Life in Singapore
Inaugural Migrant Workers Photography Festival
5- 15 September 2029
Objectifs (Lower Gallery)

Singapore’s inaugural Migrant Workers Photography Festival (MWPF) was held from the 5th to 15th September 2019 at Objectifs (Lower Gallery). This was the first photography festival dedicated to the works of migrant workers working and residing in Singapore, and is open to all regardless of gender, age, nationality or occupation.

This year, a total of 118 submissions was received across three categories: Landscape and Nature; People and Culture; Places and Architecture. Responding to the theme ‘Life in Singapore’, 12 images were selected as finalists. The shortlisted images capture the perspectives and expressions of migrant workers living and working in Singapore. Local poet, photographer and judge for the festival, Marc Nair, commented, “The images speak of unguarded moments, of in-between space; a gaze that contains both longing and laughter.” The other judges for the festival are Mayrhose Coronado and Kevin Sim. Mayrhose Coronado, an award-winning photographer, is herself a FDW* in Singapore. “As a photography enthusiast, I am more than delighted to witness the magnificent talents the migrant workers have to showcase,” Coronado adds.

We are pleased to announce that the following finalists have been shortlisted:
1. Ana Rohana (Female, 35, Indonesia, FDW, 10y in SG)
2. Clarisse de Guzman Victorio (Female, 34, The Philippines, FDW, 9y in SG)
3. Ermawati (Female, 32, Indonesia, FDW, 3y in SG)
4. Islam Majedul (Male, 27, Bangladesh, Construction Worker, 5y in SG)
5. Islam Mohammad Saiful (Male, 26, Bangladesh, Aircon Worker, 4y in SG)
6. Jean Ragual Madohinog (Female, 38, The Philippines, FDW, 11y in SG)
7. Rana (Male, 31, Bangladesh, Senior HSE** Coordinator, 10y in SG)
8. Turalba Lanny Cerquina (Female, 37, The Philippines, FDW, 10y in SG)
9. Uddipon Roy Chowdhury (Apu) (Male, 28, Bangladesh, HSE Supervisor, 6y in SG)
10. Velasco Ruby Calugay (Female, 42, The Philippines, FDW, 6y in SG)

The team looks forward to next year’s festival and thank all participants for their submissions this year. “We hope that the migrant community will be inspired by the exhibition and continue pursuing their dreams, regardless of their current occupation. We wish that this festival will provide a platform for migrants and locals to meet and interact through a shared visual language.”

*FDW – Foreign Domestic Worker
**HSE – Healthy, Safety, Environment

Presented by: Migrant Workers Photography Festival
Supported by: Objectifs, AVS Printing, SGFrames
Partners and donors: aidha, HealthServe, Mr Kevin Sim, Ms Ang Huan Ting, Ms Eva Wong Nava