Hidden in the City, Yet in Clear View

Final Assignment: Social Art
Title: Hidden In The City, Yet In Clear View

We are extremely thankful for the given opportunity to interact with the foreign workers. Thank you Prof Kelly for making this meaningful project a successful one as well as making our class the unique one among other classes. Hester and I would also like to thank Lester and Xu Ke for accompanying us on that Sunday too. Last but not least, we are grateful that one of the foreign worker, Jeyakanthan from Health Serve was willing to hang out with us on a Sunday afternoon. Here’s our vlog below! Sit back and enjoy! 🙂

A. Write a narrative of how your idea developed. (Begin by giving some response to the 1st dance and games night)
I was pretty excited for the first meet up because I had so much to hear from them and I wanted to express our gratitude and appreciation on their contributions to Singapore by interacting with them! On our very first meet up, I saw a barrier in between us as we were sitting separately with our own group. I was glad that we were able to warm up and got closed through the game! I was pleased to see them enjoying our game especially “blow wind blow”. Their silly and shy laughter really warmed my heart.

Photo by: Scott Nathaniel Lim

Then the next segment, dancing was the part where they enjoyed the most! I believed that the dance practice made us even closer as we got to interact and chit-chat with them simultaneously. That was the time where I got to know more about their culture, interest and views about other races in Singapore as I questioned them.

Photo by: Scott Nathaniel Lim

Furthermore, I had enjoyed soul train dance the most as we got to team up with random partner! That was the moment where I got the close look at the foreign workers. They tend to lift their shirt up slightly as they were dancing to the music. They also did the same thing when the Bollywood music was being played. That was the moment when my idea strikes!

Photo by: Scott Nathaniel Lim

I thought of their traditional costume instantly when they did that move. I imagined that they would definitely look good in their traditional costume as they dance to the music. Hence, costume was our main focus/topic initially. However, we were yet to settle down with a confirmed plan.

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.

The second meet-up was a significant trip for both foreign workers and us. It was more of a heart-to-heart meet-up as they opened their heart and welcome us by sharing more about their life in Singapore. I was deeply saddened by their living condition in their dormitories, the catered food that they were given, the process to get job in Singapore and etcetera.

Photo by: Scott Nathaniel Lim

My heart was extremely heavy after our second meet-up. Hence, I hope to leave a good impression of Singapore for them so that it will make them feel relief, glad, satisfied and firmed in making the decision for coming to Singapore to work.

Photo (Selfie) by: Hester Ang

I am really thankful that they were willing to join us on those Monday night after their hectic day at work. From the photo above, you can see that the foreign worker, Eunus was smiling cheerfully. However, what you might not know was that he was actually pretty upset when he was sharing about his thoughts on the catered food right before this photo was taken.

Therefore, after much consideration and discussion, our idea/plan was confirmed. We understand that they work hard all day rain or shine to build roofs over our head, to maintain our beautiful garden city and etcetera, thus they will have little time to learn about Singaporeans and the culture of different races. In addition, we hope to let them have some fun as well. Thus, we decided to do a cultural exchange with an Indian foreign worker, Jeyakanthan. We planned to bring him to a Chinese temple, and he will bring us to an Indian Temple. We will be giving him our Chinese traditional costume in return and hope to take some memorable photo! Last but not least, we will have food exchange and chit-chat session as well! Indian Rojak, Chinese Rojak, Mee Goreng, Hokkien Noodle and etcetera! All in all, we will record our whole trip down and make it into a vlog so that he could re-watch it again at anytime, anywhere.

C. Discuss your exchange with the foreign workers.

Photo by: Scott Nathaniel Lim

The exchange took place outside the centre was more of a free and cozy atmosphere. It happened on the second meet-up where we had dinner with them at a nearby Indian restaurant! They looked even more relaxed and cheerful as compared to our first meet-up, they also opened their heart and welcome us into their world. I was glad to be their listening ears and was interested to find out more about their life in country as well as their situations in Singapore. I wished I could help them to raise the awareness but I feel restrictions around me. Hence, it makes me even more firmed in creating happiness memories for them in Singapore instead.

Photo by: Lester Tan

As for the exchange with one of them, Jeyakanthan Porkot on Sunday, it was a fun and intriguing one. We exchanged feedback on Chinese and Indian food, discovered the differences and similarities in our religions, learned about his families in India. He was very patient in explaining when we didn’t get his points. I love the part when he was sharing the stories of the gods in the Indian Temple. He was full of enthusiastic and patience. I also love the part where he tried for divination. I see that he really put in his heart and mind in experiencing Chinese culture, he looked really sincere! I am really thankful that he was willing to join us on Sunday.

Photo by: Lim Pei Ying

My heart melted instantly when he knew the result of his divination was a positive one. I love the part where I teased him for not accepting my facebook friend request yet asking me to send him our photographs through facebook messenger by crying out loud dramatically. He and I then burst out laughing out loud in public. I had also started poking everybody (including him) and found out that he is afraid of that. He also tried to “attack” us and I could see and feel that he really had fun and enjoyed the trip with us by seeing the big fat smile on his face. There were so many fun moments and interactions made on Sunday. I’m afraid that my readers will start to feel cheesy if they have to read more about my exchange with Jeyakanthanm, so I will conclude that I believe that our trip on 03 April 2016 (Sunday) was something that both Jeyakanthan and I can never forget about!!

Photo by: Stranger

1. How did you initially see the foreign workers? Did you even consider their experience before our meet-ups?

I see them as coolies doing hard labour, all I know about them that they were working hard to earn some income in order to support their families back in their country. To be honest, I don’t care about their experience before our meet-ups as I have little knowledge about them. I was only interested until I was told about their situation in Singapore. I was concerned about them, I was worried about them. How some employers could did that to their own employees?! It makes me feel so ashamed to have such employers in Singapore. I couldn’t wait to express my concern for them!

2. 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.

Initially, we wanted to showcase the beauty of both Indian and Chinese traditional costume. Hester and I actually came up with a lot of different ideas such as tee shirt printing of their loves one on it as we learn that they misses their family a lot. We had also thought of doing social experiment on traditional clothing and etcetera.

However, we decided to change to culture exchange after going through much considerations. Hester and I had reflected that most of the foreign workers are not exposed to Singapore/Chinese culture that much as they are always busy working. They have little interaction or chances to experience it unlike other tourists! Hence, we decided to bring him to Chinese temple, at the same time he can bring us to an Indian temple as well. In addition, we will bring him to experience our Chinese dishes and we will also try out their Indian dishes! Hester and I also hope that this will give him good memories in Singapore and it will benefits him in making more Chinese worker friends in Singapore as there will be common topic for them to communicate with.

3. What new knowledge did you gain from the interaction with the foreign workers and the action you took executing your project?

Photo by: Lester Tan

I learned new facts about the Indian Culture, such as their food, their religion, their clothing and found out the similarities between the Chinese and Indian. I had also learned about his past, his present, his family members and his life in Singapore! We touched on so many topics such as personal, cultures and characters!

*<Edit>: On personal/culture level, he opened up and introduced his two daughters to us happily, told us about their age, their name, showed us our photo. At the same time, he expressed his homesick to us yet he felt determined to take up his job well and earn as many money as possible in order to support their educations in future and his own family. Next, he also introduced his wife to us. He showed us his wedding photo with her, at the same time regretted for not spending sufficient time with her. Upon seeing his mood declining, I went to tease him for his missing mustache. Haha and he burst into laughter again. He moved on and mentioned that he’s grateful for his in-laws for taking care of his wife and children. He also shared with us that he used to be a farmer back in his hometown and he shared with us what he had planted, the tools he used, the methods and etcetera. He was so nice to share those information with us! I am truly thankful for his contribution! I feel like I am watching a documentary live. Haha . Anyway, I learned that we should not take things for granted. We should truly appreciate what we have on hand right now and live everyday with a grateful heart.

An illustration on different type of Tilaka

On culture/religion level, I learned about Tilaka. There are different type of Tilaka with different meaning, significant or purpose! The tilaka is a mark created by the application of powder or paste on the forehead. I can never forget about my first Tilaka, I was pretty young back then (I think I was about Primary 1), the man in the temple applied for me kindly. Sadly, the temple was closed when I went on Sunday. If not, it would be great for me to take a photo of myself with Tilaka so that I could keep it. Jeyakanthan was very nice to share with me about the myth or story of most of the gods in the temple. He was really extremely patience and nice. He had also stated that some of the gods are quite similar to Buddhist’s. For instance, we have fortune of god, they also have one! I am impressed that he had some knowledge about Buddhism too!

As for our exchange of food culture, we are glad that he was willing to give it a shot to try our Chinese/Singaporean food while we also tried some of the Indian food! We had specially order Indian rojak and Chinese rojak to show the comparison. We wanted to order Hokkien noodle and Mee Goreng as well but we couldn’t find Hokkien noodle. Nevertheless, we enjoyed our meal still! Anyway, we learnt some recipe from Jeyakanthan. For instance, I learned how some of the ingredients in Chinese popiah can be used in Indian cuisine. </Edit>*

All in all, it was an enriching trip for Hester and I! Before executing this project, I only went to research about their religion so that to create more common topic to chat with him! I’m glad that he made an effort to explain the myth or story behind each of their god. I also got to know about his character as well! He is a happy-go lucky man who likes to laugh a lot! I can never forget his silly laughter!

4. 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 gained meaningful, rare and memorable experience though this sort of lesson. It is something that I can never forget about it. I believe that experiencing will help me in creating a ‘lively’ piece of work (in any medium). However, the downside of this sort of lesson will be rather time consuming as it requires time and effort in going through it. The bright side of this sort of lesson is that once you complete the final piece, you will feel it’s totally worth it! In addition, the content of the lesson was not being memorised unwillingly but it was being automatically stored in my brain and heart through experiencing. If I were to create a project where there was a clear path to follow, I feel that my project will be a ‘dead’ one. Moreover, I feel that a project being created by someone who experienced it will touches the audience’s heart and soul more. All in all, I am grateful for this opportunity to interact with the foreign workers so that we could bring joy into their life in Singapore! I hope it leaves them nothing bad but good memories here!

Photo by: Lester Tan

-THE END-

Thank you for being our mentor! xoxo

Nightscapes (Painting & Paper Cut)

Assignment 5: Nightscapes
Title: Painting & Paper Cut

Photo of Nightscape

The building, trees, bus stop of ADM.

Painting Study No. 1

Painting Study No. 2

In order to discover and understand the colour relationship of the night, I had tried to paint 2 different colour and tone of the skies. I specifically did not follow the colour taken in the photo in order to create something new and different out of it. The positions, styles and strokes of painting were deliberately made to emphasis on the feel, movement and flow of the painting. The colours definitely played a huge role in it.

I remembered that you have shown us how other famous painters played with colours in their work, the contrast between the colours, mood and etcetera. Hence, I decided to apply it in my own work. Therefore, I had added yellow, and different tone of green for my grasses and trees. I hope that it will bring out a vibrant mood out of the dark and dull surrounding (skies, building, bus stop, background) with the cool colour being used. Also, it shows the contrasts with the other colours evenly well. The cool colours represents the ‘hope’ in the darkness that surrounds us and give us warmth.

Paper Cut of nightscape

It was hard for me to ‘ctrl + c’ from painting and ‘ctrl + v’ it in paper cut 100% identically. Hence, it explains the difference of them. I had made use of the cardboard to create a 3-D effect for the trees, and used scissors to curl the leaves to express the ‘lively’ mood to the audiences.

Linocut – Why the Leopard Cat eats Rooster

Assignment 4: Linocut
Title: Why the Leopard Cat eats Rooster

Unity by continuation and implied lines technique was used in the background to show that each of them is in their own world. The rooster was focusing on singing and dancing while the leopard cat was all eyes on the rooster .
Balance by position of eye direction technique was also used to show the leopard cat approaching the rooster at an angle.

Contrast in scale & proportion technique was used to show the focus on them. Their position also shows the movement (where the leopard cat pounced on the rooster ) among them.

Once upon a time there was a roostee and a leopard cat. The leopard cat did not know the character of the rooster .

And so, one day the leopard cat said to the rooster “Since your feathers are so fine, how do you dance and do this and that? Show me how you dance”, said the leopard cat.

The rooster pleasantly dance for the leopard cat. As the rooster was dancing, the leopard cat wants to eat the rooster , but was afraid to pounce on the rooster with worries of being counter-attack.

That being the case, the leopard cat said to the rooster “Do you know how to sing and dance at the same time or not?”. Because he said that, the rooster’s mouth, which was opening and closing, was seen to not have teeth.

Since the rooster didn’t have the teeth, the leopard cat immediately pounced on the rooster and at that time the rooster’s life ended.

Recorded: Mangmetong Village, 2004
Language: Mongsen Ao
Modified: Lim Pei Ying, 2016

National Gallery

Assignment 3: National Gallery
Title: Emotive Power & Meaning

#1 – Social realism, an international art movement, refers to the work of painters, printmakers, photographers and filmmakers who draw attention to the everyday conditions of the working class and the poor; social realists are critical of the social structures which maintain these conditions.

The following 2 paintings drawn my attention to it:

“Epic Poem Of Malaya” by Chua Mia Tee 1955

The facial expressions of the listeners and their surroundings caught my attention and makes me ponder whether they were listening to good news or bad news. Next, I was examining the facial expressions on each and everyone faces. I feel like there’s still a lot of messages can be conveyed to tell the audiences within the painting. Some of the listeners looked apprehensive, shocked, fearful and etc, while the speaker looked determined and aspired of something. I can sense a strong emotional energy in this painting.

Their surrounding tells me that they must be from the lower class family in Singapore. It aches my heart seeing them not having a proper environment for listening. They were literally sitting on the ground in their rural kampong neighbourhood. The dull colors used in this painting also further depresses the mood of it, yet the directional line of lights from the sky at the speaker gave a glimmer of hope that something still can be salvaged.

This eventually led my thoughts to my ancestors as they were just like one of them. They worked extremely hard to provide a good life for their future generation in Singapore and they also supported the indepence of Singapore in 1965. Unfortunately, the younger generations can never understand the hardship that the ancestors had went through in order to have the modern Singapore today, as majority of the people don’t appreciates what we gotten and takes most of the things for granted.

Hence, I feel sorry for what they went through, what the younger generations had done to them, and thankful for their contributions to Singapore at the same time.

“Here They Come!” by Koeh Sia Yong 1965

This painting makes me think about the struggles of the poor as it shows that they were having hard times in earning a few pennies for the survial of their families by being the illegal hawkers. At the same time, it makes me feel shameful as I think of the food, goods and resources that we have been wasted in the past few years as those stuffs don’t come easily in the past.

They had came such a long way and great effort in preparing those food and goods yet, they also stood a high chance in losing some of it due to the unexpected inspection that led to the loss of profit in their business. I feel sorry for them that they had to live in such condition while we are living in a much better environment now. I would definitely love to propose the schemes of building a hawker centre for them in the past if I’m from that period of time.

The staggering figures, facial expressions and body language totally caught my attention to it as some of them looked extremely frantic. Mr Koeh Sia Yong did a really great job in capturing such moment. I hope this painting will serve as a wake up call to those youngster so that they will be more filial to their elder. At the same time, spend more quality time with them as the elder deseve to be loved.

#2: Lino Cut

13 May Incident

The texture of the mark in the wood lino cuts does create a much stronger feeling of the artwork as it is much more detailed and it looks more real to me. It is as good as an animation if they are different frame of the cut out being combined together. The thickness and thinness of the line, and the amount of black and white in this cut out were being applied perfectly as well. In this artwork, I can see the tension happening live! The facial expressions, body positions and language were perfectly shown in this art work. Social realism painting allows the audience to see the shades and tones of the painting but I feel that if this artwork was to be a social realism painting, the message of this artwork may not be able to convey strongly to the audience as compared to the wood lino cuts as lino cuts have distinctive lines that makes them stands out.

#3 Wu Guanzhong & Chua Ek Kay Galleries

Distant View of a Borobudur Gallery by Chua Ek Kay
Feeling: A strong sense of belonging.

Midnight Lotus by Chua Ek Kay
Feeling: Romantic

A Sunflower by Wu Guangzhong
Feeling: Secure

Color Still Life

Assignment 2: Color Still Life

Black & White

Assignment 1: Sequential Black & White
Title: The Modern Cinderella

Inspired by the extravagant parties in The Great Gatsby and the fairy-tale in Cinderella, here comes the “The Modern Cinderella”.

1st Scene: The Starry Night

By using the technique of “balance by position of eye direction”, the moon, stars and towers were evenly spread out. It shows that it’s a beautiful night.

2nd Scene: The Tower Clock

By using the technique of “radial balance”, the numbers were evenly spread out around the circle. In this scene, we zoom into the tower clock to show the time of the night.

3rd Scene: The Entrance

By using the techniques of both “balance by position of eye direction” and “unity by continuation and implied lines”, the limousine was being placed in the middle of the road with headlight flashed out towards the gate to depicts it’s in the night time and the limousine was entering the premises. The purpose of having the zig-zag cut-out at the top of the paper was to create an 3D effect that the limousine was entering the premises as well.

4th Scene: The Arrival

By using the techniques of both “repetition” and “balance by shape and texture”, white paper cut-outs were being pasted evenly at the both side of the paper in order to create the design & texture of pillars. Yellow paper was being used to show that the party had already started.

5th Scene: The Opening

By using the techniques of both “repetition” and “opposition of contrasts, small/large, black/white”, the other guests were being positioned at the back of Cinderella in black and small, while the Cinderella was in yellow and large. This was done deliberately to show that Cinderella was the star of the night.

6th Scene: The Moment

By using the technique of “contrast in scale & proportion”, the Prince Charming was being placed further back and in a much smaller size to show that he was being captivated by the beauty of Cinderella and was going to approach her. The crumbled black papers were used to enhance the level of moment and captivation among the both of them.

7th Scene: The Dance

By using the technique of “balance by shape and texture”, the folded black paper around the Prince Charming and Cinderella were used to evoke a kind of mixture feeling whereby the guests were filled with dismayed, jealousy and etc. At the same time, the purpose of having that was to show how lovely the Prince Charming and Cinderella were whereby they could only see each other in their eyes and forgotten about their presence in the public (that’s why they are in yellow, to show that they are glowing or shining in the darkness with their power of love).

8th Scene: The Time

By using the technique of “opposition of contrasts, black/white”, this tower clock was different from the one in 2nd scene. The time in this scene was different and the color used was to show the seriousness and the changed in the mood.

9th Scene: The Twist

By using the techniques of “opposition of contrasts”, “contrast in scale & proportion” and “balance by position of eye direction”, the right side of the heart shape was deliberately cut into a much bigger proportion to show the impact of their kiss on Cinderella. (Cinderella was supposed to leave him before the final stroke of midnight, but the true love kiss caused the spell to wear off). In addition, the color yellow was used to show the effect of their kiss and the mood of it. It shined brightly, which will caught the audience attention, before noticing a heart shape over the Prince Charming and Cinderella and that’s the “balance by position of eye direction” that we’re talking about!

-THE END-

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