MR Ong Fook Fatt is one of the last 31 surviving residents living in the dilapidated heritage houses of Papan, Perak. He is renting three units next to each other. One is used as storage and the other two are housing him and his wife but also five sons, daughters and grandchildren.
The roofs of their houses are in terrible condition, making life almost impossible on the first floor like almost all the other vestiges of Papan’s glorious past. He will not live anywhere else he says and pays very minimal rent to the owners who are not doing any restorations or preservation of their amazing properties.
This candid photo (taken with his permission) captures Mr Ong preparing meat for his Boxer who is guarding the houses. The light was still a bit too strong on the subject when I took the shot, but at the same time the background was darkened and the sun on his face and body provided a good contrast and texture for the image.
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Papan has been my number one focus for my photography, videography and anthropology work. Over the last few years, I have documented many aspects of the life, the population, the environment, the architecture and the changes of the village.
My latest project was to survey and portrait the remaining inhabitants still residing in the old shop houses, with the help of Madame Leong Fan, the village chief. Though many were reluctant, I did manage to take several semi-formal portraits of them.
My Papan photography with some narrative has been published in various magazines and I have done three talks in Perak to create a greater awareness for this forgotten gem, a testimony of part of the country’s history.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank The Vibes for featuring my profile and some of my images. Feel free to get in touch with me and follow my photography on my Facebook page or my Instagram account. – The Vibes, October 31, 2021
Philippe Durant is a Belgian expat photographer currently residing in Ipoh
