Final Project: A Pilgrimage to the Singapore River (Research + Kindred Artists)

A Pilgrimage to the Singapore River, 2018.

A Pilgrimage to the Singapore River, makes use of a fictional narrative created for the purpose of addressing matters in relation to the Singapore River. The Singapore River and its surrounding has seen a great change ever since the massive cleanup that was done in 1977. However, there are other aspects of the river that has been overlooked, amidst the modernisation of its surrounding.

Creating a fictional character called the Singapore River Goddess (Malay: Dewi Sungai Singapura), the fictional narrative considers the merlion to be a creature which resided in the Singapore River and served as the vehicle of the mythical Goddess. At present, not only is the merlion extinct, but the Singapore River itself appears to be a sterile dam, instead of being a water body flourishing with flora and fauna. The ecosystem of the Singapore River is re-imagined as a mangrove swamp and having marshes where saltwater and freshwater species meet. Apart from being a commentary on this, the project aims to be a start point in exploring the idea of demarcating a place in nature as sacred, in urban Singapore. The worship of nature plays a big role in Asian traditions and this project uses that to see how Singaporeans would possibly respond to the deification of the Singapore River.

In making this project, I studied Artists whom have done similar works as well. Especially with regards to the study of the Singapore River. I also studied the way Singapore River could have been, as suggested by Dr Shawn Lum. This led me to looking up at the Kranji Marshes, which may suggest how the Singapore River would have been if it was untouched.

 

 

 

 

 

Basia Irland

 

 

 

 

 

Not only was the class lucky to have met Basia Irland, thanks to Prof Meridel,  but she directly inspired me in my continued interest in identifying spirituality in ecology.

Irland writes from the perspective of the Rivers. She gives them life and persona through her words. Apart from that, she interacts with them through art by making the ice books, for example, that melts and releases plants that are native to the River’s surrounding, and as such helping the River get into a process of re-establishing its original nature, which the seeds are said to help in the process of sprouting.

In line with my previous project of depicting the river goddesses, I felt reassured that I can depict a goddess for my final project as well, as Irland does by giving the Rivers life by speaking from their perspective. That is as though the river is a divine being that came to life.

Debbie Ding

 

 

 

 

 

Debbie Ding has done a Project on the Singapore River, specifically with regards to Pulau Saigon, a little islet which is not there anymore. Her work, ‘The Library of Pulau Saigon’ inspired me to understand how objects that are part of a River can help us understand its history. 

Zarina Muhammad

 

 

 

 

 

Zarina Muhammad’s practice includes the understanding of nature as a part of spirituality as well. She includes the idea of spirits, gods, goddesses, entities in the exploration of natural sites and this exploration into rituals have inspired me heavily in understanding nature as sacred and the need to demarcate a space to bring about attention and respect to the entity of nature.

Tan Zi Hao

 

 

 

 

 

Tan Zi Hao does faux bones of mythical animals. This is a very interesting attempt to study the idea of what he calls, “myth of myths”. He is using fiction to drive at a point that is real. This heavily inspired me to bring in a fictional idea to enhance the narrative, in order to artistically express the point that I was trying to make for this project.

Meeting Marcus Ng at a multi site tour

 

 

 

 

 

Marcus Ng is a freelance writer, editor and curator interested in biodiversity, ethnobiology and the intersection between natural and human histories. His work includes the book Habitats in Harmony: The Story of Semakau Landfill (2009 and 2012), and two exhibitions at the National Museum of Singapore: “Balik Pulau: Stories from Singapore’s Islands” and “Danger and Desire”. Speaking with him about Sungei Bras Basah river which does not exist anymore due to land reclamation, I also got information of how the river was not only providing water for drinking, but supported many early shrines in Singapore on its banks, where the use of fresh water was needed.

We also saw the ‘Magic and Menace’ exhibition at Level 2, of Goh Seng Choo Gallery @National Museum, Singapore. This inspired me to see how documentation of previously found species in a place can be presented in a case study of an ecosystem.

 

William Farquhar

 

 

 

 

 

William Farquhar’s commissioned drawings of the natural history in Singapore gave me an idea as to how I could present my work of the natural species that were previously part of the Singapore River.

Class Assignment 4 – Elements and the Environmental Issues associated to them

Although I have already chosen water as the main element to work with for this class from the beginning itself, it is a good exercise to see the other elements as well. As a Hindu, I recognise 5 elements and in Hinduism these 5 elements are regarded as deities of Nature and are revered and still offered prayers in Hindu rituals. Fire and water are the 2 most used elements in Hindu rituals and worship, yet all 5 of it are respected equally and are addressed as pancha bhuta or pancha tattva when they are worshipped as a pentad. Here you will find my mini study on the elements:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class Assignment 3 – Pictures from Bukit Timah Nature Reserve – Snapping while they snap!

In my practice, I always question the relationship between men and the environment through the course of time. There was a time when men did not have the technology that has brought about great harm to our environment. Imagine the time when Nature was the greater power. The time when machines did not exist. We were simple beings dependent on what the environment had to offer us for our basic necessities meant for survival. Do we have the same situation today?

Why do we have the need to change something that is natural? Why do we have to build something out of concrete in the forest? Why do we have to introduce artificial structures or anything man-made into the natural environment? As much as we have seen the immense benefits of the advancement made in human society, we have certainly gone overboard. We have become unstoppable, uncontrollable and made damages that are irreversible.

Our field trip to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve was indeed a valuable experience and gave us an opportunity to see and be one with an untouched forest in the heart of Singapore, a concrete jungle. There were many beautiful things to be seen and appreciated in the forest. But with regards to my earlier discussion about the influence of technology in our lives, I observed the behavior and interaction of my fellow classmates, with the location. I was pretty much doing the same thing as them: taking pictures after pictures. This was due to the assignment and that is completely fine as it does not bring any harm to the environment. However, I am trying to imagine how we would have been interacting with nature in a field trip, if we were not given access to any kind of foreign objects or technology. How would we be appreciating it and feeling it? The four photographs I have chosen out of those I have taken are as follows…

Access this link to see all the pictures i took: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1uO_rp34JbMuOcXeuM2kY2XVlITpYTNkC

Class Assignment 2 – Comment on Readings

Main question: How does each written position relate to your current feeling about yourself in relation to Nature and the Environment?

Articles I have chosen:

1) Is There an Ecological Unconscious? 2) Neoliberalism has conned us into fighting climate change as individuals 3) Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change

 

The article on ecological unconscious made me realise that indeed there is a term to how we feel about the situation we are going through at present in relation to the environment. In the article, the term is coined as “solastalgia”. As mentioned in the article, many do not even realise that they experience this feeling of displacement while still remaining in their original space.

I always personally feel that living beings are attached to their surroundings, be it the immediate ones such as their home or work place, or the extended surrounding such as their countries. So when an environmental degradation causes these spaces to change, we would inevitably feel the pinch. However, what baffles me is that we as modern people in this time and age, either do not recognise the cause of the problem, or choose to ignore the cause – we are the cause of the problems. Just as how the comedian George Carlin says, the planet is not going to be destroyed, but we are. “We” here not only refers to us human beings, but other creatures such as birds and fishes. The only difference is that they are innocent victims to situation that we have brought upon ourselves. This article very interestingly goes back to that point, where we can understand how the environmental degradation we have caused, is going to get back to us not just physically, but psychologically as well. How many of us would have realised this, especially when living comfortably in our urban settlements? Change is the only constant. The question is whether the change is positive or negative towards us, and our environment. If our environment is protected, then we are protected as well. This article explains why I feel angry whenever our environment is affected by our irresponsible actions. It also allows me to see why I am not able to do much in response to my anger as well. However, it also means that we clearly need to take actions soon enough.

The second article speaks out my mind but in academically correct terms. I have constantly wondered, what I as an individual can do to protect the environment on my part. It eventually returns to the question as to whether I am doing enough. I do encourage friends and family to adapt green habits. Yet, I try to picture this in a larger scale. What if people in power could do something to the environment? World leaders come together to discuss environmental issues in world summits and so on. How environmentally friendly these leaders are and what have they done to reduce the harms capitalism does to the environment? We eventually tell ourselves that it is a difficult task. This article debunks that myth and is in a way exposing the toxic structure which does not allow us to create a significant impact in the rescuing of our environment.

The third article was very informative, but what it does in relation to my feeling about the environment is very interesting. It hits on the question that I have asked myself when I see environmental degradation. That is, “when exactly did this all begin”? Though the article focuses on when we realised the mess we have created, it still allows us to wonder on when exactly we all started going down this road which seemingly has no return. I ask myself these questions when I visit India, as many sacred sites have been subjected to the degradation of the environment. We see so many of the holy rivers being polluted, though they are meant to be worshiped and protected. How are we not taking any steps in stopping this from happening further, while seeing it happen in front of our eyes?

I have come to realise from this readings that I do not have to feel guilty about my inability to save the environment. I have come to realise that if I make art to speak about the environment, I should be bold. These readings inspire me to create art that could expound and expose the truth.

Class Assignment 1 – Off the Grid

My very first experience in going off the grid for 4 full hours!

Was it difficult? No. But would this be something I can do for extended time periods? I am not too sure about that. However, it will be great to do this more often. My two hours indoors started at 6AM and it continued with my walk to a temple at Potong Pasir, from my place in Serangoon ending at 10AM. I did not have water or food f0r the four hours as well.

I started out in my room and had my water colour palette and sketch book laid infront of me. I wanted to document each hour as water colour illustrations. You will see the four illustrations as follows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assignment 2: One and Three Books – My definition of ‘Book’

Book Definition

Where a book can be interpreted in many ways, I choose to define a book as the Universe.

What is the universe? We may define it in so many ways, but how can we be absolutely sure of what something so vast and mysterious truly is. Its limitations depends on your perception. A book as a universe, allows you to perceive it from multiple angles. In the process, we are within the universe (book), and yet it can be within us all.

The universe has been explained in many angles and perspectives by both ancient religions and modern science. Two very distinct groups of people who are more or less competing to prove their superiority. That is unavoidable, since the universe is beyond our immediate reach and that which lies beyond our sight has certainly always roused our curiosity. The universe is a secret as well. We can keep trying to discover, and yet we can hardly ever conclude it in totality. However, we end up choosing what we want to believe in and form our own absolute perspective.

In that manner, ‘Realms’ presents one perspective of the universe, as envisioned in the Hindu scriptures. The concept of the universe in Hindu Scriptures comes as many layers of realms, exhibiting various forms and aspects. ‘Realms’ briefly explores this visually, allowing its readers to gain an alternate insight of the universe.

Final Project: (3) Application and Deliverable

Here is the final outcome of the project!

…A Knitted scarf, a lava lake Lamp, a lava Box…

I am glad to have been able to use these fun techniques to create surfaces to design objects and wearables.

It was not easy, I must say. There was a lot of effort to be taken in the meticulous works like felting. Also, to translate a surface into a design is something that requires a good eye for detail and being able to process it mentally and visually as a pattern.

This module was of great joy and fun!

Final Project : (2) Experimentation using chosen techniques

Using the techniques we learnt…

I chose knitting, felting and plastic fusing as the three techniques to be used in my final deliverable. To make sure I achieve the desired effect, I tried out the techniques till I got what exactly I wanted.  Knitting was the one that had me trying a few times before I hit the style that I wanted, to have the effect of lava.

Here are the pictures of the process for felting…
Trying out different surfaces for application of felt in the process…
Felt on felt was the best. Most seamless…

with the fairy lights !

 

Next was knitting…

For knitting, I chose to get yarns that are of lava like colours and combine them to knit. The first few i did was somewhere there, but not accurate enough like the final piece.

Here comes plastic fusing…

The easiest of all techniques, the natural melting of plastic makes it look like molten lava!