Synopsis: In the library, people usually keep to themselves, avoiding eye contact and not saying hello to each other. I often get curious what these people may be thinking in their heads or what kind of people they are like. With the pictionary, narratives are sought out if and when the person has a backstory to that specific picture. Overtime, a storybook in a format of a pictionary is developed and is open to the public for reading or more writing. In this way, the cold barrier and mystery existing between people in the library is broken down when a part of the person is shared in the book.
Description: The book would consist of 10 images of each letter of the alphabet for every page. Each page would have the image on the top and left empty on the bottom for the narratives. Like a pictionary, it would be from A – Z. Images are hand drawn to give it a raw look and pens and markers are provided. The title would be on the cover of the book. “Pictionary: Our Storybook from A – Z”.
This task was built in a way where it was self sustaining in a way where people would take any random task from tasks in the box. Once they were done with their own task, they would write a new task and add it to the box and the cycle continues.
Materials were provided and free for use for creativity and fun. I feel that this project task induces human interaction, makes things very open and allows creativity to flow.
My Idea:
In the library, people usually keep to themselves, avoiding eye contact and not saying hello to each other. I often get curious what these people may be thinking in their heads or what kind of people they are like.
Taking the inspiration from Oliver Herring, I propose an installation situated at the study area of ADM Library that gives people a platform to generate conversations amongst them.
I would wrap the table in clear plastic wrap. Providing permanent markers, paint, glitter, tape, playdoh, straws, sticks and other creative materials, I hope to see people start to engage with each other on topics given.
How are the topics given?
Topics are given via pictures to act as prompts. These pictures could be of popular memes, political figures, problems in the world (1st and 3rd world problems), varying from light to heavy hearted topics. These pictures would be distributed randomly on the table.
How do they engage with each other?
They may engage with each other by using their own creativity and by using the materials provided on the table. They may write on the table (covered in clear plastic wrap), model out a figure, even print and add more pictures to the table. They may write down whatever they want with no limits. Over time, this table will be decorated and filled with conversations and would be interesting for viewing.
What does it look like exactly?
Before:
After:
What is the objective?
To target the lack of human interaction in the library, I have created an activity where people can engage with each other, digging and revealing thoughts and personalities that are usually kept hidden in locations like the library.
After visiting the library, my initial impression of the place has not changed. Maybe because I always visit the library frequently and is quite familiar with the place. During my visit, I tried to find things that I don’t usually notice..
i realised that people including myself don’t really sit here or hang around this area… I’m not sure why, maybe because it’s too near the entrance or it’s too brightly lit? or it’s not that comfortable..
I realised this place where it had a sign saying caution low head room. I felt that it was kind of an awkward space because it was not big enough for people and its a space left empty.
I also noticed that maybe because of the colour of the room people find the darker space more cosy than the brighter spaces..
Another thing that struck me were these vents above me that people don’t really notice. It kind of reminded me of a monster’s legs/tentacles? Observing the pattern and movements of the vents left me with my imagination.
Other notable things in the library:
people who usually come here keep to themselves
very little human interaction
people don’t really look at each other
surround the place are the roads and the bushes
vibrations of busses can be felt or heard when you sit at the bean bag area
sometimes foreign construction workers walk pass by the glass window, and it feels awkward or weird when they get close and walk pass you, although there is obviously a glass window
What people say:
Things I want to pursue:
Human Interaction
Personal Space
Human Response to Objects
Ideas:
1. “My Life Depends On You” – human interaction
Proposed Location: – study area –
Synopsis: Could a life be fully dependant on a group of strangers? Could a group of strangers co-work together to take care – feed, water, clean – a snail? This work comments on human interaction that can take place in a library where often, interaction do not occur. People often keep to themselves, not looking at other people. By putting them in a situation that tests their morality, could a group of strangers work together to create a conducive environment for a snail?
Description: This installation involves a set up of an empty container with a snail in it with only air and little food for it. The container is placed on a table in the middle of the study area. Above it shows a sign saying “My life depends on you”. Below lay materials needed like soil, water, food etc. The work invites the users to assemble a more suited environment for the snail and to sustain in the upcoming days.
Sketch:
2. “Heads” – personal space
Proposed Location: – study area, bean bag area, computer area, bookshelves –
Synopsis: The library is a place where each individual is very much cocooned in his/her personal space. Nobody looks at each other and everyone is at peace. Often when being looked at or a presence is felt, this peace is disturbed, making people feel uncomfortable. This work interferes/interrupts the personal space of the people using its space, prompting them to react to the heads.
Description: This work consists of mannequin heads on different parts of the library usually where people sit to their work. Some maybe small hidden in the plug areas, some maybe normal sized staring at people as they do their work. (Not sure to paint them normally or leave them looking unnatural)
Sketch:
3. “Wrapped” – human/object response
Proposed Location: – study area, bean bag area, computer area, staircase –
Synopsis: Through interviews people judge the library through comfort level, especially chairs. This work wraps objects in materials that changes the meaning, and eventually feelings associated with the object. It would be interesting to see the reactions and response to the objects wrapped.
Description: Objects would be wrapped in different materials for e.g. chair would be wrapped in either aluminium, cling wrap, egg cartons, faux fur etc. Objects chosen would be things that are often used like the mouse, chairs, bean bags, tables. stairs etc
So my initial idea was to film malik cooking roti john as I narrate in the background. However, things took a turn when he told me his stall is undergoing renovation and will not be operating the whole week. (the week I was supposed to film)
I asked him if he would still be there after the renovation as I was worried about my roti john, and he said no and that he will be leaving as soon as his father has found a new place. I felt so sad and disheartened and what more a mental breakdown as I have an assignment to complete.
I thought of ways I could make the story work.
film a time-lapse of the renovation
film malik cooking at my house
and these were all I could come up with. My boyfriend then offered that he could act as Malik and cook the roti john at my place. I did not like the “acting” idea as it was not genuine.
However, I did agree on him cooking the roti john, just that he is not “acting”. He is just him. That way it would make sense why the stall is under renovation and why someone else had to cook it for me and will it taste nice? who knows? The story seemed very real and very genuine as I have wanted it to be in the beginning. It showed the realness of the situation where the shop is no longer operating. It showed my desperation. And it showed a reason for me, almost a tribute, to do this video of the roti john story.
This is the final script:
*Comfort food:
noun
noun: comfort food; plural noun: comfort foods
food that provides consolation or a feeling of well-being, typically having a high sugar or carbohydrate content and associated with childhood or home cooking.*
*Blank*
(Nadia.. What do you want to eat?
umm roti johnnnn?
roti john? again? where? AL-MALIK?
yeah…….)
*Renovation Scene*
(LOUD KNIFE CHOP)
*Cooking scene*
Me and Malik are friends. Because of Roti John. The food that has brought happiness and comfort on tough, sad and especially no appetite sick days. It’s my go-to food- love at first taste. it never failed to do so every time i buy it. Malik makes my roti john and we are good friends.
The stall Al-Malik was named after him. It was the first stall Malik’s father had started up where Malik had suggested to include roti john into the menu.
Malik had been working in this industry since he was only primary 5 at his relative’s shop where had met lots of people. A Brazilian pilot for example had given Malik his contact so that when he graduates, he would come work for him. Another encounter was when he met upon middle aged identical twin sisters. He was quite shocked when they told him that they do not speak a common language. One was brought up by a malay family and the other, a chinese family. And of course, Malik would not have met me.
Malik started off by learning how to cook on the job. He says he prepares the food as and how he would prepare it for himself. He tells me, ”It is extremely satisfying when a customer praises the food I have cooked for them. Putting love into the dishes you prepare works like a salt. No matter how much ingredients of quality you put in, it is going to be tasteless without salt.
Working in this industry for such a long time, Malik had managed to pick up a couple of different languages. Just by taking orders from customers, in time, Malik is able start a basic conversation with the Malays. “nasi goreng satu pedas giler” “roti john satu bungkus”
And as for mandarin, Malik had picked up this language growing up in chinatown; his home at that time when his father was working there.
Planes and its operating principles interests Malik. He had been always curious to know how a massive piece of metal could takeoff effortlessly into the air. This love for aviation led to his dream to be an aircraft engineer for SIA. Their requirements to be one was a diploma. However when he graduated from SP, with a diploma in aeronautical engineering, they required a degree instead.
Currently Malik is doing his part time degree at ntu studying mechanical engineering in hopes of becoming an aircraft engineer for SIA.
If all else fails Malik would want to open up his own restaurant and sell various roti johns.
I asked Malik, how bout both?
He replied, “insyaAllah(with god’s will) if i have enough manpower and capital, i surely will – to serve you the best roti john possible”
Malik tells me getting extremely tired is very normal. I quote, “sweat gives you the money.” Sometimes the number of orders get so overwhelming that Malik does not look at the customers but instead focuses on writing down the orders. He feels that the workforce will teach us a lot more that we cant find in a textbook. We can practice communication skills, problem solving skills and many more that we need to deal with people of different background.
As for his friends, they are very impressed when they get to know that he can prepare such types of food. They also praise him for his hard work and perseverance in juggling both work and study
He makes sure that his studies are never compromised. He gives greater priority to his studies.
Malik always feels tired but never feels like giving up. He says,”These are part and parcel of life. As the saying goes, ‘Life is not a bed of roses’. Diamonds are created under the worst of all pressures. I see life in a similar way”
*Renovation Scene*
Malik is leaving me. He has to move out soon to a new rented place with his family as they are not singaporean. And so the Al-Malik I once knew is no more. I did not have a last good look. A goodbye. A mental preparation to face what is in front of me. The last time I ordered roti john was a few weeks ago. The space feels extremely different.
My friendship with Malik will last as I continue to long for my beloved roti john. I had made Malik promise to give me the new addresses to his new stalls in the future as he shifts from place to place. And the next time I order for a roti john it will be from Malik and I’ll always be the “roti john girl”
*Serving scene*
As for filming wise, I had took the recipe from google as I did not want to ask Malik for family secret reasons. I wanted to show the deliciousness of the food, how the food transforms from individual ingredients and the end product.
My reference, Peaceful Cuisine, on youtube was my main inspirations for the shot angles and style. It helped me a lot with my storyboarding and visualising.
For this project, I took a dumpling video as reference.
So I literally took all the compositions of each shot to analyse how they frame their shots.
AND THIS IS MY STORY BOARD:
PROBLEMS FACED:
Lighting changed from light to dark throughout the day (rain)
It worked to my advantage as it showed the mood in the outdoor scene when I was trying to say that Malik is leaving me. But it did not help in the indoor scene as the lighting was bad and I had to use my iPhone lighting which looks really ugly.
Shaky shots
I had a hard time taking the top down shots as I was struggling to balance the tripod but I tried to solve with the stabiliser in iMovie.
Weird audio pauses
The proof of my relationship with Malik. Does he exist?
I didn’t managed to take much behind the scenes but I do have this photo and video in my kitchen.
I chose the first approach: 1) Have a conversation with someone to find out about their way of life in Singapore
So I’m friends with the roti prata man’s son.
I live in Yishun ever since I was born and growing up I was a kid who always fell sick. Up till now, my immune system always fails me somehow. Feeling sick and with no appetite, I would always want to skip meals. However the only thing that I would always want to eat is roti john.
So after visiting my neighbourhood doctor, I would always go to the nearby indian stall to buy my roti john.
Also, when I’m having bad days…or I’m just having a craving or I’m just plain hungry… the answer is roti john.
So after many years, I am known as the “Roti John Girl” to my favourite Al-Malik Stall. I also have made a real good customer owner relationship with the Roti Prata man and his son as I often bump into them in the neighbourhood or their stall. He even introduced me to his cat that often comes up and down from his house to the stall.
One day in NTU, I was on the way home on bus 179 and guess who I bumped into! Malik! (Al-Malik is named after Malik, the Roti Prata Man’s son)
We talked and it turned out that Malik is studying engineering in NTU as a year 2 student. I was amazed and shocked because I often see him working during the weekends or holidays and he always makes my roti john. And he still has time to study for his exams.
It made me curious about his story as I know that his parents are locals from India. He is truly the nicest, most humble and hardworking person I’ve met and he makes the best roti john that had turned my many bad, sick days around to happy ones.
I have contacted Malik and asked about his story in Singapore.
How his parents started out from India to Singapore. How was his life growing up as the son of the Roti Prata man. His challenges in school, friends…NS..and also the things he enjoyed. The life lessons he learnt and what he thinks about life now and his future ambitions.
I do hope our relationship continues to blossom, and maybe one day he can teach me how to make my favourite roti john.
