Author Description

"Kubota Beisen, a renowned Japanese artist from the Meiji period, only had a fleeting eight-and-a-half hours in Singapore... Despite the brevity of his visit -- and as a testament to the artist's abilities and keen observation -- Kubota would produce 12 woodblock prints that deftly capture the unique scenes of the wildlife and people of Singapore. 81⁄2 hours in Singapore reproduces Kubota's woodblock prints that deftly capture the unique scenes of the wildlife and people of Singapore. Beyond their artistic allure, these 12 prints contain some of the earliest depictions of a tiger and a sawfish in Singapore. This book reproduces Kubota's woodblock prints of Singapore and provides translations to the relevant portions of his narrative to make his work more accessible to a wider audience. It also brings Kubota's work into conversation with other contemporary sources to present a refreshing glimpse of the island's cultural, historical and environmental landscapes at the turn of the century, a time marked by significant changes and transitions in the port city" -- Back Cover.