Bukit Brown: Spaces for the Living - Artitute - Art News

Co-presented by Chiaroscuro Images and The Arts House, Bukit Brown: Spaces For The Living is a photo exhibition that showcases the splendour of one of Singapore’s oldest and historically rich treasures. It aims to foster an appreciation of the legacy of Bukit Brown.

Featuring works by the Shutterbugs collective, and the exhibition is the first of its kind in Singapore to spotlight Bukit Brown. It pays homage to this historical landmark by highlighting the intertwining three themes of nature, heritage and spiritualism that reside at the core of Bukit Brown through the visual medium of photography.

The exhibition was a result of 6 months’ worth of work. Shawn Byron Danker said, “I put this whole thing together because I felt it was important to educate, to engage, and most importantly to create memories for people who haven’t been there, who need to learn about this place and its value for Singapore and the fabric of its soul.”

Raymond Goh of Asian Paranormal Investigators and Nature Society Singapore’s Tan Hang Chong presented a talk on opening night (1 Oct, 7 pm) with stories behind the pictures.

The Shutterbugs

The Shutterbug is a collective comprised of seven photographers – Shawn Danker, James Wong, Weiteck Chee, Simin Wang, Wayne Ho, Zann Huang and Siraj Hanifa – who come from diverse backgrounds. They have banded together as a community, united by their love of the photography art form.

The Photographs

There are a total of 40 photographs on display featuring interesting subject matters that you may not expect to see or find in a cemetery. Through the eyes of these seven photographers, I discovered some beauty in life and death, the history of Bukit Brown, the ritual and habits of the people’s faith and belief. The planning, preparation, photographing and editing took the team six months to execute this project. At the Opening, I was able to speak to some of the photographers, and even though they may have only a few photographs on display, they have actually taken tons! In addition, I was allowed to go through the albums on iPad of James Wong. For the photograph titled “Sanctuary”, which featured an altar of the Tu Di Gong (Earth God), James has taken many versions of different perspectives and angles.

The Path Taken

For James Wong, to take the photographs, he has to visit Bukit Brown several times. Some guided tours were arranged for the participating photographers as it was the first time for all of them. Subsequently, James ventured on his own more than 10 times. He admitted that he lost his ways during a few trips, and it was pretty scary. However, he encourages me to take a trip there to look at myself, experience the beauty and wonders before it is lost, and only be found in photographs.

Some of the photographers have chosen to be there for their shoot at specific hours. Chee Wei Teck was one of those who had made daring attempts to visit the place on the first day of the 7^th Month to capture the ritual of a dying trade. Chee met a group of people there annually to perform the necessary rituals, and he had to ask permission for the shoots. These are rare and a scene that will not be found anymore after Bukit Brown is gone.

Photojournalist Zann Huang has spent a considerable amount of time in the Middle East, documenting foreign cultural issues. So when she learnt that plans for development at the Bukit Brown Cemetery (BBC) were imminent, she made her way there for the first time, and it felt akin to stepping into a different era altogether. Then she chances upon a surreal occurrence – a mixed-Caucasian family, being the descendent of Ho Siak Kuan, were there for a family portrait shoot. In her colourful rainbow dress, the little girl playing by the graves did not notice Zann’s shutters going. She was in her own world, dancing, flying, just like a little fairy. (Emma, the ‘fairy’ in Zann’s photograph was at the Opening night).