27 April, 2020: Aishah Kenton

Canberra, Australia

Living overseas in Australia the past four years meant not being able to celebrate the end of Ramadan and the start of Eid with extended family back home in Malaysia, however this year was something different. 

Lately I’ve been thinking more about my parents. Now further worlds apart with the virus in the air, both of them of an age where could be fatal, I long for their company. But I can’t help but think that I am in a grateful position, being able to be in the company of my husband and his extended family. Where my mum and dad can’t even see each other. 

Due to extended lock downs, mum (who is in Malaysia) and dad (who works in Singapore) have not seen each other in months. With Singapore’s second wave of the virus, this means that they won’t be seeing each other for another few more months if anything. This is extremely strange as this will be the first time in years where we and they won’t be together as a family for Eid / Hari Raya; This is something that we will be remembering for years. 


(Nur) Aishah Kenton grew up in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In 2018 Aishah was awarded an Emerging Artist Support Scheme Award for her graduating exhibition To Whom it May Concern. In 2020 Aishah was awarded a coveted spot in the 2020 Chcio Portfolio Review in Montana, USA.