Studio Brief 01 - Type in Context

Over the summer, photographs were taken of the typefaces used on the architecture of old Singapore, specifically shophouses. Built in the 1840's and 1960's shophouses formed the bulk of Singapore's urban landscape. The buildings are generally two to three storeys high, built in adjoining blocks with common party walls. Today, shophouses are an image of old Singapore and are conserved within culturally concentrated areas like Little India or Chinatown. 

As opposed to photographing the typefaces seen throughout modern Singapore, the photos focused on capturing the history and cultural influences. This project serves as a good basis to showcase a side of Singapore that is rarely advertised to tourists. By documenting these shophouses, it gives the reader more of an insight into Singapore's cultural identity, which has always been difficult to define. Singapore is an entirely multicultural society that is only 50 years old after gaining independence. Singapore doesn't have a indigenous race populating the country. She is made up of a population that have descended from immigrants who came from China, Malaya and India. Because of this diversity, there is no one defining culture/tradition that sums up Singapore. Therefore the aim of photographing these shophouses is to try and convey Singapore's cultural identity and a piece of Singapore that goes overlooked. 

All of the photos were shot on a film point and shoot. Film was chosen over digital because of the context of the subject. Film provides a unique visual quality manages to capture emotion and evokes to a time of yesteryear which was inspired by the work of a known Singaporean photographer Nguan (http://nguan.tv/projects.htm)

Through his recognisable visual style, Nguan is able to give everyday scenes in Singapore a sense of longing and subtle sadness. His photos of everyday life exposes the beauty of Singapore that people often overlook. By documenting these shophouses through this way hopefully changes some perspectives of old architecture that is overshadowed in favour of modern marvels.