Have you noticed the traditional Malay architectural features of Geylang Serai Market & Food Centre, the unique nine-sided shape of Adam Road Food Centre or the resort-like atmosphere of East Coast Lagoon Food Village inspired by its coastal surroundings?
To highlight these often-overlooked features of Singapore’s hawker centres, the National Heritage Board (NHB) has launched a new digital photography series, titled Our Hawker Culture: Built for Great Taste. The series features 12 well-loved hawker centres across the island, including familiar haunts like Tiong Bahru Market, heartland favourites like Tampines Round Market and Food Centre, as well as modern hawker centres like Pasir Ris Hawker Centre.
Comprising over 100 photographs, Our Hawker Culture: Built for Great Taste brings together the original works of four local photographers – Fabian Ong, Rebecca Toh, Khoo Guo Jie and Lee Yik Keat – all of whom have distinct visual storytelling styles.
In this photo series, the four photographers zoom in on the architectural features of Singapore’s well-loved hawker centres to highlight the unique function of our “community dining rooms” in the respective communities and precincts. Through the lens of the photographers and their personal anecdotes, visitors will also be able to experience a different perspective of these spaces that have become integral to the everyday lives of Singaporeans.
This photo series is part of NHB’s ongoing efforts to document and safeguard hawker culture, following Singapore’s successful inscription of our hawker culture to the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
It can be accessed via NHB’s recently relaunched heritage portal, Roots.gov.sg at the following link. Visitors can also learn more about the hawker centres through the accompanying historical background information on Roots.gov.sg.
