Resonance - Songs of Our Forefathers

Centuries ago, immigrants landed on Singapore’s shores — a few with modest coffers, but most with only the threads on their backs. However, all had the will to work and realise their hopes in the new land. Bringing new faiths and cultures with them, they had a common mission: to make Singapore their homeland. As we fast-forward into the 21st century, some of our forefathers have left a legacy with far-reaching benefits, which continues to influence and enhance the lives of generations of their descendants and the community at large, particularly in the form of Singapore’s monuments.

This book unfolds the unique tales behind our monuments. As framed and captured through the lens of our photographers, the images that follow "freeze" the quiet beauty of each monument, illuminate its synergy with man and the surrounding landscape, and magnify fleeting scenes of life depicted through rites and rituals. Who would know that behind the modest exterior of Abdul Gaffoor Mosque lies a one-of-a-kind sundial? Or that the solemn, unassuming structure of Ying Fo Fui Kun in Telok Ayer is home to one of the oldest surviving clan houses in Singapore?

Our monuments are all the more relevant today — not only do they link us to the past, they are important markers of continuity in an ever-changing landscape. Who would have imagined that the sedate grounds of a convent and a boys’ school would become a trendy F&B complex (CHIJMES) and the Singapore Art Museum respectively, or that the old Supreme Court — long associated with the wheels of justice — would take on a new lease of life as the National Art Gallery of Singapore from 2012. Behind their veneer of brick and plaster, our monuments too have adapted in the face of challenge and strife. They have survived the ravages of war, weathered political and economic storms and stood side by side with a young nation grappling with trials and tribulations along the road to independence.

Through these photographs and stories, discover the wonders of our built heritage on Singapore’s streets. They will reveal the passion that drove their founders and the energy of those who bring the buildings to life today.