The Marina Bay Sand, the Changi Jewel and the fast-paced, high-rise city are what immediately comes to one's mind about Singapore. This is 'The Weekender's' first flight into the Asia Pacific region and this issue will present Singapore in a different and more laid-back perspective than you might be used to. However, it will still showcase the iconic architecture and landmarks that juxtapose with a melting pot of diverse heritages/cultures and remnants of the city-state's colonial past. And at the same, this issue explores the blurred boundaries between the old and the new, the hardscapes and the softscapes. From starting the weekend with breakfast at a local enclave, rich in history and culture, to wandering the grounds of the UNESCO Heritage listed Botanical Gardens and then ending the day sipping a cocktail along Keong Siak Road, a trendy neighbourhood littered with eateries and bars, Matthew aspires for the book to bring about a more local and intimate experience of what the city-state has to offer for a weekend getaway or a pit-stop to explore the rest of region. Whilst the flow of the book will incorporate the weekend trajectory, the mixture of content will mean that a reader is both influenced by Matthew's imagery of the city, without explicitly having to follow a specific route but allow them to adventure at will.
About the Author
Matthew Chen is an architectural designer living and working in Singapore. His attention to detail, colours and composition helps define his photography portfolio which centres around his everyday life and travel. Through visual documentation, he is able to express and share the nuances of life and the surrounding city-scape from his own perspective.