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.

All in good fun.

Indeed, our hearts were full of jolly as we came together and set up. We scratched our heads on how to place our artworks. From using chairs, tables and some, even with wine glasses to prop their artworks up! After we each set up, we’ll go over to each others’ set up and exchange ideas. Plus, we were treated to jazz piano improvisations by Ella, a self-taught pianist. (Wow, inspiring me to practice more!)

I love chatting with artists (people who understand my wavelength of thinking about abstract and disparate things) and it was good fun finding out the inspiration and ideas behind their works. I was thrilled that Eunice got my idea of two artistic personalities represented by my paintings, who were conversing about paintings, with a backdrop of a painting. She suggested that I dress up the chairs a little, so stay tuned and you’ll see that this Thursday onwards!

All in all, I think it was Asri’s tee-shirt that summarised the day for me: Stop whining and do something. That’s exactly what we are doing.

(Designer of this art publicity* is “Le Matt“, a talented Singaporean artist.)

I’m buzzing to take part again in yet another Seed Fest Singapore initiative – possibly Singapore’s first ever Art Garage.

For the last 5 years, I’ve been to many galleries. New York’s MoMA, Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art, East Timor’s Art School and many more. As I walk in the Esplanade, the National Museum, Singapore Art Museum, I’ve often wondered to myself, will I ever get a chance to share my art ideas?

Last year, I got my break. Thanks to the team of independent art producers like Terence Tan behind Seed Fest Singapore, I had my first arts exhibition in The Arts House and The Substation. They want to celebrate authentic, ground-up arts. They support emerging artists by giving us visibility through granting us space (both artistic and physical) to showcase our works. The spaces come with no-frills, everything is D.I.Y. Admission is free. The setting is relaxed. Free and easy.

This year, instead of a typical arts exhibition, Terence came up with the idea of an Art Garage after a conversation with visual artist Tan Xiang Yeow and site specific performance artist Jamie Marie Lewis. This is Terence’s artistic vision: ”The Art Garage is a gathering of young artists past and recent works; to be displayed, stacked and sifted through for visitors to literally discover their art. The works may merely be showcased, or artists may choose to sell them. The main goal is for visitors to not fear interacting or holding the art (likewise the artist), so as to let art be a closer part of non-artists’ lives.”

We often lament that Singapore is very dense, space is precious and expensive. I like Terence’s thought on challenging this status quo. Instead of continuing to complain, mope and be immobilized, he wants to prove through the Art Garage project, that we need not be limited to traditional arts spaces like formal galleries. Through creative improvisation, you’ll see how the hall will be transformed. Hopefully, this will spark off ideas on how more art spaces can be made available for our artistic youths. While I appreciate funding and big-scale formal initiatives by institutions and organisations, I’m glad that there is also space for “pop-up” art, makes life interesting yah?

Beginning this Sunday (November 20), we will be experimenting, decking a hall meant for theatre with our artworks. With Christmas coming, where people will be singing “Deck the Halls with boughs of Holly”, we will be coming together to “Art the Hall” with hearts of jolly. How often, do we get an opportunity like this?

The other participating artists include: Le Matt, Eunice Lim, Noc Vvyne, Asri Scola, Francis Poon, Tan Xiang Yeow, Jamie Marie Lewis, Jeremy Zhong, Darius Cheong, Nhawfal Juma’at, Ella Wijt, Dey Irfan, Shirley Khng and Asman bin Khalil

If you’re planning what to do next weekend, you’re welcome to pop by and say “hi” and “Art the Hall”, together with us!

Details:

The Art Garage will be held from 24 November at 19:30 to 26 November at 22:00. Venue: ”The Hall” at “The Arts House“.

Opening night is on 24 November 730pm. Opening times: 24-25 November (19:30-22:00), 26 November (14:30-22:00)

——————–

* Concept & Flavor of art publicity: The gorilla is a play on the word “guerilla”, representing this indie arts movement. The gorilla image is treated graphically as screenprints in Warhol style and the placement is in a traditional gallery. These symbolise a challenge of the status quo of typical art spaces and art works.

But I decided, that Family is important. So I made my way down to the funeral.

It was heart-wrenching. The passing of a 25 year-old girl who was a promising upstart. She had dreams to go to the UN to change the world. She learnt multiple languages, travelled each year to spend time at orphanages in Myanmar, Cambodia. Why was she taken away so young?

Yet from what was spoken about her, she lived a full life, with no regrets.

I knew her but was not close to her. I saw her around at times when she was in Singapore. I knew her parents and brother. I saw them around in church.

Funerals are for the living, rather than for the dead. A closure for those near and inspiration for those slightly further away. I was one of those.

I was particularly touched by her dad, who admitted that it was emotionally hard for him. It takes guts for a grown man to say that. I teared when her brother shared about his relationship with his sister. It struck a chord in me and I came home and wrote a letter to my brother.

Deaths are sobering. It points and guides me back to what’s important.

“Latte or Teh-Si?” I asked Chien Yee. I finally decided on good ol’ Teh-Si

It was an unexpected afternoon at the Singapore Writers Festival 2011. Its been a full month of late nights and burnt weekends. Wasn’t too sure I wanted to use any of my brains or any of my energy.

Upon Chien Yee’s suggestion, I decided to at least look at the line-up. I found 3 sessions I wanted to go.

Excitedly I went about hunting for Steven Levitt of Freakonomics tickets. In a bid to save money, I wanted to buy through a public officer who gets 30% off. BUT, by the time I confirmed I could buy through her, the tix were sold out. Bleh.

Oh well, there’s still two more sessions. It was 2 panel sessions. One on travel writing and the other, on food. I carried my Teh-Si from City Hall and made our way to SMU.

It was full house at the “Transaction Pavilion”, the venue for the first panel “Getting Lost: The Sly Art of Travel Writing” featuring Brian Thacker, Rahul Bhattacharya and Tan Wee Cheng. I had a feeling that it may just be good.

It was.

Within a few minutes, the crowd was roaring in laughter. It was a joy listening to all the travel stories ranging from rancid shark meat in Iceland, to gunpoint situations to CouchSurfing, a novel way to travel by giving and getting free accommodation via family couches. Stephen McCarty, Editor-in-Chief of Asia Literary Review is a good moderator. His wry British humour had many of us giggling, laughing and at times, ROLFing.

My favourite quote of the session? “Travel books used to be about places (referring to National Geographic-type of publications). Now, travel books is about experiences.” — Brian Thacker

I’ve already felt my S$13.00 was worth it (you get S$2 off the festival pass if you’re a PA card holder). What topped the experience, was the next panel – “Drooling over Food Porn: How to write deliciously”.

We all squeezed into Room 2-1 at the School of Information Systems, SMU. Chien Yee and I managed to get the last 2 seats at the back row. The room just got more and more crowded. All in anticipation of the Panel of Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan, Christopher Tan and Damian D’Silva.

We waited.

Then KF Seetoh, from Makansutra, opened the session.

It was the opening to a very engaging session. Not surprising for the obsession of Singaporeans — food. Through the whole session, the love of local food and the longing of preserving the soul of Singapore rose to the top, just like the frothy foam layer of teh-tariks. We weren’t just talking about food. We were talking about the context of our food — our culture, our heritage, our life stories that were intertwined with the dishes. It was our Ratatouille (Pixar Movie – where the food critic was brought back to his childhood memories with the dish Ratatouille) moments.

What is the definitive Singaporean dish? Is it chicken rice? Is it chilli crab? Christopher Tan answers. Singaporean food is layered by different types of cuisine and culture. Seetoh adds, Singaporean cuisine is not a style, but an attitude. Damian throws in a comment, the real Singaporean food is not limited to hawker fare, but the real food comes from the homes of Singapore.

There were talks about feeling the food. “Agar-agar” cooking? Its not a derogatory term for non-precise cooking. Rather, its the ability to cook with all your senses, the ability to adjust to what’s in the moment… when to crack the egg while frying Char Kway Teow, frying the onions for a longer time if its a little too wet… Sure, we can capture recipes on paper and even on video, but how many of us are able to do that?

It was lively discussion of macro concerns but it was fueled by individual stories. Stories of how each of them ventured into this path. Damian via his grandfather, Christopher surrounded by family heritage and Cheryl, craving for her childhood favourites after being away in the US.

I’m already two chapters in her book “A Tiger in the Kitchen“. It is riveting. Her fashion writing background shows up in how she details the Singaporean food, culture and her family stories. Its rich in detail — I can see the colours, smell the smells and imagine the settings vividly. It brings back memories of my own childhood. I actually feel proud that all this is captured and shared with a wider world and other cultures. With her background and where she is now (New York), she bridges the worlds and I think, her book has and will increase accessibility to what’s it like here on this sunny island. Food, family and fashion are topics more widely accepted and embraced. Brilliant. I think I should have less Americans asking me if Singapore is part of China…

On to Chapter 3!

After a week of reaching objectives, chasing timelines, approaching things methodically and logically, with the discipline of rigor and focus, its great to just dive into the ethereal, transience, fluidity and metaphors.

It was a hot day, so I decided to be decked out yesterday in my typography tee from Hong Kong. Layered on my alphabet earrings to complete the outfit.

Interestingly, I felt like reading “100 American Poems” and ended off the day with an article from Newsweek about Dublin, a chatty city where one of their most common questions is “What’s your story”?

After many years of waiting, studying, learning and hoping, am starting to see things shift and move. Living in a realm of possibilities. Exciting!

Since I was young, I’ve heard that Perth was slow, boring and only old people retire there. I finally made my voyage there this year, for a cousin’s wedding. I found out that Perth was nothing like what was described to me.

What is a trip without checking out the local arts & design scene? I was flipping through the flyers I picked up along the way and found an arts class. The titled intrigued me. Stitch as a Drawing Tool? I was keen to find out.

I headed down early to Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA for short) and just soaked in “Hatched“, the National Graduate Show. I particularly liked some of the pieces and marvelled at their imaginations. One of the pieces exhibited was by Teagan Hunter, the workshop mentor >> her piece featured famous world events all stitched out.

As we started the workshop, she showed us other works of hers and explained how she created her art pieces. Why thread familiar photos? She wanted to immortalize events in a more organic way. She wanted to explore another way of portraying the images we are all so familiar with.

We started by conceptualizing the look and feel we wanted, picking up scrap magazines that we wanted to model after. We got to select material from a pile of scrap cloth. Next we had to get the fabric taut so the sewing can be smooth. Choosing the thread thickness and colour related back to the concept we wanted.

I picked a postcard with a silhouette of a lady dancing, probably to Flamenco. As I stitched, it evolved to adding bits of fabric for her skirt, silver and gold thread for the hair and red heels that peeped out underneath her skirt. To add a zing to the work, I googled to find out what’s dance in Italian. It’s DANZA!

I loved how the workshop challenged me to approach something familiar with another medium >> thread. There’s something lovely and therapeutic about the repeated motions of sewing, threading and I suppose, knitting. It was calming and soothing to the soul. Sewing or rather drawing, with a group of enthusiastic diverse group of people, chatting away, brought a sweet melody of threads in time. Call it divine appointment, or serendipity, this is where I met Chloe Smith, whom I collaborated on a photo shoot in Fremantle, Perth.

Life’s little treasures… that you pick up along the way… there’s always someone or something, to discover

Shot on “Pudding” iPhone App; Settings: Panorama, Noir.

On my way home welcoming the weekend.