The Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre Unveils “Brewing Nostalgia” Exhibition, Celebrating Kopitiam Culture Across Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand

The Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) has launched Brewing Nostalgia: Kopitiams in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, a regional photography exhibition that pays tribute to one of Southeast Asia’s most beloved cultural icons: the kopitiam. This showcase marks SCCC’s first-ever collaboration with the High Commission of Malaysia and the Royal Thai Embassy in Singapore, commemorating 60 years of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Malaysia, as well as Singapore and Thailand.

At the heart of the exhibition are 24 striking black-and-white photographs captured by award-winning travel photographer and writer Lester V. Ledesma. Shot over the course of more than a year, the images document the charm, warmth and timeless rituals of traditional kopitiams across the three countries. Ledesma used vintage film cameras to authentically portray the raw textures, daily rhythms and nostalgic allure of these community spaces, from steaming cups of kopi to well-worn tabletops and bustling morning crowds.

The exhibition shines a light on the kopitiam as a cornerstone of Southeast Asian life, a place where generations gather, stories unfold and local flavours thrive. Through Ledesma’s lens, visitors are invited to reflect on the shared cultural threads that bind the region together.

Brewing Nostalgia is now open to the public at the SCCC Concourse, Level 1, and will run until 30 April 2026. Admission is free.