Cultural Craftsmen: Teochew Street Opera
In today’s ever-changing world, we are losing our heritage faster than we know it, with traditions and cultures long past their heyday. However, the many facets that make up the art of Chinese Street Opera have somehow always intrigued me; from the distinctive thick makeup to the lavish, colourful costumes.
What really piqued my interest was the people behind their stage personas. I went backstage to get to know more about these cultural craftsmen from one of Singapore’s last street opera troupes and see them for myself.
Memories don’t last forever in our imperfect world; photographs however make these moments last a little longer. Each photograph is akin to a time capsule that immortalises the very essence of this undervalued craft. This is my humble attempt at recording these stories before they are gradually lost to the ravages of time.
