SINGAPORE, 3 December 2025 – Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) launches Brewing Nostalgia: Kopitiams In Singapore, Malaysia And Thailand special exhibition, our first collaboration with the High Commission of Malaysia and the Royal Thai Embassy Singapore to commemorate the establishment of 60 years of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Malaysia, as well as Singapore and Thailand.

The exhibition features 24 black and white photographs of various traditional kopitiams in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand taken by award-winning travel photographer and writer Lester V. Ledesma over a period of more than a year. 

It honours the region’s vibrant kopitiam culture and celebrates these cherished community gathering spots as an enduring icon of Southeast Asian lifestyle. To more authentically capture their character and raw charm, the photographs were shot on black-and-white film using vintage cameras as a timeless tribute to the humble kopitiam.

According to Mr Alvin Tan, CEO/SCCC: “There is no better way to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations between Singapore and the two countries than with a photography exhibition on traditional kopitiams which can be found in all three countries. This is because kopitiams not only represent a common cultural experience shared by our three countries, they also symbolise the warm ties between our countries that endure even with the passing of time.”

Photographer Mr Lester V. Ledesma shared: “I started this project in early 2024 at a humble Singapore coffeehouse, with a roll of black-and-white film and a 70-years-old rangefinder camera. Brewing Nostalgia is my way of celebrating what has been part of my life in the two-plus decades that I’ve lived in Singapore and I am thankful to SCCC for their support in showcasing our rich, authentic and truly homegrown coffee heritage.”

Mrs. Chonlatee Chanrachakul, Charge d’Affaires a.i. from Royal Thai Embassy Singapore said: “Kopitiams are more than just coffee shops; they are the enduring social pulse of our communities and a testament to the rich, interwoven cultural heritage of Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia. This exhibition, marking 60 years of diplomatic relations, invites everyone to savor the shared taste of Nanyang coffee and kaya toast—a sweet reminder that our deep history and warm friendships are beautifully brewed together.”

This special exhibition is open to public and will run till 30 April 2026 at SCCC Concourse, Level 1. Admission is free. Sample exhibition photographs can be found in the media kit here.