Ultra Simplicity

Why do you like Ultraman so much?
It was my favourite show growing up, so I’ve always loved Ultraman, but what makes it so memorable to me is that I almost drowned because of him.

Long story short, it was a Sunday morning, and I was watching an episode of Ultraman on TV. In that particular episode, he was fighting a monster and ended up falling unconscious on his back after beating the monster.

Fast forward to later on in the day, my family and I went to a swimming complex, and while my family was still settling down at a table by the pool, I had already changed and jumped into the pool.  I was alone in the pool at the time, playing by myself and trying to reenact how Ultraman fought the monster. So like how Ultraman fell unconscious on his back in the show, I stood on the edge of the pool and fell back into the water.

I was only 6 or 7 then, and even though it was a kids pool I fell into, the water level was about chin deep. So I panicked in the pool and swallowed some water before one of the lifeguards saw me struggling and jumped in to bring me up. So that’s how I almost drowned because of the show.

When did you first get into photography, and what do you like most about it?
I got into photography when I was in National Service. I had a lot more free time then, so I decided to pick up a hobby, and through a friend, I bought my first film camera. I chose to get a film camera not because I wanted to be cool, by the way, but because it was what I could afford at the time.

Having a camera gives me a reason to be out and about, and shooting film also slows me down and allows me to be more present. But the thing I like most about shooting film is that I can forget about what I have shot, and the developed images surprise me, because sometimes I’ll only develop my film weeks or months after I have shot them.

What does an ideal weekend look like to you?
Waking up at 9am without feeling tired (laughs).

And I guess just spending time with the people that I love, or just spending the entire day in bed doing nothing. But my ideal weekend really depends on my mood.

Tell us your current favourite song.
Cómo Te Quiero by Khruangbin. It reminds me of my childhood, but I seldom listen to this song because I’m afraid that I might get sick of it.

How has your style changed over the years?
I don’t think my style has changed much—I’ve been dressing pretty much the same way since poly. I guess the most significant change is that I don’t wear tight pants anymore.

I like workwear. I think it’s practical and stylish. I guess the older I get, the simpler I want to be—I don’t mind wearing a t-shirt and black pants every single day.

What’s something that most people don’t know about you?
I don’t drink as much as I look like I do, and I have never stepped foot into a gym.

We know you don’t like cheese. Would you rather lose an arm or eat cheese for every meal?
I won’t just give you my arm, I’ll also give you my sense of smell so that I don’t have to smell cheese ever again.