Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has collaborated with National Geographic CreativeWorks to unveil UNSEEN/SINGAPORE, a campaign that showcases Singapore as a travel destination from the perspective of intrepid photographers from Southeast Asia. Through photography, the campaign features a virtual exhibition of photos that encourages visitors to explore the city-cultural state's richness and secret corners by taking a moment to admire the unseen beauty of destination Singapore.
"We aim to inspire travellers to Singapore to rediscover the joy of travel once again. One way is to portray our destination in a different light, by helping visitors to see it afresh through another person's eyes. UNSEEN/SINGAPORE set out to do this, through the lens of talented photographers from Southeast Asia, who tell their journey of discovery through photography. We hope they will inspire a new wave of visitors to discover a Singapore reimagined," said Mr John Conceicao, Executive Director, Southeast Asia, STB.
Executive Director, Southeast Asia, STB
Officially launching, UNSEEN/SINGAPORE will showcase a collection of photographic works through a virtual exhibition captured and curated by six photographers from Southeast Asia. UNSEEN/SINGAPORE features the works of photographers from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, and Singapore.
Mr Chanipol Kusolcharttum, also known as "Rockkhound," from Thailand, is one of the six photographers invited by the Singapore Tourism Board in collaboration with National Geographic to participate in UNSEEN/SINGAPORE, a project aimed at uncovering more and reimagining Singapore through their lenses.
"I tend to practise my photography with something that doesn't run away from me, and architecture is something everybody has around themselves," shares Rockkhound.
In curating the UNSEEN/SINGAPORE collection, each photographer visited Singapore in mid-2022, covering areas in Singapore that showcase nature, heritage buildings, cultural sites, and art. Each presented their vision of an UNSEEN/SINGAPORE through ways that resonate with their passions and personal experiences.
For Rockkhound, this trip to Singapore is much more different than the fifty-give or take-trips prior as one of six photographers invited by STB to scout the location for the best possible shots. So, despite his numerous trips, this visit is an exploration of something more. From pre-dawn kelong tours to the quiet rooftop gardens, Rockkhound is on a journey to experience and capture it all.
"I take travelling as an experience. When you come to Singapore, there are must-visit places to see, but those are lists for everybody. [It is the journey that] gives each person a different experience," says Rockkhound, who ardently believes that taking a slow walk from one destination to another while admiring the scenery is the way to travel.
The photographers ventured across Singapore, going beyond its famous attractions and iconic skyline, to discover spots equally captivating - from charming neighbourhoods to lush and thriving offshore wetlands and a lighthouse at the island's edge. Places explored include Marina One, Funan Mall, SAF Yacht Club, Jurassic Mile, East Coast Park, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Lau Pa Sat, and many more.
UNSEEN/SINGAPORE is part of STB's efforts to boost travel recovery through SingapoReimagine, a tourism campaign highlighting new, innovative, and unexpected experiences in Singapore to audiences worldwide.
Between January to December 2022, Singapore recorded 6.3 million international visitor arrivals. Visitor arrivals were driven by strong demand from Singapore's key source markets, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand.
To view the UNSEEN/SINGAPORE virtual exhibition, visit www.natgeo.com/UnseenSingapore
To watch behind the scenes of UNSEEN/SINGAPORE, visit www.facebook.com/VisitSingaporeTH
Source: Neo Target