Photography

Cocktail: Say Cheese!
Inspired by: Lim Kwong Ling's [Not Titled] (1970s) as seen at the National Gallery Singapore

The print by Lim Kwong Ling shows a view of the Singapore River, a popular subject for painters and photographers in the 1960s and 1970s. The aerial river view was taken from atop the 52-storey OCBC Centre when construction was near completion. Before the decade-long clean-up effort was initiated in 1977, the Singapore River was heavily polluted, bustling with trade, and filled with bumboats. These river views document the changes taking place in the city-state as it experienced rapid urbanisation and industrialisation. Lim Kwong Ling only started learning photography in his thirties when he began taking adult classes taught by Lee Sow Lim and the Photographic Society of Singapore (PSS) in the early 1960s. By the early 1970s, Lim’s focus had shifted from pictorial to documentary photography, reflecting a more realist approach to image-making.

An ode to photography inspired by Lim Kwong Ling's photograph, Say Cheese! is a sepia-toned cocktail that captures your unforgettable moments at Smoke & Mirrors with a delightful instant image, creating a lasting memento of your visit.