Two Toothbrushes and a Big Question

Childfree Neighbor Cover Talk with Photographer Mudita Nanda

What do two toothbrushes have to do with the childfree movement in Southeast Asia? At first glance, they’re just everyday objects—mundane, personal, and rarely in the spotlight. But on the cover of Wonderwhy’s Childfree Neighbor magazine, they become a quiet yet powerful statement about the dilemma of choosing to have kids or not in this region.

 

Join our editor-in-chief, Hana Irena, as she sits down with Mudita Nanda, the photographer behind this striking image. They’ll dive into the creative process, the deeper meaning behind the cover, and why more people in Southeast Asia are questioning the path of parenthood.

Hana Irena: We reached out to you after seeing some of your still-life photos on Instagram! Can you tell us more about those projects?
Mudita Nanda: Honestly, my still-life photography started as a creative outlet. As a photographer, I usually work based on client briefs for social media needs. Some of them I enjoy, but others don’t align with me—they might push me out of my comfort zone in a way I’m not comfortable with, or sometimes, I just don’t see the point. Clients often have a vision for what’s best for their brand, but as a photographer, I see things from a different perspective.

 

So, I thought, ‘you know what? I need to channel this creative need elsewhere, for myself’. That’s when I started taking these still-life photos—usually late at night—without much planning or purpose. Just using whatever I had at home, from my kitchen or study table, with makeshift lighting. Through those photos, I found a simple yet meaningful way to express myself.

 

Mudita's Still-Life Projects at Home

 

So it became a passion project?
Yes, in a way. It was also a way to challenge myself creatively. Every time I took a photo, I tried to incorporate something new—experimenting with lighting angles, and testing out color grading I hadn’t used before. It was about pushing myself to improve, with no one dictating how I should shoot or edit. That level of freedom is something I truly cherish.

 

I’m curious though, what made you say yes to shooting the Childfree Neighbor cover?
I decided to say yes because I’ve actually been following Wonderwhy for a bit. I’ve read Wonderwhy’s City Walker magazine before, and I really like the idea of showcasing different perspectives from different countries while highlighting the common threads between them. 

 

From an international perspective, people might label certain habits as such an Asian thing, and I find it fascinating when a publication like Wonderwhy highlights those nuances. There are already digital and even print media out there, but nothing quite like Wonderwhy, where everything is curated and packaged so well. That’s why I was so interested and honored to be part of the second issue.

 

Thank you so much, Mudit! We were so happy to find someone who fit our vision for this magazine. Can you tell us about the process of shooting the cover?
The process was surprisingly fast. We had our meeting on a Monday, and I told the team, ‘Okay, I’ll send a trial shoot by Friday the latest.’ But I was so excited that I started working on it that very night! Gathering objects, experimenting, and sending my first drafts the same evening.

 

 

We did three rounds of shooting. The first was to figure out the right composition since I wasn’t sure of the team’s preferences yet, so I just followed my instincts. The second round was about refining the pose, and the last was about perfecting the lighting.

 

You even bought the toothbrushes immediately! I was surprised at how fast you’re working on this. Where did you get the toothbrushes?

Just from a regular supermarket. I already had a blue one, so I looked for a matching pink or red one. I ended up buying two or three packs. Now I have so many spare toothbrushes—I probably won’t need to buy any for another year!

 

You could become a toothbrush reviewer at this point!
Hahaha, right?

 

Did you face any technical challenges during the shoot?
Surprisingly, it went pretty smoothly. The only tricky part was finding the right toothbrush size—there are so many variations in shape and width. I also wanted them to stand on their own without any support, but they kept falling over. At first, I was stubborn about making them stand naturally, but in the end, I had to use a little adhesive.

 

Did you shoot the photos at home?
Yes, in my bedroom, on my study desk with two lamps that I already had at home. I think it was around… midnight?

 

So it was similar to your personal projects?
Exactly! At first, I didn’t expect my casual still-life experiments to lead to a magazine cover shoot. But I wanted to approach it with the same mindset. Not to downplay the importance of this cover, but to make sure it remained something I was truly passionate about—something I’d willingly stay up late for, something that reflects my creative identity.

 

That’s really nice—it keeps your personality in the project. Speaking of the context, how do you think the two toothbrushes fit with our Childfree Neighbor theme?
There are so many objects that could represent the theme. But in the end, I think toothbrushes are incredibly personal. They go inside our mouths—it’s an intimate, private object. This is my toothbrush. No one else uses it.

 

Having children is often seen as a natural part of life, an expected step in adulthood. But when a couple decides not to have kids, it suddenly becomes this controversial, taboo subject—especially within traditional Asian families. Using such a common, everyday item to represent a topic that’s still considered unconventional creates an interesting contradiction. It presents a heavy subject in a subtle, almost neutral way. That’s why I thought it worked so well.

 

Wow, I hadn’t thought about it that way. Our team saw how two toothbrushes mean two people living together, like how movies use them to symbolize a couple. But I love your take on it. It shows how people can interpret the cover differently.
Yes! I also tried showing the cover photo to some of my friends to see how they’d interpret it. Some got the meaning right away, while others were confused. But I don’t see that as a failure—it’s actually proof that the cover works because it sparks curiosity and conversation.

 

A real conversation starter! 

Right. It really depends on how people understand visual cues and metaphorical aspects, but it’s a good thing for people to get curious about the cover photo.

 

Since the magazine topic is about being childfree, what’s your stance on the matter? Especially in countries like Southeast Asia, there’s a lot of pressure to have children—it’s almost expected for many people. Do you feel that pressure too?

Actually, I consider myself quite lucky to have a family that doesn’t pressure me about anything, including getting married and having kids. That’s a privilege because it means I don’t have to think about it too much. I’m 27 now, and a few years ago, I probably would have been at the age where people started looking for a serious relationship leading to marriage. But this year, and in the past few years, I’ve been more focused on my career. I’m not overthinking it or feeling pressured. I believe it would be different if I forced myself to find the “perfect” partner just to get married.

 

On another note, I think everything we have—whether objects or living beings—requires commitment, and that’s not something that can be forced. Commitment has to come from personal desire and necessity. As adults, I believe it’s time to be honest with ourselves instead of just being honest with our parents or society. Are we truly ready for that commitment? 

 

So when I see friends who are even younger than me and already have two or three kids, I get curious—what led them to that decision? What made them decide to marry and have kids at a young age? Because getting married and having kids young is a very personal choice. But on the flip side, not getting married and not having kids is also a very personal choice. If we don’t go around asking people why they have kids, then why do we feel the need to ask people why they don’t have kids?

 

And I think mental readiness is incredibly important and shouldn’t be overlooked, regardless of other factors. Even if someone has tons of money and can afford a luxurious wedding lasting seven days and seven nights, if they’re not mentally ready, then it’s pointless. That’s just how I see it.

 

In some of the stories in our Childfree Neighbor issue, many people also feel that even though financial readiness is an important factor, mental readiness is the main reason for choosing to be childfree.

That’s true. There’s a saying: “If you really want something, you’ll find a way to make it happen.” So even if it’s difficult, if you want it, you’ll make it work.

 

People featured in Childfree Neighbor

 

Do you see a lot of people around you who don’t want to have kids? We made this magazine because we see a rising phenomenon of people choosing not to have kids, even in Southeast Asia. Do you also feel that this trend is growing?

I think decisions related to someone’s future are very flexible and dynamic. People often say things so casually—like when they see a child having a tantrum at a restaurant or siblings fighting, they’ll instantly say, “I don’t want kids.” It’s such an offhand remark, and maybe that’s not a good thing either. Because we don’t know what the future holds, and those statements are made on a whim—they’re very situational.

 

So if you ask whether I know a lot of people who don’t want kids, the answer is yes, I hear many people saying that. But do we really know? I’m not skeptical, but I believe it’s personal and shouldn’t be questioned. People can change their minds, and that’s completely fine. Right now, all I see are casual comments—not formal commitments or agreements set in stone that say, “I will never have kids.” So as a friend, I just support whatever decision they make.

 

That’s a great perspective. Sometimes we don’t realize saying things on a whim. I hope the Childfree Neighbor magazine can help people reflect on whether they’re truly ready or even want to have kids.

Exactly. I’ve been in that position myself—I once told my mom I didn’t want kids. And she immediately said, “You can’t think like that! Who’s going to take care of you when you’re old?” Well, a typical Asian parent perspective. But on the other hand, I see it differently—I don’t think about how I’ll be taken care of in old age, because honestly, why even talk about it now? The future is uncertain. A minute from now, I could suddenly receive $100 million (Amen!). Who knows?

 

What are you most excited about with the Childfree Neighbor magazine launching soon? Where do you hope to see this magazine?

Honestly, I just want to see it in print and hold a physical copy in my hands. It still feels unreal to have my photograph in a printed publication. I’ve never had my photos published in print before. This is something that will travel far and wide, and hopefully, it will resonate with many people. I’d love to randomly come across it while traveling in Vietnam or Thailand and be like, “That’s my photo on a newsstand!”

 

Since you’re a photographer, what kind of photography projects are you open to in the future?

Right now, I’m actively involved with Met Glodok, where I mostly work on documentary projects that focus on people, society, traditions, and culture. Since last year, I’ve been really into projects related to culture, traditions, and people in general. Because I think just one frame can tell so many stories. We can have meaningful discussions based on a single image.

 

So, besides still-life photography, I definitely want to work on more projects related to culture and people. And with still-life photography, even though I’ve only done a few shoots, I’ve already gotten the opportunity to work with Wonderwhy. So I wonder—what if I shoot even more? Hopefully, it will lead me somewhere. Or maybe nowhere. Who knows?

 

 

Discover fresh perspectives on being childfree in a region where having kids is the norm—only in Wonderwhy’s Childfree Neighbor cultural documentary magazine. Grab your copy today—check our stockist list here.