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a land of idyllic fairy tales
Since returning to Singapore after a film course in the US in 2007, photographer Nguan has traveled extensively to capture the country's overlooked corners, from street vendors to pastel-colored spiral staircases.
"Singapore is very clean and tidy, but you often don't feel anything when you think about the country. Nobody thinks it's beautiful. So I wanted to photograph Singapore as a place straight out of a fairy tale," Nguan shared.
Using film cameras from the 90s, Nguan combines documentary filmmaking techniques and artistic photography skills to create dreamy, sweet images.
These photos have previously appeared in two bestselling photo books, *How Loneliness Goes* and *Singapore*.
private space in a public building
According to research by the Singaporean government, over 80% of the country's population lives in public housing, which is where Ngguan focuses his photography.
Nguan particularly enjoys photographing the corridors in public housing complexes because they hold stories about the complex lives unfolding within the buildings.
"Many residents consider the areas outside their apartments to be their own. They are very proud of the decorations, the placement of altars on pillars, the rows of potted plants, and the drying of clothes outside."
marks of time
Nguan views Singapore as a nation caught in a state of turmoil, caught between nostalgia for the past and concern for the future.
"The rapid development has caused a deep sense of nostalgia among Singaporeans, as the country they miss has either disappeared or changed too quickly."
However, many areas still retain traces of the past in the form of shophouses, a colonial-era building style combining housing and shops found throughout Southeast Asia.
In addition, Nguan said that since childhood he has been "obsessed" with the staircases often found behind buildings.
However, these colorful structures face an uncertain future. Not all staircases are protected by the country's conservation regulations, and those in Nguan's photos could be demolished next spring.
Other familiar motifs in Nguan's work include street vendors, religious festivals, weddings, and funerals... He also frequently photographs nature, because "Singapore is a big city that originated from the jungle, and I want to show that our true nature is not just bricks and stones."
