This is the story of Singapore through the eyes of the artists and photographers who witnessed and recorded it. Over 1200 rare and beautiful images vividly bring Singapore's history to lifeincluding the first ever photographic portrait taken in 1843; the lyrical landscapes produced by the early professional studios; evocative portraits that reveal the faces of a cosmopolitan city; the efforts of early amateurs to capture a colonial city less polished and perfect than in postcard views; the gritty shots of photo-journalists who chronicled World War II and the road to independence; and the late 20th century professionals who have documented the extraordinary post-independence changes to the island. Each image conveys a strong sense of place, and together they tell the story of a nation and the island they transformed from a fishing village to a global city state.