Malaysia and Singapore were once a single country.

Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, is a continuously developing metropolis.

And then there's Singapore, one of Asia's economic hubs.

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By chance, I had the opportunity to stay in both cities.

Originally, the plan was to photograph in Kuala Lumpur and attend an awards ceremony in Singapore, but right before departure, the schedule was rearranged for this project.

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In mid-March 2023, I was able to photograph in both cities.

This time, I focused on the wet markets in both cities. I followed the daily lives of market people from early morning in both locations.

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Lively city, Kuala Lumpur.

Located on the western side of the Malay Peninsula, it’s a city attractive for its diverse culture, historical architecture, modern landmarks, vibrant street food, shopping malls, and beautiful parks.

Additionally, as an Islamic country, it’s a fascinating destination where religious history, diverse cultures, architecture, food, and shopping blend together, and it continues to develop.

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I took the train from the city center and then walked for about five more minutes.

It had a distinctively Asian atmosphere. And as expected, there were many motorcycles on the roads.

Upon arriving at my destination, the daily lives of the people living in this town were unfolding. Of course, there were no tourists here.

I immediately began negotiating to take photos.

The workers were friendly and willingly agreed to be photographed.

In the heat, fresh meat and fish were left out on the shelves for long periods.

Due to the heat, water was regularly poured over the meat to prevent it from drying out.

Amidst these scenes, the people showed me their smiles.

I was able to shoot in a pleasant atmosphere.

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Then, on to Singapore.

Now one of Asia's economic hubs, Singapore.

Although it is a democratic nation, the one-party dictatorship has continued, giving the impression that the entire city is meticulously managed by the state.

 

Here too, I visited a wet market.

Unlike Malaysia, where the markets are not very sanitary, Singapore's markets were fully managed in terms of hygiene.

Vegetables were individually wrapped to keep insects away.

Meat and fish were refrigerated in display cases.

You could sense the high standard of living in everything.

And again, the workers offered me smiles for the camera.

I was able to connect with many people.

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Even though the lifestyle was clearly different, the vitality and expressions of the people were the same.

I would like to thank everyone who cooperated with the shoot.