Intangible cultural heritage comprises the traditions, rituals, crafts, expressions, knowledge and skills
that we practise and pass on from generation to generation.
It is quintessentially, a part of living, everyday heritage.
Our intangible cultural heritage is dynamic, evolving and constantly being updated.
This living heritage can be re-created by individuals, groups and communities
in response to their environments, interactions with nature and history, and changes in our lifestyles.
Be it the celebration of family and friendship ties during Chinese New Year,
the rhythmic performances of Dikir Barat, or universal appreciation
of the intricacies of Nonya beadwork and embroidery,
let us come together to capture the essence of Singapore’s intangible cultural heritage
and help safeguard #OurSgHeritage for future generations.
After combing through more than 2,000 captivating images
that represent the vibrancy of Living Heritage in Singapore,
we are thrilled to announce the winners of the #OurSGHeritage Photo Contest
(Contest period 25 January to 6 March 2020)
PHOTOGRAPH BY @RYANCHENG80
"(老赛桃源潮剧团) One of the oldest form of theatre arts which dates back over 1000 years in China,
is a disappearing heritage of modern Singapore. The Lao Sai Tao Yuan troupe is one of the oldest active
troupes in Singapore and one of the 3 remaining local Chinese opera troupes still in performance today,
established since 19th Century and passed down generations through generations.
Few of the members such as Ms Lim, the 4th generation of the troupe family are currently performing
and advocating the arts to younger audience and experience through social networking
hopefully to save this arts from extinction for the future generation to see the art of Chinese opera.
#OurSGHeritage #IntangibleCulturalHeritage".
PHOTOGRAPH BY @SASLWT
"The annual Fire Walking Festival takes place at the Sri MariammanTemple in Chinatown.
Held a week before Deepavali, the ritual is a form of penance or thanksgiving in honour of Hindu goddess Sri Drowpathai Amman.
Male devotees walked barefoot across a bed of burning charcoal,
and then stepped into a pit of milk, in observation of the Theemithi, or fire-walking festival.
Prior to the actual fire walking,
preparing the fire pit is just as drama. Devotees endure intense heat to set up the pit.
They are constantly douse with water to handle the 'heated' affair.
#OurSGHeritage #IntangibleCulturalHeritage".
PHOTOGRAPH BY @RONLOWPHOTO
"Fire dragon dance at Sims Drive, performed by members of the
150-year-old Mun San Fook Tuck Chee temple to celebrate the Earth Deity’s feast day.
Singapore is a multi-racial and multi-religious country.
There are a lot of cultural practices within the different communities.
Our unique culture is made up of practices from various ethnicities, united together in harmony.
#oursgheritage #IntangibleCulturalHeritage".
PHOTOGRAPH BY @ANDYLUM
"Before the #Wayang (#Chinese Street Opera) performance,
at the backstage, another form of art is occurring
- the #art of makeup.
The makeup of the opera performers
are distinctively vibrant and are meant to give hints to the
characters they play. The most common of which is junban
(“charming makeup”), which is applied lightly at the brow
and eye areas, usually on sheng (the male lead) or dan
(the female lead) characters. The other distinctively
patterned caiban (“colourful makeup”) which is usually
worn by jing (the supporting role) and chou (the jester)
characters.
Traditionally, it was the performers who
drew their own faces, and the process could takes up
to an hour of time. As many performers are well into their
50s or later, and the declining interest of the public in
#StreetOpera, this #traditional old art form
may soon be another one of the vanishing skills and trades...
#IntangibleCulturalHeritage #oursgheritage".
PHOTOGRAPH BY @ANDYLUM
"Bird singing corners can be found at the void deck
of several HDB estates. Listening to the melodious chirping
while enjoying a hearty breakfast is one of life's simple
pleasures.
It is of utmost importance to create awareness on these
intangible cultural heritage so that our future generations
will get to know about these priceless traditions.
#OurSgHeritage #IntangibleCulturalHeritage".
PHOTOGRAPH BY @PHOTOGRAPHYHOLIC
"Ready for the walk; Thaipusam attracts thousands
of Hindu devotees who fulfil their vows over a 3km walk
from the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple (SSPT) at Serangoon
Road to the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple
(STT) at Tank Road. Live music was heard throughout the
Thaipusam 2020 procession.
Thaipusam is a beautifully moving celebration,
and non-Hindu observers are welcomed and encouraged
to respectfully join in the festivities like myself to see this
wonderful tradition.
Mr U Murali Raj had chosen to don the iron spike shoes
and prayed before he leave the temple...
#oursgheritage #IntangibleCulturalHeritage".
PHOTOGRAPH BY @FILMJOURNAL_
“This photo was shot using a film camera.
The driving factor that keeps me shooting is to document
both the tangible and intangible cultural heritage in Singapore.
In the context of intangible cultural heritage,
certain trades, traditions, crafts and knowledge
are slowly disappearing from the scenes of Singapore.
What I love to achieve through photography is
to capture these intangible cultural heritage for posterity,
where I would also be able to share with my own children
(or any other interested children who don’t get to see
what Singapore is like in the early 2000s) in the future
of how Singapore was like through my photographs.
#OurSGHeritage #IntangibleCulturalHeritage”.
PHOTOGRAPH BY @VINCENTPHOTOGRAM
"Dying breed of paper funeral offerings craftsman.
The Chinese believed burning these papers
funerals offerings in the form of house or cars,
the deceased will received them in their after life.
This friendly uncle told me he sometimes have
to customise design at the request of the bereaved family,
to make something that the deceased's used to like.
Where can we find these craftsman in the future
if the skills is not passed on?
#oursgheritage #intangibleculturalheritage".
Take a picture that best
represents living heritage
in Singapore and
upload it to Instagram.
Add a short description
as to why you think
intangible cultural heritage
is important.
Add #OurSGHeritage and
#IntangibleCulturalHeritage
to the post, and tag both
@NatGeoAsia and @NHB_SG
Stand a chance to win
a Leica D-Lux Camera,
an iPad Pro, shopping vouchers
and 1 year subscriptions
to National Geographic.