Everyday Sacred
Image Gallery
Glimpse the eclectic and unique views of the vernacular shrines of Singapore through these images curated by the team! Sourced from across the length and breadth of the island, these photos are testament to the plural, socio-cultural landscape of Singapore, embodied by these everyday sites of practice and community.
Short captions accompany these images to guide viewers to some of the ideas that stood out for the team (although we do recommend a visit to our "Themes" page for a more in-depth exploration of these ideas).
We hope you enjoy the gallery!
Some vernacular shrines require a sharp eye to spot, hidden as they may be. Others blend almost seamlessly into the local landscape and are, for some communities, an everyday part of the physical environment on this island.
Images from around Little India, Telok Ayer, Farrer Park
The communities that create and sustain vernacular shrines span the breadth of Singaporean society. Their interactions and multitude of backgrounds account in part for the various, multifaceted dimensions of these sites of practice.
Images from around Little India, Chinatown, Commonwealth
Different story arcs, different meanings attached to each shrine, different even in their everyday perceptions within the community of practice. Vernacular shrines are nonetheless related to each other as the physical manifestations of certain beliefs within the socio-religious landscape of Singapore.
Images from around Little India, Redhill, Beauty World
Histories, stories, and more... chat with some of the worshippers, examine the shrines themselves: and intrigue over any number of issues will likely spill forth. These discussions point to the deep meanings embedded in every day of Singapore's physical landscape.
Images from around Beauty World, Kent Ridge, Chinatown
Unique; quiet; humble; unassuming; humourous, even - such are some of the oft-unexpected features the team encountered at the vernacular shrines. This, too, and perhaps unsurprisingly, is the everyday sacred.
Images from around Redhill, Little India, Commonwealth, Napier