We must all live with some semblance of hope in our hearts. The nuances, and intricacies and complexities that the age of internet has nearly erased still lives on. It’s not that we’re the generation of pessimists nor optimists, but perhaps a generation of pragmatists. Truth in the age of misinformation is a rarity that only very few can offer. We must not let institutions define who we are as a generation. For our November 2025 issue, we interviewed four young imagemakers from Singapore and Malaysia. Cultural documentarians are what some of them refer themselves to. For us, photographs tell the most powerful story, especially in the context of telling the tale of the youth. Yet imagemakers dedicated to youth culture feel increasingly scarce, perhaps because the ubiquity of phones has dissolved traditional barriers to entry.

Still, that doesn’t deter Riana, a 22-year-old photographer from pursuing their work. In their first interview for Men’s Folio, they describe their work in essence; girlhood, hope, and solidarity. Read the full uncut interview down below.

Girl (2024)

Name, Age, and Occupation?
Riana Ye, 22, Student

What’s your current equipment?
Canon 60D and Adobe Lightroom.

What is ‘Girl’ about?
I took these photos of a girl I matched with on Bumble in China. She told me she was studying fine arts and hoped to get into the sculpture track in particular. We walked around a neighbourhood, chatted about our lives, and I took these photos of her when the setting seemed appropriate. She had a very 少女 energy, a Chinese term that translates as young woman or young girl and evokes a sense of girlhood or female solidarity; this inspired my later collages based on the photographs. We didn’t have time to meet again, but I hope to see her again someday.

Girl (2024)

What’s one word to describe our generation?
Complex. I say this because, as material standards have improved, the range of choices available to people keeps growing, and we’re becoming increasingly idiosyncratic. The various people I know are so diverse. In contrast to previous generations, I think it’s more complicated than ever to characterise this generation.

Girl (2024)

Is it still possible to cultivate a community in 2025?
I think so! There are numerous communities out there, many of which involve genuine connections. That said, I think they tend to centre on activities or places, so there may be difficulty sustaining community- building when there aren’t enough starting points. Engaging with society, culture, and other people builds social skills, and we all need to practise to contribute to a community.

Photo of Ambii at Hyperfocus (2024)

What does it mean to be young in Singapore?
I think it’s a good position to be in. Amid all the geopolitical unrest and conflicts around the world, the government has enabled young people here to grow up in a generally safe environment and to be able to access information and connect with people overseas with little difficulty. We may not have a lot of opportunities handed to us on a plate, but they’re often there when we decide to look for them, which is more than can be said for many places. Overall, I’m glad I spent my childhood here.

For the generation who will succeed you, what is one piece of advice that you’ll want to impart to them?
I would tell them to stay open-minded and generally be willing to engage with people! On the individual level, it’s a good way to make friends; Singapore generally doesn’t provide many opportunities to meet people beyond the school or work environment, so being open to talking to and hearing from others goes a long way.

Photo of SEBii at Sorry No Cure (2024)

On the social level, it’s extremely crucial to community building, and paves the way for tighter social cohesion and a stronger sense of what it means to be part of this country and society. On the political level, it’s an important part of being aware and involved in politics. Given all the complex things going on, both in our own country and all over the world, it’s so important to develop an understanding of the world and our country, which allows us to work together to make life better for everyone.

Once you are done with this story, click here to catch up with our November 2025 issue.