Snapshots @ My Queenstown
About the Virtual Exhibition
What is life like in the historic Tanglin Halt neighbourhood? My Community armed 25 of its residents with disposable cameras for a month to capture faces and places they hold dear to their hearts in the lead up to its planned demolishment.
The result? A heartfelt and poignant ground-up collection of photos which maps out social connections established through the decades, favoured landmarks, as well as pastimes cherished by the community.
Explore the Exhibition Virtually!
People are the heart of any community. Residents involved in the project recognised this. They snapped candid photos of their favourite neighbourhood figures – such as Tanglin Halt’s roving ice-cream vendor and the estate’s conscientious cleaner – who exemplify and amplify the spirit of community life. Also captured – informal catch up sessions at void decks and along the estate’s corridors.
Queenstown’s swimming complex, its public library, the Tanglin Halt Town Centre and the site of the defunct Keretapi Tanah Melayu railway tracks, are some of the community’s favourite go-to spots. These long-standing community institutions provide a comforting presence in a constantly changing country. Queenstown residents have also made room in their hearts for the new. For instance, they have fully embraced the five-year-old residential complex SkyVille@Dawson which offers an expansive view of the estate and beyond.
Before Queenstown became Singapore’s first satellite estate, the area was already home to the villagers of Boh Beh Kang who were integral in contributing to the area’s identity. Many of them continued to live and work in the area following its redevelopment. Their stories play an important role in the Queenstown story.
What makes a home? Is it the architectural flourishes which enhance the appearance of a given estate or the shared facilities which have served residents well? In this series, participants’ demonstrate to us their idea of home and give us an intimate look into Singapore’s first satellite estate.