Singapore-based artist Jonathan Tan has captured the overlooked beauty of public housing elevator lobbies through his innovative project "Waiting For The Lift," which uses cinemagraphs to transform these mundane spaces into contemplative works of art. The project combines photography and video editing techniques to create looping visuals that blend still imagery with subtle movement, turning familiar yet often ignored spaces into something almost magical.
For residents across Singapore, the elevator lobby represents a transitional space that serves as the final stop before reaching home. Tan's artistic vision reimagines these everyday locations as places worthy of reflection and appreciation. "I wanted to capture the everyday lift lobby found in Singapore public housing in a different way," Tan explained about his creative process.
The cinemagraph technique employed by Tan creates a unique visual experience that isolates movement within otherwise static scenes. This approach makes the elevators appear kinetic and full of life, even when no people are present. The artist describes the effect as creating "a type of tunnel vision that one may experience in a moment of dissociation or even hyperfixation," comparing it to dramatic movie scenes where time appears to slow down.
Tan draws inspiration from various sources, including the popular music video for Radiohead's track "Lift," which similarly plays with the concept of suspended time and movement. His work taps into collective nostalgia, evoking memories of first homes, former workplaces, or that problematic elevator that always seemed to break down when visiting someone on the top floor.
Through his artistic lens, Tan reclaims the lobbies of Singapore's housing blocks as spaces for almost sacred contemplation. The project invites viewers to find beauty in the mundane and challenges the way people perceive their everyday surroundings. By partially freezing these scenes, the artist creates a sense of timelessness that encourages deeper observation.
When asked about the relevance of quiet beauty in today's world, Tan offered thoughtful insight: "I think appreciating quiet beauty allows one to slow down in our otherwise fast-paced life, and just take a step back to appreciate what's presently around us." His perspective suggests that cinemagraphs might be the perfect medium for encouraging this type of mindful observation in an increasingly hurried society.
