his stills, at a Leica event. You have to feel something when you photograph, because if you don't feel, the viewer won’t. 要有感觉啦(“It’s got to have feeling”). It's not so much about composition or lighting, it’s a feeling you evoke. 感觉(“gut-feel”) is in-born. Like with books; when a phrase resonates, you highlight it. It’s the same with my process.

Your thoughts on the level of creativity in Singapore? Singapore isn't boring. It’s just difficult to shoot in terms of grit. That's why I chose that path. It's not easy, but once you capture it, it's an eye-opener not only to my foreign friends, but locals too. For my Club Hawaii exhibition, people were like “wah got such thing”. I have shot dodgy ones, but I can’t publish those or I’ll get into trouble.

Do you feel restricted when you can’t publish certain shots? I'd say it’s responsibility because my account is public. There'll be underage people so I self-censor. Or I'll make a zine to give privately.I don’t sell them publicly. If it’s gory, I put a viewer's discretion disclaimer on the cover. It’s the photographer’s responsibility.

Because you shoot discretely, do you ever feel like you’re violating people’s privacy? I’m very blessed I didn’t get flagged or public outcry at my exhibition. You can’t stop invading other people’s space when it comes to street photography. I’ve tried asking before shooting, and 99 per cent of the time, people say no, or the moment loses its candidness. I tried asking after shooting, and 99 per cent of folks ask to be deletes. Sorry, asking permission [is] no longer in my book. It doesn’t work so I got no choice. Regardless, there will always be people against it and you can’t please them. You don’t like it then I have to listen to you, ah? So if 99 per cent say no, then 99 per cent of the time I won’t have any pictures, lor.

Is there anything you won’t shoot? I would not take pictures of beggars. I was recently a jury for KL photo awards, wah lau people are still submitting photos of beggars. We reject those straightaway because it’s not ethically right unless you’re helping the person. I’ve told photographers off online–nicely–about this.

You used to envy travel photographers until your mentor (Kevin Lee) made you rethink shooting in your own city. What did you learn from it? I’m glad I dropped that idea because now that I travel more, I'm still doing the same as what I did here. Every city has their own story, so I gain different insight in each. We are very sheltered. It makes me appreciate our transport system, how clean our streets are. It makes you realise how much we take everything for granted. COVID was a wake up call for that.

What do you think of people who take our country for granted? It’s human nature. Everyone across the world will take their own country for granted, and I can't say it’s wrong. I myself did, until I travelled. How blessed we are. You can drink water, literally. You take the ice overseas you kena food poisoning sia. A simple thing like water, you already know it’s safe. There’s security, lah.

Favourite childhood memory? Haw Par Villa. I grew up in the kampung behind it so it was my playground after school. Our parents will scare us and say the figures will move at night, but we played hide and seek there at night. I even hid inside the seven hells tunnel because everyone was too scared to go to. Best spot to hide, but I'd come out sweating when the game’s over.

Do you think about the afterlife? I used to worry about tomorrow and, but now I live like today is my last. As you age, you realise you just want to take a step back and stop chasing, but live. Nothing wrong preparing for the future, but I don’t let it deter how I live today. Of course, sometimes you will be unhappy, but you just need to control how you react and deal with it. Everything is screwed up nowadays. With the wars, you don’t know what's going to happen. [...] if it’s your time, it’s your time.

Photography: Jaya Khidir
Creative Direction and Styling: Asri Jasman
Grooming: Sophia Soh at THE SUBURBS STUDIO
Styling Assistants: Naysa Subba and Quek Yu Tong