When Cooking was a Crime: Masak in the Singapore Prisons, 1970s–80s
When Cooking was a Crime: Masak in the Singapore Prisons, 1970s–80s
When Cooking was a Crime: Masak in the Singapore Prisons, 1970s–80s
When Cooking was a Crime: Masak in the Singapore Prisons, 1970s–80s
When Cooking was a Crime: Masak in the Singapore Prisons, 1970s–80s
When Cooking was a Crime: Masak in the Singapore Prisons, 1970s–80s
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When Cooking was a Crime: Masak in the Singapore Prisons, 1970s–80s

In Plain Words
$26.00 USD

Cooking supper was the favourite pastime of many inmates in Singapore’s prisons and Drug Rehabilitation Centres (DRCs) during the 1970s and 1980s. It was carried out illegally, inside their cells or dormitories, and carefully timed to avoid the warders’ scheduled patrols. Chamber pot and mugs were used as cooking pots, plastic bags and blankets turned into fuel. The inmates, mostly male and Chinese, called this elaborate operation “masak”, which means “to cook” in Malay.

When Cooking Was A Crime offers a rare glimpse into the flavours of prison life based on the memories of eight former inmates. Through photographic recreations and interviews, it explores how food and cooking took on new meanings and tastes for those living behind bars.

Pages: 128
Dimensions: 240 × 320 mm
Format: Softcover with plastic sleeves
Language: English
Year: 2020
Design: Practice Theory
Publisher: In Plain Words