Black-and-white panoramic photographs documenting the transformation of Singapore in the 21st century will be shown in an upcoming exhibition at Objectifs. Titled Longing and Belonging, this is the first solo show by local photographer Wee Teck Hian.
Over more than two decades, Wee has covered many major news developments as a photojournalist at a newspaper for 17 years, and through his own passion projects. A specialist in panoramic black-and-white photography, he uses a Hasselblad XPan camera and develops prints in a small darkroom at home.
Since the early 2000s, he has dedicatedly covered the radical transformation of various spaces in Singapore, such as Marina Bay. He would often hop on his motorcycle on weekends to scout for new vantage points from which to capture the construction of Marina Bay Sands.
Though shooting landscapes, Wee also concerns himself with the human element of urban development. In the process of documenting Marina Bay, he acquainted himself with the migrant workers who worked there, and also captured high-profile figures such as the Formula One drivers who zipped through Singapore’s night race circuit.
In documenting Tanjong Pagar Railway Station in the final six weeks before the last Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) train pulled out in 2011, he not only captured the site’s unique architecture influenced by Art Deco, neoclassical and local design styles, but also captured the camaraderie of longtime railway employees, the routine of daily operations and the excitement of visitors who flocked to the area to catch a last glimpse of the station before it closed.
A long-distance runner, Wee has also explored many of Singapore’s nature areas, such as the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. For him, shooting these lush and untended green spaces that may one day make way for development is not only for posterity, but also a way of honing his craft, of refining his ability to depict the wide spectrum of shades between white and black.
Opening Reception & Artist’s Talk: Thu 6 Feb, 7pm
Guided Photowalk in Waterloo Street: Sat 8 Feb, 10am to 12pm
Venue: Objectifs Lower Gallery, 155 Middle Road, Singapore 188977
When: 7 Feb - 1 Mar 2020,
