Evolving Foodscapes: A Spatial History of Hawkers in Singapore

Hawkers have been an integral part of Singapore’s foodscape since the colonial era. As state-led modernisation initiatives refashioned the city, the role and position of hawkers in society changed dramatically from mobile, itinerant street hawking to licensed hawking from stalls in fixed markets or centres. This fundamental change did not happen all at once. Rather, it evolved through a series of “messy” transformations that gradually redefined the social and spatial relationships between hawkers, their customers, the state, and the changing urban landscape of Singapore. Using GIS visualisations and digital storytelling techniques, this presentation describes the shifting geography of hawkers in the context of urban growth and national development. Join Dr. Bryan Wee as he shares unique insights into Singapore’s living heritage.

About the Speaker

Dr. Bryan Wee is a Singaporean and an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography & Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado Denver, USA. Dr. Wee’s research and teaching is place-based; he explores the diverse ways by which experiences, nostalgia and memories create a sense of belonging in cultural spaces. His current projects utilise visual narratives such as story maps and photography to represent heritage, national identity, and place-making in Singapore’s foodscapes. Given that Dr. Wee has lived abroad for the past three decades, this work also represents his ongoing journey to (re)discover self and the construct of home.

About Archives Invites

Community histories unfold in this series that traces Singapore’s social past with help from the archives.

To view recordings of the previous Archives talks, you can be viewed them at your convenience via the links below:

Archives Unlocked : Panopto

Archives Invites : Panopto

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