For our first project, we are tasked to create an animal sculpture out of old and recycled parts. I’m thinking of making a bird / parrot.
Testing video uploads:
Edit: Too bad they don’t appear as videos! Clicking the links will download it, but really, they’re nothing much, just my Snapchat story.
As a starting point, the class went down to the infamous Thieves Market, the largest and oldest flea market in Singapore where there were tons of old parts and second hand goods up for grabs. I’ve always seen this place on TV and thought it was pretty cool, but have never found time or reason to visit it. Despite the blazing, blazing sun, it was fortunate that we got to visit it now because the market is scheduled to make way for the Jalan Besar MRT by 2017. When we visited, the market has already been reduced from it’s original size.
Here we go, first stop – where the class gathered was a physical store before delving into the Thieves market. Nice Uncle 1 sold lots of stuff, both old and new. A short conversation with the uncle also revealed that he was surprised that that many students (9 classes) are studying arts nowadays.
Moving on to the actual Thieves market. Some said they’re selling junk that you already have at home, but really, there were all sorts of stuff. Yes, those are ice skates! They look pretty new too. I wonder where they came from. I would have asked the seller but uncles were busy playing poker.
There were quite a variety of characters at the Thieves market, mostly made of the older generation. Some were nice, some not so. There was a beautiful parrot at the end of the market and when I tried to take a picture of it, I was not-so-nicely told to “EH DON’T TAKE PHOTO, THE PARROT SCARED!!!” by a kid probably aged around 11-13? The adult at the same stall also went on with a 5 minute rant on “don’t know why Chinese Chinese all like to take photo”.
Aaaand nearby the parrot-stall was where we met Nice Uncle 2! Really the uncle was the nicest person I’ve met around the market and it’s regretful that I didn’t get a photo of him or his stall. We were browsing and I am pretty sure we didn’t look like we were gonna get anything, but Uncle did something we never expected. He took out three packets of tissue and handed one to each of us and told us to wipe our sweat. Waaaaah soooo nice of him. Because of the service, it prompted us to take a closer look at his goods. We picked up some trinkets and asked how much it costed, but uncle said just take it! It was a nice closure to the end of the day. Faith in humanity, restored.
So here’s my take-away! Yes I broke something (typical ST) so I had to buy it, Auntie charged me $10 for it and I didn’t dare to haggle because I broke part of a set. But it’s a challenge to make something out of it!
I don’t think I have all the parts I would need, but I think making feathers out of transparent pipe would be pretty cool.
