These works are part of the exhibition AHEAD – a glimpse into Singapore’s Future. A street photography exhibition by Women in Street SG and part of the International Singapore Photography Festival 2022, on show at 37 Emerald Hill, October 8-9th 2022.
20 female street photographers based in Singapore are giving their perspective on the future of our little red dot. Ranging from the optimistic to the dystopian, topics that are touched upon are climate change, racial harmony, children, technology, urban development, national sentiment, celebrations, the elderly and the emancipation of women.
Not Really Clear
A bright future doesn’t mean a clear one. We cannot predict the future, but we can be ready for it.
Artist: Marie Dailey
National Day Preparation
A future with continued national traditions. The Photo showing a cleaner wiping the chairs in preparation of a national day event. In life, we tend to over emphasise on the outcome rather than the process and the behind-the-scene effort spent.
Artist: Kantaya new
Takeaway
Takeaway is part of a street photography project on women who work in the offices and shops around Raffles Place. Women’s work, reflected in rushing legs, hurrying feet and takeaway lunches, is essential for the future of Singapore.
Artist: Chris McCann
Lost generation
Walking through spaces of nightlife and bustling vendors feels incomplete. The impact of the pandemic rings loud in the empty hallways. Shuttered shops, faded voices; can our local businesses heal from its wounds? Or fade into relics of the past?
Artist: Alyssa Pua
The hands that build Singapore
The hands that build Singapore’s future. Getting ready to go home after a long day of working.
Artist: Adree Chan
Next
Children are our future and the destiny of future generations depends on our action today
Artist: Marie Dailey
Technological revolution
Are we at the beginning, middle or end of this current technological revolution? Where will it lead us?
Artist: Karlynne Wintels
Reflections of life
The elderly might not be able to keep up, seemingly stuck in their reflections of the past.
Artist: Karlynne Wintels
Foreign workers
Better integration of the foreign workers into the society will be a big part of Singapore’s future. Foreign workers are the real force behind all futuristic skyscrapers of Singapore.
Artist: Margarita Gasca
Why, it is a secret
“It is only as one grows up that one learns that there are other things here than sun and gold and oranges. But even so, “Who knows what life is? – for life is a secret.”
Artist: Jia Ying Chan
Anonymous connectivity
A future of connection yet anonymity
Artist: Karlynne Wintels
F THE FUTURE
Unwillingly heading ahead. Will things always get better for us?
Artist: Karlynne Wintels
Little red dot, Big hopes!
Children are our future hope. They have the ability to learn, grow, adapt to the new environment and put their knowledge to achieve their goals.
Artist: Fion Soh
You and I will be there
Singapore is a multicultural society and we all hope it will be even more inclusive of all religions, races, nationalities, sexual orientations, political views, genders, and becomes a society with real equal rights, obligations and opportunities for all.
Artist: Angela Echanove
Sticky relics
Relics of the past into the future. When will the last Covid – sticker, tape or mask still be visible in Singapore?
Artist: Karlynne Wintels
What about our future?
“Each generation is responsible to make the future of the next” – Nancy Pelosi
Artist: Marie Dailey
Finding shade.
Scorching temperatures will force Singaporeans away from unrelenting heat and into the shadows.
Artist: Karlynne Wintels
Build, build, build
You get to build your nation’s future right now with how you live, how you work, how you inspire others. When you stop to look at what you’ve built, do you like what you see? Build, build, build.
Artist: Carlet Farol
RAIN RAIN RAIN
“Rainfall has become more intense in recent years. Annual rainfall total for Singapore has increased at an average rate of 67 mm per decade from 1980 to 2019.” according to National Change Climate Secretariat.
Artist: Marie Dailey
The Future Generation
Even in the darkest of times, we must persist. We must guide our children toward the light, toward hope. After all, our lives, our values, and our legacy are but a foundation for the future generation.
Artist: Carlet Farol
Watching you
Who is watching who? Will CCTV with facial recognition control our lives? Or will social media be a stronger controlling force?
Artist: Karlynne Wintels
The lows of solitude
Busy online, solitude in life?
Artist: Karlynne Wintels
Techfall
Technology is like a waterfall of desire and dependence, no way to stop it.
Artist: Karlynne Wintels
Street warriors have the right to rest
On Joo Chiat Road on the east coast, there are many hawker centers. People work hard without complaining, day and night. They are always happy and calm. It’s nice to see them sometimes take a little rest.
Artist: Severine Gil
Prisoners to climate change
At some point, in the future, we will be prisoners to global climate change. Our politics, travel, work, food and lives will be controlled by it.
Artist: Karlynne Wintels
Spiritual connectivity
Is increased connectivity the future of our spirituality?
Artist: Karlynne Wintels
Decoration for National Day
This Photo captures the moment some people are seen putting up national day flags at Selegie House. You can see just the hands of one of the volunteer trying to secure the string of the flag.
Artist: Kantaya New
Letting go, borne free
“When I go, something bright will go out of Ndotsheni. Yes, I see, he said. Yes, I see. He was not shy or ashamed, but he said, Yes, I see, and laughed with his pleasure.”
Artist: Jia Ying Chan
The Halcyon Days.
When did we decide to stop being children? When did we decide to stop attending void deck football? Or bringing our Beyblades to school? When did we start giving up those face to face interactions, for those behind a screen?
Artist: Alyssa Pua
Mausoleum of Memories
This estate will no longer exist. Evicted homes, desecrated spaces … what price did we pay to provide for our future generations? To grow, we must give up what we are familiar with. That is the nature of evolution.
Artist: Alyssa Pua
What’s there ahead?
This photo is my inspiration that no matter how difficult life is, we just need to focus on what’s ahead of us and keep moving ahead.
Artist: Katherine Mendoza
HEAT
Global warming is not a prediction. It is happening now, here and everywhere. “Singapore is not insulated from the impact of climate change. From 1980 to 2020, the annual mean temperature has increased from 26.9°C to 28.0°C” according to National Change Climate Secretariat.
Artist: Marie Dailey
THE END OF THE TUNNEL?
We are looking at the end of one epidemic where people are slowly seeing the light at the end of the tunnel but is it just a beginning of a long series?
Artist: Marie Dailey
The ghosts of Singapore
Singapore’s future can’t be foreseen without the everyday working force. The forgotten ones, the ones that go unseen, the ones behind the stall, the ghosts of Singapore. These are the ones that will create a strong foundation for Singapore’s future.
Artist: Margarita Gasca
The kids are alright
I spotted this boy creating bubbles with his “bazooka” along the boardwalk on national day, where crowds have gathered. His expression seemed so matter-of-fact, and I love that he brought a lot of joy to the people around him.
Artist: Yen Yap
in the name of us
People gather for an exhilarating experience at Fort Canning Centre for From Singapore to Singaporean: The Bicentennial Experience, an interactive exhibition that documents over 700 years of Singapore’s history.
Artist: Luna Chang
Where my future is?
The world has changed dramatically over the past five decades. I wonder how and what Singapore will be like in 50 years from now, what will today’s-children’s life be environmental, technologically and job-wise. Always looking forward to the future.
Artist: Angela Echanove
A NEW ATTIRE
Face masks have recently appeared at the forefront of fashion trends as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Will masks become a part of daily life in the future?
Artist: Marie Dailey
Uncles Playing
A game requires a bit of luck, skill, and smarts…a metaphor for what Singapore needs to ensure a bright and safe future.
Artist: Carol Hamcke Onstwedder
Silver Tsunami
Singapore’s rapidly ageing population has been described as a ‘demographic time bomb’ and the potential effects cannot be ignored.
Artist: Mithu Chakraborty
HAND ON
“We have a single mission, to protect and to hand on the planet to the next generation” Francois Holland
Artist: Marie Dailey
Stepping out.
Stepping Out is part of a street photography project on women who work in the offices and shops around Raffles Place. By stepping into the public sphere, women’s contributions to the future of Singapore are undeniable.
Artist: Chris McCann
En route
Masks are no longer compulsory in most places. However, they are still mandatory on public transport, so many commuters like these aspiring ballerinas will still be keeping their masks as the other aspects of their lives return to “normal”.
Artist: Farah Roslee
One people, one Singapore.
Despite the differences in living, practices and beliefs, we live together as one people, one nation and work together towards one common goal.
Artist: Fion Soh
Looking for answers
“To be hopeful means to be uncertain about the future, to be tender toward possibilities..” Our search for answers lead us to all places.
Artist: Yen Yap
A MOMEMT IN TIME
Time for meditation and reconnection with nature is becoming much needed in a society where everything is going so fast..
Artist: Marie Dailey
GROWTH
Growth and development is key to the future in Singapore therefore cranes are part of the decor…
Artist: Marie Dailey
Karthir, Builder of Future Singapore
Karthir is a shy construction worker I met at my hospital lift. He is one of the many migrant workers here helping to build and shape our future cityscape! He is currently working on our new maternity wing.
Artist: Chua Yang
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
How will kids and families spend time together in the future?
Artist: Marie Dailey
CRUISE TO NOWHERE
A new concept which appeared during the pandemic. It allowed some of us to escape realty during few days looking at a the horizon when we felt trapped. Is this what we can expect in the future?
Artist: Marie Dailey
