Project 20:12 Old School . Old Shoes

Flux.

That’s what the future will be.

It’s no wonder why people are looking back to the past. I see it in the revival of film cameras, 2012′s fashion trends and in all things vintage. I’m no exception. I caught the “Back to the Future” movie series on HBO over the last few days and couldn’t help but be glued to the box. I laughed at the same jokes, marveled at the “technology” then and sat at the edge of my seat (though I know what was going to happen). It was a happy memory.

In 6 months time, yet another experience will become a memory. When I first stepped into Old School last March to join Halogen Foundation Singapore, my heart smiled. I remembered attending a student camp here during University days at NTU. Over the weeks, I realised what a creative enclave the place was. I love taking the shuttle bus up with the people who work here, observing their fashion quirkiness (I feel at home here, as opposed to the Raffles-Place-Digit-Feel). I oogle at the retro cars that belong to the bosses of the creative agencies. Thin, waif foreign models are often seen walking to the blocks. On my way home, I’ll see young (and fit) and hip urbanites conquering the 143 steps to catch a movie at Sinema or chilling at Timbre.

I found myself trotting up on a non-work day to catch a documentary of Yohji Yamamoto’s as part of Singapore’s Design Film Festival. My team found ourselves heading to the Dieter Ram’s 10 principles of good design exhibition at 2902 Gallery. For Halogen’s staff photoshoot for our marketing materials, our outdoor shoot plan was spoiled by the weather. But, we found a big white studio-like space and had a blast shooting ourselves despite no air-con.

One day, before delving into the hectic work day ahead, I sought some breathing space by walking around Old School before heading to my office. In that walk, I discovered stairways, cable car cabins, patios which inspired me to want to do a fashion photo shoot. Having hectic days Q3 of 2011, I KIV-ed the idea.

Much talk has been around the preservation of “Old School”. I laud their efforts as I would like to see this place continue. The questions for me is this: Are memories that tie the belonging of people to a place worth sacrificing in the light of economic benefits? That is a wider question and discussion that continues. From a macro level, there may be factors or considerations that I don’t see, that I admit. On a micro level, at least I can raise the questions. The “fight” has been put up and the verdict (so far) has been given. We need to move out by June 2012.

Places can be demolished, but memories can live on.

I champion being agile for the future but I think there’s a time and place for nostalgia – not in a hold-on-to-old-business-models way but in a personal-life-journey way. As a bid to preserve memories as an inspiration for the future, I’m starting “Project 20:12 Old School. Old Shoes” I’ll like to photograph shoes in the context of Old School and eventually select 20 shots of 12 pairs of shoes to be exhibited (place and medium tbc). Shoes hold a special meaning to me. I can remember every single pair of sneakers I had since college. Thinking about them brings back memories of my life adventures, my travel experiences and the special places they’ve brought me to.

If you’ll like to join me in this, I’ll be happy if we can collaborate. If you have a special pair of shoe(s) that remind you of specific memories in Old School, I’ll be glad to have them as “models” for the shoot. If you’re game to be a model (whether its your feet/legs/back), you’re welcome to. This is purely an indie non-commercial arts project, so there’ll be no remuneration, just in case you’re wondering. Here are some of my previous work : Puma shoes in East Timor, Indie fashion shoots.

I’m looking at March to April to do the shoots and will be doing the shortlisting from now until 29 February. If you’ll like to be part of this project, drop me an email at jaelchng@gmail.com with a picture of the pair of shoe(s) and your memory of Old School.

Buildings can be torn down, but our memories of our journeys can be preserved.