Imagining Singapore

by Charmaine Toh

Published 15 February 2023
Imagining Singapore is the first comprehensive study on the history of Pictorial photography in Singapore. Drawing from interviews, unpublished historical data and newly discovered photographs, the book unveils a fascinating aspect of visual culture and its links to global Pictorialism. While Singapore experienced sweeping changes from independence and industrialisation, Pictorial photography took on multiple roles, acting as a symbol of democracy and modernity, staging national identity and providing a mechanism for Singaporeans to engage with ideas of the past, present and future. Such photographs shaped the way modern Singapore was imagined and represented for decades to come.