Wawi Navarroza, Self-Portrait for My Grandfather, the Photographer (after Frida Kahlos Portrait of My Father / Retrato de Mi Padre, 1951) 2007, Lambda C-print, 61 x 45.7 cm

The exhibition is named after the title of Singaporean artist Sam Lo’s photographic work which documents the words ‘My Grandfather Road’ spray-painted onto a street in Singapore’s Central Business District. The Singlish phrase, used colloquially to berate people for obstructing others in a public space (“You think this is your grandfather’s road?”) is repurposed here as a way of reasserting a sense of place, heritage and belonging in the face of rapid urban development—a phenomenon pertinent to Singapore but common also to the major metropolitan centres of southeast Asia.

By substituting “our” in place of “my”, the title serves a dual purpose. On the one hand, it offers up an intimation of the thematic pulse which runs through the works in the exhibition—a deep-rooted connection between human bodies and place, and an emphasis on the body as it exists and exerts agency in relation to its environment. On the other, it implores us to reflect on the idea and imagine that what is “mine” could very possibly be “ours”.

Curated by Jennifer Yang

Visits from university and senior high school student groups are welcome at 16albermarle Project Space during gallery hours, but must be booked in advance with the gallery manager via gallerymanager@16albermarle.com. There is a limit of 25 people including teachers. Visits are free, and a talk about the exhibition can be provided on request. Be aware that Newtown streets are very narrow and parking is very difficult. The gallery is a short walk from Newtown Station. If travelling by bus, students would need to walk 400m from King Street.