Navigating: Home

Family has always been a significant aspect in Chinese culture. In Singapore, the importance of family and the values it upholds in both personal and societal aspects have been reinforced repeatedly by the government and have been actively promoted since the 90s. Family in Singapore has been defined as the “basic building blocks” of the society (Tan, 2012) and will continue to remain so in the growth of the society as a whole. As the country advances and becomes increasingly westernised, there remains a portion of Chinese population that holds traditional beliefs and values left from the generation before.

Navigating: Home explores the idea of growing up in a traditional Singaporean Chinese family culture and the experiences one would face with regards to traditional values and methods of upbringing, from the perspective of a younger generation Singaporean. The project seeks to visualise and document the common experiences faced in a traditional Singaporean Chinese family culture in contrast with modernised ideas.

The project ultimately aims to consolidate a guide as an appreciation for the traditional Singaporean Chinese family past experiences and culture, and at the same time, provide tips and coping mechanisms for intergenerational conflicts faced in a traditional Singaporean Chinese co-habiting family space. This is done in hopes of bringing together people of similar backgrounds, encouraging appreciation for the traditional Singaporean Chinese family culture and lastly, formation of better family relationships in the future.