Grafitti

Graffiti on a shophouse wall in Kampong Glam, Singapore, photographed during a daytime walk through the Haji Lane area. I made this frame on my Singapore trip while passing one of the neighborhood’s most colorful streets.

I liked how the mural covered almost the entire facade, turning the old building into one big piece of street art. The painted figures, symbols, and blocks of color sit around the tall windows and doors instead of hiding them, so the architecture still stays part of the picture. That mix is what made me stop. It felt less like a separate artwork placed on a wall and more like the building itself had been redrawn.

I shot this straight on to keep the lines simple and let the symmetry of the windows hold everything together. A wide lens helped me fit the full section of the wall while staying close enough to keep the details clear. The bright yellow, green, blue, and red tones do most of the work, so I kept the composition clean and didn't try to add too much else.

The passing figure at the bottom gave me a sense of scale and a bit of movement against all the painted shapes. I also liked the small everyday details left in the frame, like the string lights, utility boxes, and protective panels in front of the wall. They make it feel like a real street scene in Kampong Glam rather than a polished mural photographed in isolation. For me, that balance between bold public art and the ordinary look of the street is what makes this part of Singapore so interesting to photograph.