11 - 18 March 2017

Japan Creative Centre (JCC)

As a commemorative event marking the 6th anniversary of the 3.11 Great East Japan Earthquake, Japan Creative Centre (JCC), Embassy of Japan in Singapore is pleased to showcase 'Vestiges of their Hearts', a photography exhibition on Japan's Tohoku region during a humanitarian mission by Jorel Chan. Take a journey through these photographs to see how the region has transformed and recovered over the years.

About the exhibition

'Vestiges of their Hearts' showcases a series of carefully curated photographs taken during a humanitarian mission to the Tohoku region in Japan, with the aim of charting the humanitarian progress made in the various cities and towns hit by the 3.11 Great East Japan Earthquake.

The disasters of 3.11 have presented protracted challenges to Japan, particularly the people of Tohoku. In the years since its aftermath, while the debris left in the wake of the tsunami have been generally cleared away, indelible scars left on the people’s hearts remain. Yet, amidst the loss of loved ones, they carry on their daily lives, displaced from these ravaged towns where their houses once stood, with stoic resilience and modest smiles, in the hope of a better age.

Jorel's main vision for this exhibition seeks to provide a glimpse into the lives of these communities with hearts still mending. In this exhibition, he presents inspiring photos that shed light upon the vicissitudes from grief to hope that they strive through – undeniably human experiences that we empathise with and draw strength from as we continue to better serve the community around us.

About the artist

Jorel Chan is a Singaporean photographer currently based in Tokyo, Japan. As the recipient of the MEXT Scholarship from the Government of Japan, he is currently pursuing his Masters in International Relations at Waseda University. He is also currently a research intern at Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation (RJIF), a Tokyo-based think-tank, dealing with East Asian security and diplomatic affairs.

In 2014, he embarked on a journey to various disaster zones in Tohoku to chart the humanitarian progress of the situation by conducting interviews with the local refugees and residents, the culmination of which is his photographic exhibition 'Vestiges of their Hearts'.

Jorel has held exhibitions internationally, including UK, Japan and Singapore. As a humanitarian photographer, he is interested in the aesthetic representation of political affairs occurring regionally in East Asia. His portfolio of selected works can be found at http://www.jorelchan.com/.

Details of the exhibition

Date:

11 - 18 March 2017

Time:

10:00am - 6:00pm (Closed on Sunday and Monday)

Venue:

Japan Creative Centre (JCC), Embassy of Japan in Singapore
4 Nassim Road Singapore 258372

Admission:

FREE

Where is Japan Creative Centre (JCC)?

Is this your first time to Japan Creative Centre? Follow the map below to Japan Creative Centre now.

Getting to Japan Creative Centre
4 Nassim Road Singapore 258372
Tel: +65-6737-0434

By Public Bus:
Bus services: 7, 36, 77, 105, 106, 111, 123, 132, 174, 174E, 502, 502A, 502B (Alight in front of Delfi Orchard)
For latest information on bus routes and fares, please refer to SBS Transit.

By the MRT:
You may also take the MRT to the nearest MRT station, Orchard (NS22).
Train fares, travel times and route maps are available on the SMRT website.

Driving to JCC:
Nearest parking is at Orchard Hotel, Delfi Orchard and Orchard Parade Hotel.