Riding Through
Riding Through presents a solitary figure cycling across a paved expanse, swallowed by shadows of towering trees. Taken from a nearby pedestrian bridge, the photograph frames a seemingly ordinary carpark in Singapore and transforms it into a moment for introspection. The lines of parking bays and the tracing of leaves in the foreground offer a deceptive sense of order, contrasted by the shadows that dominate the scene.
The lone cyclist, a figure against the lighter pavements, becomes a poignant emblem of individual navigation within a structured, almost surveilled environment. Riding Through speaks to the quiet anxieties of entering new territories, the feeling of being both exposed and observed. The wide-angle perspective amplifies the sense of space, signaling the smallness of the individual against the urban grain, while the deliberate framing evokes a feeling of enclosure, hinting at the subtle pressures of societal expectations and hierarchical structures within life in Singapore.
This image was born from a personal moment of anticipation and apprehension before walking to an academic conference. It transcends its specific origins to touch upon universal experiences of isolation and the courage required to venture into the unknown. Like the cyclist pedaling into the shadows, we are invited to consider our own journeys through liminal spaces. The quiet resilience demanded when we choose to ride through, despite the weight of unseen eyes and unspoken expectations.