Prof Kelly brought the class out to take some photos outside ADM so that we can work on our paper cut. Out of some many photos, I have decided to pick on this photo.
The final product was paper cut, but before the paper cut, I did painting on the photo. I played with some interesting colors, trying to get as close as what I see on the photo.
Thereafter, we use different colors of colored papers to do the paper cut. I painted some colors on the white piece of paper then cut out the shape that I want. In addition, I also used cardboard to stick so that it has the 3D feel.
I did two additional paintings during the recess week.
I’m working on the story about the owner sending both the dog and the pig to his field.
Before I explain the story, back in our mind we will think that the pig will be sleeping the whole day while the dog does most of the job.
However, this story is totally opposite. The dog will be sleeping the whole day while the pig does all the job. Even though the dog was sleeping and just relaxing, and at the time of returning to the village, the dog went and repeatedly trampled over all the work that the pig had done. And then when the pig returned, she said “Today, without working in the field.”
“[Dog] just spent the whole day sleeping.”
And the dog said “That’s a lie!”
“She said nothing.”
“Only I worked”, she said.
In between the story was that the owner brought the dog and the pig to the field the next day to look at the footprints together. And because the dog had completely trampled over the footprints of the pig, only the dog’s footprints were there. Because of that, the owner said “As for this pig, it will be made the fine.”
The moral of the story is that when people fight, on reaching a judgement, the pig would be eaten up. And after it is killed, it is to be eaten up. When the pig sees the sky, that is time that it dies. And as for the dog, the owner said “Ah, only you will be kept in the house.” And as for the pig, it us used to barbecue for roasted pork. The dog has come to be treated very well.
A. Write a narrative of how your idea developed. (Begin by giving some response to the 1st dance and games night)
On this final project, I worked with Yijun and Amy. My idea came upon when I was talking to a foreign worker who sat beside me during the last round of the game and stood beside me during the dance. He told me that he has been in Singapore for almost 8 years and wanting to learn some basic Chinese conversation if he is given the chance. However, the chance is not fated to him because I only saw him once in HealthServe during our many visits. Deep inside my heart I still want to carry out this basic Chinese conversation with the rest of the foreign workers. Besides that, I noticed there is a small whiteboard that hang outside the small room. During the many visits to HealthServe I saw the whiteboard quite a few times; the whiteboard shows ‘English Class’. Therefore, my friends and I have decided to come out with the basic Chinese Conversation with the foreign workers. Not just my friends and I teaching them Chinese but we also get the chance to learn some basic Bengali Conversation.
B. What about our meet-ups and the conversations you had created the interest in the area you ended up researching? Use your documentation photos etc.. to explain this process.
During the many visits to HealthServe, my friends and I have met up with different foreign workers. We actually talked to them about their lives in Singapore and in Bangla. We actually talked to one foreign worker during the dinner date with them. The dinner date was to bring them to the nearby coffee shop to have a good meal. This was because the food they consume 365 days are either too cold or spoil. While waiting for the food, the foreign worker (see photo above) actually shared with us about his life (the good and the bad). In the beginning, we had some difficulty in understanding what he was trying to convey his message to us. So this idea also struck us that everyone including ourselves should learn more languages as it adds bonus to us when we communicate with other nationality
C. Discuss your exchange with the foreign workers.
The exchange with the foreign workers was definitely fun and memorable for me. I engaged with three foreign workers to exchange some basic words we use almost daily in our lives. Indeed, it was a rare opportunity and it warms my heart to see them learn and write the Chinese characters. I could see that they are very interested in learning the Chinese words and are willing to teach my friends and I their language as well. After the ‘teaching’ session was over, one of the foreign workers actually came up to me and told me that he actually wrote the Chinese character ‘LOVE’ on the whiteboard which was hang outside the small room. I was really touched because he actually applied what he has learnt.
How did you initially see the foreign workers? Did you even consider their experience before our meet-ups?
Initially I was rather reluctant to go and meet the foreign workers because at the back of my mind I know that we sure have some communication barrier. To my surprise, they were rather friendly and cheerful people. We organized game as a class and played with them. I can see that they like to play the ‘blow wind blow’ game and it was quite encouraging to see the foreign workers standing in the middle of the circle to give the next instruction to blow. Some of them were rather shy but they overcame it. Usually we don’t talk to them when we were outside and never thought that their lives are actually pretty sad for some of the foreign workers.
Along your journey what to, and when did you change your ideas/plans in response to what you learned/experienced or observed from contact with the foreign workers?Describe your response.
I believe at that point of time, I have many ideas that I want to engage with the foreign workers but I still stick on to the initial plan (Basic Chinese Conversation) because through this conversation the foreign workers and I are able to experience the way we speak to another nationality. The idea also came about when I was interacting with one of the foreign workers, he actually told me he is interested in learning Chinese and at that point of time, I was feeling a little excited in my heart. This was because I have found myself a student. After all, the foreign worker did not turn up on 28th March 2016 due to some reasons.Besides that, after the first or second meet up with the foreign workers, I have been looking forward to going to HealthServe and wanting to engage with the foreign workers but every time we turn up is a different group of foreign workers.
What new knowledge did you gain from the interaction with the foreign workers and the action you took executing your project?
I know how to speak some basic Bengali. I think this is a rare opportunity of a lot of people because this language is unlike Korean language or Japanese language that people are eager to learn about. While I was preparing for the basic conversation, the word ‘love’ came to my mind. The reason is that some of the foreign workers are rather sensitive with the family. In my opinion, I think they miss their family members so much that the word family could actually break their heart. I thought the three foreign workers love in Chinese and making them to do the action along. Action speaks louder than word, so I believe by asking them to do this action with me will actually make them remember the word easier.
What did you gain or what are the strengths/weaknesses/ differences & responses to learning that does not follow the conventional path of lecture/ tutorial and studio practice: learning by creating experiences beyond the classroom? a. how did you feel about creating a project where there was to clear path to follow–where you had to develop a unique path?
I think that learning things beyond classroom experiences is more fun because we get to do more things. For example, if the final project is not about the foreign workers I doubt there will be a chance for so many of us to engage and learn so many things from them. I guess this is also for us to step out of our comfort zone to interact with strangers. When I was told that the final project was on the foreign workers I was feeling excited because I get to do what I actually like (engaging with the foreign workers). I guess I am good in interacting with people than doing arts. Thus, this project gives me the opportunity to explore on the things I like to do.
This painting make me think about how life is hard in the past and how hardworking they were. Yes, as people were very poor in the past, they have no money and they have to go out and work as a hawker. However, as they were very poor, they do not have money to buy a license as a hawker, therefore they choose to be an illegal hawker. But whenever the authorities come, they have to quickly packed up and run away from the authorities if they were caught, they will have to face fines or go to jail.
This painting make me feel that in Singapore we should appreciate one another culture as we are living in a multi racial country. Many elderly may know more than one language for example, Mandarin and Malay. It is never easy to learn new language. I believe that in the far left of this painting, the man in white is a Malay teacher. He is probably teaching them the common phrases such as “Siapa nama kamu?” (“What is your name?”) If I were to be in their shoes, I will feel stressful at that point of time when so many pairs of eyes are starring as you read the phrases out loud.
#2.
Yes, the lino cuts create a deep texture and feeling in the artwork. In addition, this artwork look as if it’s a real after fire in front me right now. The texture of the artwork seem so real as the houses were mostly damaged and everything collapsed onto the ground. All the leaves were burnt, left behind the tree branches. The artwork is in black and which for a reason, it’s believe to be after a huge fire burn out and caused all the houses and trees to be badly destroyed. I notice a man towards the left is believe to be one of the few survivors survived after the fire. He seems lost!
Both Wu Guanzhong and Chua Ek Kay paintings are rather complex, it doesn’t really deliver the message directly to the viewers. Whereas for Social Realism, the artworks are much more clearer. For example, the photos that I’ve taken and seen in the gallery, the artwork delivers clearly to me and matches much with the description at the side. On the other hand, both Wu Guanzhong and Chua Ek Kay paintings are not that straightforward. For example, “portrait of a woman”we starred at the painting for quite sometime and till now I cannot find the woman in that portrait. Chua Ek Kay’s paintings use dull color like black and dark brown. Whereas, Wu Guanzhong’s paintings use more colorful and brighter colors.
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