Chinatown Fishmonger - Heritage Endeavour

Photograph Print by Yip Cheong Fun.

This artwork is mounted on matt board.

Vanishing Trades:
A fishmonger in Chinatown

The photograph of a fishmonger selling on the roadside is interesting as it shows how business was conducted on the road surface, often without any tables or chairs. Even the customers just squat down to pick the fish they wanted to buy. Noticed the attire of the people involved, especially the ladies with the Chinese Samfu dress, and the older ladies in their accustomed, a tire was long pants, often black in colour.

This picture of a roadside fishmonger is symbolic of the postwar economic conditions in Singapore, the world depression in 1932 affected and international support for Singapore greatly. There was widespread unemployment people in Chinatown, unable to find work, turned to street hawking. Street stars for mini roads day and night included some problems for the authorities, admittedly the myriad of crystals brought a certain, trying to the social and cultural landscape, but the fact remains that mini stallholders operated under less than desirable conditions due to a lack of piped water supply an inadequate facilities to prepare and cook your food. To confirm this problem, just thought he’s in the general public hard to cope with the indiscriminate disposal of waste into drains this caused a pollution problem. The new government that came to power after Singapore’s independence began to tackle the hooker problem and comprehensive week, starting with the registration of issuing them with licenses and leader and exercise with Amanda to recite the roadside hackers in the new hawker centre at the corner of Smith Street and Trengganu Street in Chinatown, one of the many new hawker centres is controlled by the Environment authorities.

What is more interesting in this picture are the women in the foreground. One of them was dressed in Samfu, while others dressed like typical Majies who worked as domestic servants. Then there were umbrellas shielding the stalls from sun and rain. I even in Chinatown today, umbrella stalls are a common sight. The background houses are typical shophouses which have been conserved in Chinatown under a Conservation Scheme.

This picture, like many pictures Yip had taken in his career, shows his prevailing interest in the human condition. His dramatic style is shown here. The image subtly highlights an action, resembling otherworldly portraits and produces a fascinating mood. More importantly, he captures a portrait of historical interest.