Visual Research; to those who sacrifice silently
It is possible to find out something about a person without having to see him or her in entirety; hands can reveal more about the subject’s life, for example. The highly wrinkled, weathered, and well-worn hands pockmarked with scars and veins evoke a sense of weariness, agedness and sacrifice. The unadorned and unbuffed nails indicate simplicity. The implied movement through the tentative playing with of the finger evokes a sense of uncertainty or shyness. The single ring on the fourth finger symbolises attachment and marriage; is it a representation of the present, or a relic of the past?
Despite the close-up shot of merely a pair of hands, and despite having little to no knowledge about the subject or the origin of the photo, we can see that through the combination of visual cues, indexical and symbolic signs, a wealth of information and conclusions can be drawn.
While this photo is not centred about the same theme as our project, it reflects the approach and concept our group is aiming to use, which is centred heavily on pathos. By highlighting a single body part and its imperfections, adorned with relevant accessories that possess a cultural significance, we aim to paint the sacrifice that foreign low wage workers have undergone in, and for, Singapore, in a more emotive and poignant light.
With the sheer number of foreign workers in Singapore, we tend to view them as a collective due to their skin colour, nationality, or occupation. This has led to a deindividuation; a facelessness or lack of understanding that pervades throughout.
Rather than recognising, or acknowledging their unique character traits, we form stereotypes and view them as such. The iconic yellow hard hat, neon safety vest and black clunky boots have become ubiquitous with construction workers, for example.
We begin to recognise these individuals through their attire, which have become the sole symbol of their identity. We fail to recognise them as individuals, each leading a life that is as unique and significant as our own.
The photo shows the men hard at work, but what is more striking is the composition of the photo. The shot captures them with their heads down, obscuring their faces from view. Their similar attire and symmetrical posture make them seem like replicas of one another; disparate individuals, but inadvertently seen as a single homogeneous entity.
The presence of a figure in the foreground of the picture that is slightly out of focus also creates an impression that there is someone towering over them, overseeing their every move. This difference in eyeline and height becomes a representation of power differentials — the contrast between the lofty and privileged, against those who toil away silently, unseen, and unrecognisable.
Source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140915173735-305726885-the-shadow-workers-part-2
