Singaporean photographer Hidhir Badaruddin, 25, has become the first Singaporean to win Getty Images’ latest Creative Bursary grant – and the top prize, no less.
He bagged a grant of US$10,000 (S$13,275), as one of three young creatives from around the world, beating 250 applicants worldwide.
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The London-based photographer is a recent graduate from the London College of Fashion. He was awarded for his photo series ‘Younglawa’, which explores his vision for a new generation of Asian Masculinity.

An image from Hidhir Badaruddin’s Younglawa series.
“With my photo series entitled ‘Younglawa,’ a play on words between English and Malay which translates to ‘(someone) that is beautiful‘ or ‘the beautiful’, I hope to portray my vision for a new generation of Asian masculinity,” Hidhir said in a press release.
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“I hope to challenge the stereotype of the Asian male and celebrate their youth, tenderness and soul. I want the world to know how diverse and multifaceted Asian men can be, celebrating all shades and sexualities.”
This year’s bursary, titled Definition Future, seeks to provide emerging creatives with the financial freedom and mentorship to explore what complexities the future may hold, through the lens of creative visual storytelling.
This article first appeared in The Straits Times