Investigating nostalgia in Singapore through the lens of alternative identities
2024
Singapore’s national identity as a multicultural state is often touted as a racially and religiously harmonious feat. Singapore’s population is split into four main racial groups: Chinese, Malay, Indian and Others (CMIO), however those who were not born and raised in Singapore may feel a sense of disconnect with locals, where harmony is often only extended to tolerance. Even amongst locals, Singaporean nostalgia feels fragmented, through the gentrification of neighbourhoods, constantly renovating buildings and the gradual erosion of local dialects.
In this publication, I aim to investigate Singaporean nostalgia through two parts: i) the meaning of Singaporean nostalgia and ii) giving perspective of what Singaporean nostalgia means to those who are not traditionally Singaporean, namely those part of the “O” in CMIO.
Editorial Design
Print Publication
Visually, monochromatic graphics reflect the sepia-tone of historical archived images. Fragmentation and the hazy process of memory is reflected through bitmapped images and erasing parts of information and history through censor bars, inserts and negative space.