Map-Making: poetry and photographs by Eileen Chong and Charlene Winfred

[Edit 30 June] All copies of Map-Making have been sold out!

This has been a long time coming.

20 years, exactly.

Ceiling fans stir the thickening afternoon, and my school tie unknots itself while my neighbour at the next desk finds a path to the future with her pen. Eileen and I are 18 years old, drowsy with heat. Dreaming out loud, a balm for the urge to flee. Whispers about making something together. I think we’ve always known we would do it, even after our lives diverged radically. Some day.

That was 1998. And here it is, in 2018.

Map-Making is a 100 page, limited 100 edition, signed and numbered book of poems and black & white photographs (8 x 10 inch hardback). It is a collaboration between award winning Australian poet Eileen Chong and I, published by Potts Point Press. Both poetry and photographs are rooted in Singapore, where we were both born and raised. Eileen now lives in Australia, and I am still discovering how to come home, a path punctuated by long absences and a roving heart.

I have 10 copies of a special photographer’s edition, which is the book + a limited edition, signed and numbered 6×8″ fine art print.

The name of the book comes from a poem that Eileen wrote for me years ago. Head over to her site to read it in full.

We’ve worked on this for months, across three continents. It’s been a huge remote project. Plenty of blood, sweat, tears, hopes, dreams, and hard earned money went into the making of this book.

A part of me can’t believe that we made this thing, and that it’s out in the world so soon. Eileen is a published veteran, but this is my first time releasing published work. It’s both terrifying and thrilling.

We can’t wait to share it with you. Stay tuned.

Map-Making was published in a limited run of 100, which has sold out. If you live in Singapore or Australia, you can find a copy in the National Library of Singapore, and the National Library of Australia.

Map-Making elsewhere on the web:

• Peril, Asian-Australian Arts and Culture magazine
• Shifter Media by Daniel Milnor