Compass

I guess I have finally decided which possible future to take. Picture the future to be this really far off place over the horizon and where you are right now is an intersection with many arrows pointing to all sorts of paths. Some paths paved with gravel, others paved with asphalt. All leading to the grave. At the end of the road, everyone ends up where it all began.

I hope I haven't made an unwise decision to pursue law. Only time will tell I guess.

By the way, I have been toying with the idea of making a switch to Tumblr.

What art means to me.

What art means to me.

Is art useless? An age-old question society has time and again asked. We ask how art has shaped our society and if there is any importance in today’s fast paced economic world. Why should we be placing emphasis on the arts if we are marred by the great number of socio-economic and environmental problems we face today? I for one believe that art has the power to tackle these issues. I believe that the explorative, contemplative, dynamic nature of art can inspire society to rethink how we handle problems and in the process better society.

Let’s first look at how art has evolved to what it is today. There was a change in the perception of art after French artist Duchamp challenged tradition art beliefs with his work entitled Fountain. Traditionally, art was purely aesthetic. However, with Duchamp’s work, art became a social commentator. Art became contemplative. Today, art is used as a medium to explore society’s norms and to question beliefs.

With the idea that art is contemplative in nature, we can use it to encourage people to try and better understand others. Art allows the artist to express the intangible in a more tangible form for others to understand. Take the work of local artist Amanda Heng for instance. Her work revolves largely around the role of women today and in the past. One of her works depicted an iron on top of a type of traditional female wear suspended over words like womb written on the floor with the artist’s hair. The artist was trying to convey what society deemed was what made a woman. What one simple exhibit has done was not just to offer a tangible glimpse of the predominant culture and belief of a given era regarding certain groups of people but also to allow a person to visually juxtapose those beliefs to the ones in current times. Art is therefore essentially a platform for people to gain understanding of the different strata in society. This is something that we could exploit. The ability for art to express ideas in manners that is aesthetic and more tangible.

A way to exploit art is as an alternative way to complement current teaching methods today. In the case of education, students depend on text to gain understanding on certain subjects. Art does not discriminate between the literate and the illiterate and offers an opportunity for people of all cultures and ages a chance to have an interpretation of a given subject. The use of art offers the student a visual and more tangible way of gaining learning. Concepts across the subjects of history and social science can be expressed through the use of art. Let us also not forget that using art is not mutual exclusive with traditional styles of education. This way, students with varied aptitudes can have alternative ways of learning. What we are doing in this instance is to help students view links between different subjects and in doing so, create a more holistic education. This way, we reach out to more students and in the process tackle apathy amongst youth towards society.

Along with the knowledge gained from exploring new interests through art, the imaginative nature of art encourages people to explore beyond their boundaries. This helps allows people to develop their creative side and what the world needs today are innovative and creative solutions to tackle problems. This is where art along with engineering and other field have a role to play.


Innate skills such as creativity can be developed through art. Also, the constant need to explore and embrace new ideas either during the course of creating art or trying to understand art, make one’s mind a fertile ground for innovative ideas to not just take root, but to flourish. Creative solutions such as solar cookers distributed by SunFire Solutions in Johannesburg are examples of good innovation and good design that can help combat climate change by reducing the number of forest cleared for the burning firewood in poor parts Africa and provide remote locations the means to heat food. As such, we can better develop creative societies that can handle the increasing complexity of today’s problems through the use of artistic exploration.

If we examine our economic and environmental problems and there is a common underlying cause - the human desire for more. The problem of climate change today is a cumulative effect of burning fossil fuels to feed the energy hungry world. What sparked the series of recent economic downturns were the leading men who threw ethics to the winds in the name of money. We want bigger cities, bigger homes and bigger bank accounts. We are beginning to lose ourselves to materialism. Art can serve as a reminder to an individual of the non-material. Art softens the edges of everyday life. The aesthetic quality of art cultivates an appreciation for beauty and the fact that art draws inspiration from life, shows how art is essentially an expressed form of the beauty life holds.

One of the things that set humans apart from animals is the ability to appreciate beauty and feel inspired. One of the key drivers of society today is the economy and if we focus too much on the material, what we begin to lose is the sense of being human. We get lost in today’s lifestyle and start to become ‘cogs in a machine’. However, if we begin to embrace just a little bit more of the arts at our workplaces then what art can teach you is to enjoy beauty. There is more to just money. Take for instance the story of an artist named Jane Echelman. She was invited to speak at a TED conference about her urban art. She shared a story of how an attorney from phoenix who was never interested in art saw Jane’s sculpture suspended over a field and dragged all her colleagues from the office to sit under the sculpture (Her Secret is Patience) to enjoy the piece. Art offers us a space to repose and think and that is what people these days seek for. The spread of Yoga throughout the world and how spas are becoming increasingly popular are signs that people recognise the need to slowdown in life. What art does is to remember the beauty in the non-material aspects of life and give us another way to slowdown.

Lastly, I have to add that though art, on a more direct and immediate level does not add much to the material economy of the world, it should not be neglected as there is much long-term and intangible benefits to gain. So, despite comments like how art is for the rich or art carries little practical sense in a world profit, I see art in a different light. I see it as beneficial and relevant to our society.

University.

Admissions. Admissions. I pray that I get into any of the 2 local law schools this year.

So long.

Been some time since I last typed anything on this blog. Time sure flies. It flashes by right in front of your eyes. Sometimes I wonder what time would look like - how it would manifest itself in a visual form if it could. Looking at images of children in their grandparent's laps or a child hidden safe in his mother's bosom seem to bring the idea of time into my mind. I guess I tend to relate time to precious moments in the past. Say 'time' and I'd probably be thinking of the past as opposed to the future.

Speaking of the past. This song really makes me think of the process of aging; of time lapsing. The sand in our 'life' glasses slowly building up to our expiry.

Unspoken.

I doubt anyone will ever find out but I long for you to know. It is odd, it is very unnatural, yet I have a strange longing. I dream of hypothetical scenarios that serve well to my emotions. Yet, I am drained in the morning that I wake. Perhaps I'd find some peace if I do forget. Yet, I choose not. I do not want. There is a strange longing that says, hold on to that tiny spark. The world may look upon it as stupidity. Is there any intellect in this? All is fair in love and war.

Epilogue.

The end of things. The last chapter.

Imperfections.

The world is marred by imperfections. The blemish on your skin, the dead leaf on the tree. Yet, in all it's imperfections is a system perfected over time. On a macro scale, the little imperfections make nature relatively perfect. If it were not for mutations to DNA, there would be no variation and there would be no selection of the fittest. Every mechanism works in tandem. Gaudi, the Architect of Sagrada Familia, a basilica that has taken more than a lifetime to complete and well, is still pretty much incomplete, knew this well. The cathedral featured sinewy columns and organic shapes. In all the twists, the flow, the cathedral was an architectural marvel. The weight distribution was done so in a very different way from previous Gothic designs. Gaudi understood nature. It is nature to have imperfect shapes. I have spoken much but made little a point. Well, it is pretty simple. Imperfections, you just have to view them in a different light.

The Maid Trade - Singapore

Before the 8th of February.

I plan to create a painting depicting what I feel about Singapore's political scene and probably a video about youth issues.

Gone. All gone.

One day you are going to wake up to find that everything you hold dear is gone. You lead a life of superficiality; like a plant that has not sunken it's roots deep into the soil. One day the winds will come and uproot you. I feel strangely empty. What I know, what is constructed around me seems so paper thin, so fragile.

Satisfaction.

Are we never satisfied? The consumerist society we live in today is a striking example or want over need. America's consumption has ballooned over the decade, first 60 percent now 70 percent of US GDP comprise of consumer expenditure. Discontented with what we have, we seek for more. Indeed this is an attribute of progress, the search for the greater, however when is enough enough? Living life on excess.

Consumerism aside, have I plateaued? It seems like despite the want to achieve good grades - mind you this is not of those pragmatic-type of achievements whereby education = success, but rather more of a benchmark to say, 'I have come thus far, now push forth.' - I seem to not put in as much work as I ought to. I am regressing.

My thoughts are messed up.

Tweed

Like woven mats, how intricate tweed is. Much like life if you put it in perspective.

'Plop' another marble dropped out of the boy's bag. The hole the netting had been there since a few weeks back but the boy did little to fix it. It has only gotten bigger and now, it is gaping. He watched the marble roll away. Down, roll, bounce, down. The marble descended the steps. He has lost so many marbles and was down to his last. What is the point of saving that one that just fell out, you can't play with only 1 more left. As he watch the glass sphere bounce off the steps, he remembered the first time he bought the sack of marbles. He took 2 weeks to save up for that sack and when he finally had the money to buy the marbles,he lost his wallet. Relentlessly, he saved for another 2 weeks before finally buying what he had desired. The sheer joy of finally obtaining what he had planned for continued for days. However as the days grew by, the less he remembered of the marbles. Day by day, until one day, he realised a hole was forming in the netting. Yet, he brushed it aside. The hole grew and grew and the boy started losing marbles. Initially, he'd pick the fallen marbles up and put it in his pocket. But, as time past, the less bothered he was. 'Crack', the boy snapped out of his thoughts. The marble had hit the wall and it broke. He was down to his last marble. The boy got up clutching the marble in his hand and went home to sew the netting. It may be his last marble, but he should never forget what the marble gave him. It gave him hours of fun. He decided that he will save this last marble and cherish it. After all, it stuck with him when the bullies came to steal his lunch money. It helped him past time when everyone avoided him. He swallowed the marble.

GP 2009

Fashion is as much a good thing as a bad thing. To what extent do you agree?

The world of fashion is rather polarising. On one end of the spectrum you have fashion worshippers who would grow pale upon hearing the death of Alexander McQueen. On the other, we have detractors who abhor what fashion perpetrates. Fashion has been slammed for the industry’s use of sweatshop labour, for negatively impacting the image of women. Critics scream vanity when they speak of fashion. It is sad to say this multi-million dollar industry has much negative connotations to it. However, whilst criticising fashion, we must recognise what fashion has brought to society, what it stands for. By the very virtue of being one of the most pervasive players in popular culture, fashion has left quite a mark in the developed world. Fashion is a reflection of individuality; it is a reflection of an individual’s need to have an image. It is inspirational in nature, both to the wearer and designer. It is an industry that has fuelled world-leading economies. Fashion has added colour and life to the developed world, into the cities. It is no wonder why New York, London, Tokyo and Paris are coincidentally both financial and fashion capitals of the world. I for one feel strongly that fashion is as much as a good thing as it bad.

It is easy to say that fashion industry is another capitalist venture to exploit society. The industry has been so diverse that it has created different markets to cater for the different groups of society. Take the Armani group for instance, at the end of the scale we have entry level Armani Exchange and haute couture Armani Prive on top. The clever use of branding and persuasive advertising has allowed many of these fashion firms to exploit both the consumer and the workers. In the shops, fast fashion entry-level retail stocks low quality clothes at a rather heavy price tag. However, the cost in producing that piece of garment is equivalent to that of a sweatshop labourer’s pay. Guess inc. was in fact taken to court for exploiting Mexican workers. This led to groups of activist boycotting the brand. It is an industry that is built upon the backs of the desperation of poor trying to find income and at the same time, it feeds on our consumerist culture in the developed world. However, it is after all a by-product of human’s nature. By nature, we are but self-centred. We would do something in return for benefits as clearly demonstrated by the lack of support from UN member states during the Rwandan or Darfuri genocide. Both areas could offer little in return for the help they would receive and so international aid was if not token, not provided at all. However when Greece was in financial trouble, the European Union acted swiftly in drafting a plan to aid Greece. Likewise, if sweatshop labour did not directly impact the developed world, people will mostly continue with their consumerist habits. However, we must not negate the occasion whereby the fashion industry in itself has remedied the very problems it has caused. Ethical fashion is a relatively new concept in the fashion industry. It aims to develop both sustainable clothing manufacturing by using eco-friendly methods of production and to promote fair trade. The British Fashion Council has in fact given slots to fashion labels that promote fair trade such as People Tree alongside heavy weights such as Burberry during London Fashion week in earlier this year. Also, established names like Burberry have departments set up to ensure ethical trading as part of their corporate responsibility. As the voices of activist increases, we are seeing a trend towards social responsibility by corporations in the fashion industry. Small steps in the direction. Fashion is therefore as much a good thing as it is a bad thing.

There are also those who claim that fashion has impacted the way we see our bodies rather negatively. They say that fashion has perpetuated gender stereotypes and to bombard us with images of unattainable beauty. Anorexia has been one of the main arguments put forth. Ever since Twiggy, there has been a slew of size zero models walking down the runway. Kate Moss, one of the leading icons on the runway, has been criticised for her weight. In fact, she once said that nothing tastes better than being skinny. It has created an image of what women should be - skinny and frail looking. A perpetuation of gender stereotypes. It does not help that the advertisements carry such subliminal messages along with depicting women as sexual objects. Tom Ford’s advertisements show women naked ironing trousers whilst the male reads the papers. In fact, leading photographer Terry Richardson, a person endorsed by the queen of the fashion world, editor of Vogue, Anna Wintour, is famed for taking shots of women in degrading positions. He has been, on accounts, accused by models of sexual harassment. However, fashion is after an industry. It is, by basic economics, controlled by the demand of the people. If society did no endorse such activities, then slowly, the fashion industry would respond and in fact, it has. Many labels have jumped on the bandwagon of discouraging anorexic models. Prada used plus sized models for the 2010 Fall collection. Fashion blogger Tavi criticised Terry Richardson and it garnered strong support. We are seeing a shift in the fashion world as people begin to take greater interest in what they are buying. It is consumer’s awareness and consumer’s power that plays a pivotal role in encouraging the industry to become more socially responsible. Then again, fashion has proven to becoming progressively, as much a good thing as it is bad.

In fact, despite opinions that fashion dictates your dressing, I would like to think that fashion breeds individuality. The assumption that an individual has no ability to decide for himself and merely accept what is thrown at him is simply flawed and derogatory. There are a plethora of choices in fashion and that choice gives one the ability to decide what goes and what does not. Fashion has in that aspect played a central role in defining cultures today. The British mod culture is very much defined by the look they have. The clothing choice of Dr Martens has been one of the main characteristics of mod culture. Fashion has thus added to the vibrancy of city life. One of Paris largest exports is fashion. Japan’s population is rather fashion obsessed and China’s rising middle class has only made the industry larger that it was before. There is a strong correlation between fashion and city life. Fashion gives a person that chance to be individual and creative with his image. That in itself has created the many trends on the street which adds on to the vibrancy and culture of a country.

Ethnic groups have also inspired fashion and it is often heavily reflected in runway pieces. Dries Van Noten, a Belgian designer, is know to use ethnic patterns inspired by the middle east in his designs and many a times, pieces are inspired by very personal events. Alexander McQueen’s latest collection was inspired by his English roots and carried this sense of Victorian England. His pieces often reflect his mood and individuality. Often, this is the case with most designers. US acclaimed designers of Proenza and Schouler used their mother’s names when deciding on the label. Fashion therefore has this human touch, this personal connection between the wearer and his clothes, the designer and his work. Often this personal connection is a reflection of social movements. During the 70s, the clothing choice of the Hippies has objects like the peace sign and shirts that said make peace not war. These were results of social movements such as the post world war anti-war sentiments or abolitionist movements. The idea was simple, have a message that is ingrained in society’s culture to choose peace over violence. Fashion thus played an important medium to reach out to the youths.

A person can reflect his individual through his clothes. In case you think that fashion then breeds vanity, then I question why we shun the attainment of beauty? It has long been innate within humans to be vain. The Queen of Switzerland did not bathe herself in blood if she did not believe it would renew her youth. The choice to find individuality in clothes gives you that sense of beauty. It helps you find your place and those like you in society. Looking good does help you feel good and having self-esteem is something intangible. No one should blame fashion for it’s discriminating nature. Society will always discriminate should there be differences and thus if a person’s ego is hurt due to his sartorial choices, one should not be the blame it on fashion but rather the person’s ability to handle criticism.

Therefore, in a nutshell, whilst fashion has her shortcomings, it is unfair to say that it is more of a bad thing than a good thing as fashion is and has been slowly evolving with society. After all, if fashion were really that bad, then I’d say we might as well be nudists.

Defy gravity.

One day I will fly and when I do, no one is going to hold me down.

Mumford and Sons - Little Lion Man

Yellow sky.

As I went for my evening run I notice how unusually yellow the sky was. The neighbourhood washed in sepia. As I came to the field I noticed how beautiful the flyover looked. Instead of the dull lifeless granite gray, it was bronzed like old train tracks. It's funny how nature has her own take on design at times. My pace gathered and I was soon at 3 roadside tree. It is nearing the monsoon season and most of the flowers have withered; save for a few resilient yet undesired flowers for the bees have yet to pollinate them so that they may bear fruit. I noticed little specks that shuttled furiously between the leaves. Dragonflies. They swarm and fly all around. Some may find it revolting however, I for one, found it appealing. It felt magical. It felt for once that you mattered in the world. To the tiny dragonflies, we are but giants. They can only fly around and marvel at our size whilst we may so choose to kill them if we feel irritated by their presence. One dragonfly flew in front of my and straight up towards the sky. As my eyes trailed him, I caught sight of the clouds. The darkening clouds rolling in. In the patches where the ominous clouds have yet to reach, the sun's rays filtered through. It did seem like a little patch of heaven and there was a bright lining in the clouds. I guess, in every storm, there is a silver lining.

Catharsis

Some times, pent up emotions erupt. It may be a dramatic release yet it could well be a mere realization. I feel like a rag doll going through the motions. Walking pass empty classrooms and vast corridors. I can be in a sea of people and still feel alone. I'm scared to some extent. Silence is a scary sound.

As weird as it may be but it's these times that I think the best. I naturally would be able to think deep enough, well, at least to me that is. It is also in such times that I seem to like black and white or sepia images. Those really oxidised photographs. In fact, my Father was showing me a couple of pictures of the GrandFather I have never met yesterday. He passed me a couple of pictures taken when I was really young. I miss the times I'd spend in United Mansion (Siglap). I would get up to the crowing of my neighbour's rooster. The times I would stand next to my Father with a torch in my hand shouting at potential thieves. I can remember the time when some one's painting was stolen from her house. My GrandMother would plant cactuses in the balcony to act as scarethieves (scarecrow). Apparently cactuses look like humans standing by the balcony at night. If that wasn't a good enough deterrent, I'm sure the thorns would prove handy.

You know, pictures of World War II seem to appeal to me. Well not the gore and the deaths but rather the smiles of the soldier and the streets of warring parties. It is perturbing but images of bombed walls and rubble appeals to me. In fact, I like walls. Walls are nice. Empty canvases just there for your imagination to take hold of. Paint, shadow play, anything you'd fancy. It gives you that sense of security too. The feeling of being protected. It feels nice to watch the world behind walls. Then again, this can all change. When I'm down or flustered by what ever that is and has and is going to transpire, it is this inexplicable feeling of sadness that provides comfort to the soul. It is like a battered hobo finding shelter in a less-than-perfect wooden hut in the midst of winter.

Snap

Faces.

It is weird how there are so many people in the world - 6,697,254,041 yet a mere fraction, no a mere 'nano' fraction of which consists of you and your circle of friends. Even within that circle, you have even lesser friends whom you can truly say are friends for the lines between acquaintances and friends often blur and maintain such fluidity. It is important to maintain relationships as it withers rather easily. Long periods of lack of communication does not mean the end of friendship but it does undo the intricately and meticulously weaved ties you have between the other. In fact, this rule may well apply to every relationship a person has. Darwinian as it seems but the relationships you put the most effort in to make it survive are the ones that remain and bear fruit. Those you leave to ferment turn sour like how sweet grapes turn to sour wine.

I have been wondering, pondering, any other word in the vernacular that describes a sense of thinking, about a lot of things lately. I don't know the me that I used to know. It is scary. Frightening to come to a realization that even you know little of yourself. Wait. No, that is not true. You know so much about yourself that you find it hard to embrace certain aspects of it. You refuse to acknowledge it. That is the frightening part. You are a part of yourself but yet apart.It is like this 'pyscho-physical' apartheid. I fear for the future, it yields so much uncertainty. I know not of what is to come and I am scare for what it brings. Life is this big complex web, much like a spiders web, where everything connects and entangles. A person is a mere insect flying through that web. You might get caught up in the web and if you do and try to break free, the more you struggle, it less futile your attempts may be. Then again, it might not be true. Who are the spiders then? The architects of the web? Everyone.

How sad that my take on life is so harrowing.