> Words: shouted, blabbered, shattered in between the walls

Clear Mandate

KHOOGJ & Juliana Tan, Singapore

Clear Mandate is a visual conversation between photographers KHOOGJ and Juliana Tan during the Singapore General Election 2020. With the COVID-19 pandemic as a backdrop, the election was unlike any other. No physical rally was allowed and except for some walkabouts by the candidates, the campaigning was mostly done online. The government assured its citizens that the election can be held safely and that it was seeking a strong mandate from the electorate to form a government to take Singapore out of the pandemic and its repercussions. What ensued was one of the biggest loss of parliamentary seats for the ruling party, with the opposition achieving its highest number of elected seats in parliament since 1963. The diptychs, one from each photographer, were made as a call and response to the campaigns and issues surrounding the election.

Biography

Juliana Tan has lived in Singapore for over 20 years and is a Permanent Resident. She is interested in people and stories that speak of our time, especially in the areas of culture, business, and politics.

KHOOGJ interests revolve around curiosity with forms, spaces, and objects. He has a strong sense of need to explore and experiment with the way we see the world.