Bio/Contact
Zakaria Zainal was born and raised in Singapore in 1985, as a Malay-Muslim son in a Chinese dominated society. He makes meaning of the world through his photographs. Enticed by the visceral changes of a former monarchy’s transition to a federal republic in Nepal, he first picked up his camera.
Artist Bio.
Zakaria Zainal makes meaning of the world through his photographs. Enticed by the visceral changes of a former monarchy’s transition to a federal republic in Nepal, he first picked up his camera. His first monograph, Our Gurkhas: Singapore Through Their Eyes is an anthology of portraits and anecdotes of the retired Singapore Gurkhas as they reminisce about life in the Lion City, from the 1950s till today. Subsequently, he co-wrote The Invisible Force: Singapore Gurkhas – a continuation of his fascination for the Singapore Gurkha diaspora.
In 2015, 50 years after Singapore’s independence, his team documented the living histories of people who once lived on the islands of southern Singapore titled Island Nation.
His photographs and stories have appeared in various publications both in Singapore and Asia. He graduated from the NTU’s School of Communication. While he continues making pictures, Zakaria has been moving away from traditional documentary work to photographing closer to home – or even closer to his heart.
Selected Links
2022 - Khairat Kita: Interview with Fauzy Ismail and Zakaria Zainal. Asian Books Blog. Singapore.
2019 - Seenthesis: Visual Literacy Through Singapore Photography. Singapore.
2018 - Stories From Our Fringe Communities. WKWSCI Alumni Magazine.
2017 – 'Why must we be afraid of being old?'. The Straits Times.
2016 – The Photographer. Living off his passion for personal projects. The Straits Times.
2015 – Project reunites islanders on St John's after 4 decades, The Straits Times.
2015 – Works That Captured The Imagination, The Business Times.
2015 – Forgotten Singapore: evicted islanders grieve for lost 'paradise'. South China Morning Post.
2015 – The last Malay islanders in Singapore. Malaysiakini.
2014 – 30 recall Little India riot in new book, The Straits Times.
2012 – Our Gurkhas. Nepali Times.
2012 – Singapore Gurkhas: Chat with Zakaria Zainal. iremembersg.
Get in touch:
Media, Recognition, Talks & Selected Clients
Media & Recognition
2022 - Khairat Kita: Interview with Fauzy Ismail and Zakaria Zainal. Asian Books Blog. Singapore.
2022 - Prihatin masa depan badan khairat. Berita Harian. Singapore
2021 - Where Is Home For The Gurkhas?
2021 - Projek 'Khairat Kita' sorot badan khairat mapan. Berita Harian. Singapore.
2019 - Seenthesis: Visual Literacy Through Singapore Photography. Singapore.
2016 - Pameran kehidupan masyarakat Gurkha Singapura. Berita Harian. Singapore.
2015 – Singapore Gurkhas Photography Museum, The Invisible Photographer Asia. Singapore.
2015 - Project reunites islanders on St John's after 4 decades. Straits Times.
2015 - A new photo exhibition tells the stories of Singapore's evicted Southern Islanders. BK Asia.
2014 - Riot Recollections: Interview by Ethos Books with Prabhu Silvam and Zakaria Zainal
2014 - Mothership Q&A: A glimpse of Gurkhas book authors Chong Zi Liang and Zakaria Zainal
2013 – Our Gurkhas, Verve Photo: The New Breed of Documentary Photographers.
2012 – TODAY. Youth Focus. Singapore.
2012 – Honourable Mention, Photo Annual Awards 2012 for Our Gurkhas. Czech Republic.
2012 – Honourable Mention, Fotovisura Grant 2011 for Our Gurkhas. United States.
2012 – Selected Artist, The Philanthropic Museum. Singapore.
Exhibitions
2012 – Singapore Survey: New Strange Faces. Valentine Willie Fine Art Gallery. Singapore (Group).
2012 – Open Call. 3rd Singapore International Photography Festival. Singapore (Group).
2012 – Our Gurkhas: Singapore Through Their Eyes. Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival. Nepal (Solo).
2012 – Our Gurkhas, DIVERCITY. Singapore International Foundation. Singapore (Group).
Selected Talks
2011 – Our Gurkhas. TEDxYouth Singapore. Singapore.
2013 – Where is home for Singapore Gurkhas. TEDx Singapore. Singapore.
Selected Commercial Clients
Grundfos Singapore / Singapore Memory Project / Shinnyo-en Singapore / Methodist Welfare Services / Studiowonghuzir / Checkpoint Theatre / W!LD RICE / Schneider Electric / MAN / Lighting Planners Associates / Dragon Wealth / AR43 / Gypsied / Pictet / Fullerton Healthcare Group
Selected Editorial Clients
Anadolu Agency / Chronicle of Higher Education / Le Nouvel Observateur / art4d / FT Weekend / POSKOD / Nepali Times / Republica / Singapore Architect / Caring Magazine (CGH) / Challenge / MODUS / More Space / SCMP / Kaleidoscope Media
Credits & Copyright
Photography & text by Zakaria Zainal. All images copyright © 2008-2024 Zakaria Zainal. Zainal & Zainal LLP (Reg No: T11LL1809H). All images and text on this website are property of Zakaria Zainal and are protected by international copyright laws. No images or text may be used or reproduced in any form without the written permission of Zakaria Zainal. Photographs on this website are available for collection as limited edition prints. Do get in touch in the contact form.