Ingat-Ingat
Becky Hoh
The Willow Tree Space, 3 Wickford Way, Blackhorse Mills, Walthamstow, E17 6ZH
Free
29 September - 10 October 2021
Ingat-Ingat [meaning both to ‘take care’ and ‘remember’ in The Philippines and Malaysia]
A celebration of the stories and legacy of ESEA people who came to the UK to work for the NHS.
Ingat-Ingat is mixed media exhibition throwing a spotlight on the real human stories of those that left their homes in East Asian and South East Asian to join our National Health service. Told by the people themselves, curated by Becky Hoh-Hale the daughter of Malaysian-Chinese mental health nurse Hoh Min Leong (Leon) who came to Essex, UK, in 1975 to train with the NHS and has been here ever since.
Ingat-Ingat comprises of 10 stories, of young people who left their lives behind in Malaysia, The Philippines, China and Singapore, during the 60s to the 80s - some still working in the NHS, some sadly no longer with us, all stayed and all have stories to tell. Old and new photos, video, news articles and spoken and written interviews, make up this immersive look through the experiences, history, richness and reality of what it means to leave, live, care and contribute in a place far from home. How that one choice many years ago then made another place home, and for the generations to come.
Each person’s story is researched and compiled by their child or children and in some cases grandchildren. Building a bridge between between the two worlds and a poignant nod to the legacy of love left, not only in their workplace but in the families created here too.