PERCEPTIONFebruary issue

February 2015 3

Perception

D R I V E :SINGAPORE’S ART HAVEN

After four months, the Gill-man Barracks site-wide public art festival has come to an end.

DRIVE is an outdoor exhibition featuring wall murals, sculptures and multi-media installation of both local and international art.

The exhibition that started on 15 November 2014 has been receiv-ing an overwhelming amount of visitors from all walks of life.

“The response has been good. The footfall has increased and those who would not have heard of this event now knows that it actually exists,” comments Ms Audrey Yeo, the official organiser of DRIVE.

A competition was also held be-tween the 15 works that has been submitted into this art project where a panel of judges and the public can vote for their favour-ite artwork.

Merryn Trevethan, a practic-ing artist known for her vibrant and dynamic paintings, was an-nounced the winner of the com-petition on the last day of the event at Art After Dark on 23

January 2015. She managed to snag a cash prize of SGD$5000!

Her art mural, Accelerator City, explores the uncertainty of percep-tion in densely populated urban environments flooded with visual information.

“It’s nice to have a different kind of art,” says a tourist from Tokyo who visited to find out more about the strategy of arts.

Other artists taking part in DRIVE includes Singaporean art favour-ite Dawn Ng, Polish artist Marcin Dudek, as well as the coming-of-age Indonesian artist, Maryanto.

4 February 2015

Perception

“The art world is global, there are artists all over the world so it’s good that Gillman Barracks has galleries of different cultures that attracts the international artists as well,” comments another vis-itor who came down to support her husband, Matthias Arndt, who owns a gallery at Gillman Barracks.

Maryanto’s piece, however, man-aged to catch the attention of many visitors and artists. His artwork, known as The Camou-flage, is an art mural painted on the face of a building that adapts to the natural environment of Gillman Barracks.

“It’s quite a big challenge for me because in Singapore, there are rules and procedures that you need to follow but I’m glad I’m able to create an art that makes use of the situation and its sur-roundings,” added Maryanto.

Other than the different art-works, another highlight of this

event is Re-tracking, a curated movie screening organised by LUSH 99.5FM featuring multi-ple clips from Singaporean films with a live soundtrack created by local musicians and artists.

“The art scene in Singapore is much more expressive and open compared to those in KL and such,” says a visitor who is study-ing to be an art teacher.With Singapore’s art culture ex-panding, it is safe to say that we can expect more exciting art pieces in the future.

“The younger generation are getting bolder and they like art-works that are difficult to like and that are more cutting edge. These people will be brilliant enough to know how to make art sustainable in the future,” added Ms Yeo.

To find out more about DRIVE and its events, visit their Face-book page at https://www.face-book.com/drivegb.

February 2015 5

Perception

With 40 booths waiting to satis-fy the needs of a shopper, Twelfth Flea is back for the upcoming Chinese New Year at Rochester Mall. The mall has once again has held a flea selling an array of items ranging from fashion apparels to second-hand accessories and even mini barbeque pits. The Flea attracted crowds with its low-priced fashion apparels that are considerably cheaper as com-pared to other large fashion brands around. With chiffon dresses start-ing from $10, it brings Chinese New Year shopping to a whole new level. Organised by ForFleaSake, a youth market organiser in Singapore, the event was aimed at youths to pro-vide cheap and affordable fashion. The event was held on 25 and 26 January 2015 from noon to 6pm and was rather well-received by the

public considering the fact that it was the first time a Flea Market was held there. 18-year-old Amanda was one of the many who rent a booth to sell her stuffs. To-gether with her two friends, Jae and Chloe, the trio sells their owned dresses as well as brand new apparels bought from countries such as Thailand. ‘It is a great way to get rid out our old stuff and also a source of in-come.’ The Nanyang Polytechnic student has been taking part in flea mar-kets during her free time and it enables her to earn money to buy her new clothes. The low-cost to rent a booth at Flea markets has given youths a chance to sell their stuffs and earn some quick cash into their pockets during their free time.

Twelfth Flea: A new shopping experience awaits!

6 February 2015

Perception

Despite the success of the flea, some vendors have actually re-flected that the crowd volume for the Twelfth Flea is relatively low as compared to other fleas and had affected the sales. Amanda is one those that felt too and shared her thoughts, ’I have earned around $100 plus before, but here I only earned like twenty plus dollar.’Other vendors however, felt that the flea was doing rather well. Wayne, a first-time vendor, was one of the latter. The business executive who shared a booth with his broth-er was glad to share that it was his first time taking part in a flea and thinks that business is rather good despite some. Selling apparels and female accessories imported from various countries such as Thailand,

France and the United States, the booth was carefully put up with display cases and racks that sat on a patch of artificial grass.To put it together, Twelfth Flea is a great place for fashion apparels at the lowest price. The up close and personal shopping experience will set it apart from departmen-tal stores in town along with its low price. With so much to offer, Twelfth Flea is a flea you do not want to miss!

February 2015 7

Perception

Beauty In MotionEast Coast Park is a dynamic place of inconstant motion; its true beauty cannot be captured in the stillness of a photograph. Almost like the ever-changing waves that wash upon its shore, the park is constantly evolving, its allure in perpetual transcendence.

At first glance, you may be put under the impression that the park is nothing more than just a track for cyclists and joggers, but do not be fooled. From high-speed thrill sports like Wakeboarding to slow-paced waiting games like fishing, East Coast Park offers a huge variety of activities for everyone. Themed ‘Recreation For All’, the park is split up into 7 areas (Area A-G) that each offers a unique experience for people of all ages.

“I visit East Coast Park a lot be-cause I live nearby and enjoy the open space. Early in the morning if you’re fortunate you can enjoy some beautiful sunrises. I admit that I tend to only ever go to the same parts of the park and there are sections I’ve never been to so I can’t comment on it all, but it’s nice to have this park practically on our doorstep. Overall I would definitely recommend it to others as it’s a decent park that’s just the right size”, said Mrs Laura Freeman, author of the widely respected blog: ‘expatadventuresinsingapore’.

East Coast Park is also home to

bb

8 February 2015

Perceptionwhat is rumoured to be the best skatepark in Singapore. From stairs to handrails and even vertical bowls, Xtreme SkatePark is a great place for seasoned and aspiring BMX bikers, skaters and rollerbladers. The icing on the cake? Admission is completely free!

“I think East Coast Park is a fun place because I can blade everywhere without getting scolded. I’ve been blading here since I was 9 and the best time to come here is definitely early in the morning because it gets really crowded around 3pm. I think it’s definitely the best skatepark in Singapore and my favourite obstacles are the quarterpipe and the 2 bowl. I’m pretty small sized and weird but I think I fit in here

very well,” said a smiling Azhari Ahmad, a passionate 12 year old rollerblader.

While some people visit the park

for a thrill, others come here in search of peace. Because of the stress imposed upon us from the great expectations of modern society, people visit the park in search of the peaceful tranquility that it can offer. Occasionally, musicians like saxophone player Eric Tang come here in the search for inspiration.

Eric said: “I came here to play today because I wanted to be inspired by the sound of the waves and the movement around me livens up my music. I think that the environment here is really energetic and it’s a great place for musicians like me. I also think that it’s pretty cool to play here because well, look at the crowd right now.”

In short, if you are looking for a place to unwind, look no further.

February 2015 9

Perception

If you take a walk down Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP), you will find crowds of students along walkways and canteens. Though not obvious at first sight, among the many stu-dents that move in and out there is a particular group of students that often head out of campus to relieve themselves with the use of tobac-co, an act the government is try-ing to discourage due to the harm it brings to people and the ones around them.Among the many smokers that hang out together between classes and breaks, Mr Chua Yu Jie, a stu-dent in the diploma of common engineering, is one of the many that once started off as a social smoker.Influenced by his peers, Mr Chua lighted up his first cigarette at the mere age of 15 as a way to socialise

with his friends. It was after a short period that he realised that he was already hooked on and relied on it heavily to handle his daily stress, from school and other personal issues.Smoking about 5 – 10 sticks per day, Mr Chua has spent a fortune on his addiction; the apparent high price for a packet of cigarettes not only a taxing on his wallet but also on his health. Throughout the 3 years, Mr Chua has felt the dete-rioration of his health, unable to match the physical physique he once had.When asked about whether he has tried quitting and why he wanted to quit smoking, he revealed that he knows the harm of smoking and he does not want to die at a young age, though he was not successful in the attempts.

LIGHTING IT UP

4.5% of our popu-lation is addicted to

smoking.

10 February 2015

Perception

‘I have tried 4 times and I am still currently trying,’

he shared as he further elaborated on his attempts in quitting.

‘At first, I tried to eat sweets and drink more often whenever I had the urge to smoke. The temptation was often too strong so I eventually succumbed to it and around 90% of my friends are also smokers and they would persuade me to smoke with them,’Through various attempts, Mr Chua also realises that the main factor for his failed attempts were actually the lack of self-control and moral support from others. However, Mr Chua said that if he were to choose again, he would still

pick up smoking as it was a way for him to relieve him of his troubles.

‘Maybe if you ask me this question 10 years later, I would say no. But for now, I don’t regret it.’

Smoking is indeed harmful in its many ways and very often people are unable to succumb to tempta-tions, only to realise when it is too late. Many people out there, like Mr Chua, are trying walk out of their addictions and require support to aid them.

For help to quit smoking, call Quit-Line (+65)1800 438 2000 for advice and support to control and quit smoking.

February 2015 11

Perception

ExperienCes Beyond Words5 years ago she was just like any other secondary school girl; doing volunteer work was just another way to get Community Involvement Project (CIP) points to better her grades.

Now, Ong Ka Yi actively volunteers as a way to give back to society and meet new friends.

“My teachers always told me about the importance of doing volunteer work and showing compassion to others. They made me realise that there were things more meaningful than just studying and taught me that helping others is always worth it.”

First Experience

Her first volunteer experience came about when her teachers organised a class activity. They vis-

ited the Lions Home For The El-ders and handed out food,

chatted with and aided the elderly residents with their exercise.

“What struck me about the place was how

isolated and quiet everyone was. The elders didn’t really talk to one another much and they looked very lonely. I think our visit made them really happy and the feeling I got when I saw their smiles is indescribable.”

In light of this experience, Ka Yi believes that more people should visit the retirement homes as the residents are there because of circumstances that made their children unable to take care of them.

“Nowadays, people only care about earning money and don’t spend

much time at home. I think this is wrong and we should set time aside for others. Recently, I’ve been pretty busy with schoolwork so I can’t volunteer as much as I’d like to but I try to do whatever I can.”

Y

Y

Y

12 February 2015

PerceptionRecent Experiences

Recently she volunteered for Project Paint, an event organised to celebrate and promote awareness of SG50. With 800 other volunteers, she painted murals of iconic Singaporean cuisine and attractions at eight void decks around Pasir Ris.

“I volunteered for Project Paint because I thought if I could do something for Singapore it would be something I would never forget. It went very well and our works are there for everyone to see.”

She also volunteered at a kids orphanage. Along with her classmates, she took care of the kids and taught them simple origami. Because of her love for children, she was able to

wholeheartedly devote herself to them. On her

last day there, one of the children pulled on her shirt and asked when she’d be coming

back.

“This really left me

speechless and I wish I could have

brought her home with me because I

believe that she and all the other orphans

deserved more than that.”

Beliefs

Ka Yi believes that volunteering in secondary school is very rewarding and also a good start to doing volunteer work. To her, ‘volunteering’ means being kind and compassionate.

“I think even kids like me who didn’t want to volunteer at first will develop an attachment to volunteering and become very encouraged to experience it again. In secondary school, some people volunteer for CIP points and while this definitely helps you academically, I believe that there’s more to it than that.”

February 2015 13

Perception

Are We Being Fair to Our Pets?

“Human Abandonment is on the rise. Over 9000 humans were dumped in just one year.”

Imagine hearing this on the radio or even reading it on the papers. How would you feel? 9328 pet abandonment cases were reported by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Singapore, otherwise known as SPCA, be-tween July 2007 and June 2008. The alarming numbers include the abandonment of domestic pets such as dogs, cats and rabbits.

The statistics were just a reflection

of our society’s values. We live in a throw-away society where things get neglected when we get bored or tired of them.

Is this a growing trend amongst affluent Singapor-eans? IIt most definitely is. This is not just an empty the-ory. There are many points to prove this.

14 February 2015

Perception

Just recently, a case whereby an expatriate, Alison McElwee had her healthy seven-month-old mongrel puppy euthanized as she did not want the dog to suffer from a poor quality of life in a boarding home. She also mentioned that the dog became aggressive and bit her young children.

This ignited an online outcry with the country’s dog-loving minister, K. Shanmugam weighing in on the issue which brings me to my next point. The fact that people only took notice of it because it became an online uproar. Many do not realise the major pet abandonment issues in Singa-pore.

Another recent report last year regarding pet abandonment from My Paper stated that the number of strayed and abandoned dogs are in-creasing by 20 to 30 percent each year. There has also been close to twice the amount of animal welfare groups in Singapore.

It is without a doubt that many Singaporeans are well-to-do and hence are able to purchase or adopt pets without merely any financial hesi-tations. However, these people have not a clue that pets are a lifetime commitment and not just a one-time impulse buy.

February 2015 15

Perception

“Aww daddy it’s so cute! I want it!”“Will you take care of it?”“I promise I will love it with all my heart!”

That is the normal conversation you would hear in pet shops before a dad purchases an adorable puppy for his child.

The puppy is then being brought home, loved, fed, and cared for. As days passed, the everyday routine of feeding and playing with the dog bores the pet owners. Then what happens? It gets tossed aside or left to survive on their own.

People do not understand that pets are a living thing, just like us. Time, money, love, care, and guidance are needed. It is a 360-degree change in your lifestyle to make way for these furry companions.

Due to the affluence in Singapore, people are always busy working and this does not provide them with the luxury of time to spend on their pets. When the novelty dies off, these pets are then chucked aside like toys.

“The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” – Mahat-ma Gandhi

Hence, do consid-er carefully before taking in these furry companions.

16 February 2015

Perception

“Kidnapper”, yet another thriller film by Kelvin Tong. It is of no sur-prise here since he is one of the best, in my opinion, home-grown direc-tors in the Asian film industry. With “The Maid”, a horror thriller which clinched the Asian Film Award and the unexpected crime thriller, “Rule #1” as being some of his major highlights, it is no wonder this pas-sionate film director is one to look out for. This heart-racing thriller certainly got me on the edge of my seat. “Kid-napper” happens to be the first ever action-thriller produced as a joint

venture between Singapore’s Scor-pio East Pictures and Malaysia’s PMP Entertainment. The film stars an award-winning MediaCorp actor, Christopher Lee, dawning into character with his shaggy goatee to bring out a more rugged demeanour, playing the role of Lim Seng Huat, the father of Wei Siang, (starred) by Jerald Tan. Lim is a divorced taxi driver, struggling to make ends meet to fund the ev-eryday simple lifestyle of him and his son. His indigence, however does not hinder him from giving up the custody of his child to his

Movie Review: KIDNAP-

Movie Rating:6.9/10

February 2015 17

Perceptionwell to do ex-wife. The story started off with the everyday hustle and bustle on the road, which I thought was a nice touch to depict the scene here in Singapore during the peak hours. I particularly love this scene be-cause it was where we get to see the unique bond that Wei Siang has with his dad whom he calls, Ah Huat. The two shares a peculiar hobby of betting through the taximeter. The scene then quickly down-spiralled with a classic case of mis-identification when Wei Siang was mistaken as the son of a wealthy man, Mr Sng, and was kidnapped. The kidnapper, an ex-convict, played by Jack Lim, a multi-talented Malaysian celebrity, por-trays a ruthless and demanding character. His sadistic persona, Hu, ordered for a ransom of a million dollars from the already financial-ly unstable taxi driver when the original target refuses to pay up the amount. The frantic father could neither turn to the police, nor his ex-wife for the reasons that you will discover in the film and hence, was

left to gather the impossible amount of ran-som money in under 36 hours. Desperate, he is forced to go to extreme measures to make sure he got his son back in one piece. Along the way, you would see some of Kelvin Tong’s signature tactics involving blood, gore and torture scenes such as water dunking, as well as some brilliant editing and meticulously-crafted cinematographic shots which adds up to the adrenaline pumping ac-tion you would get when watching the film.There is no deny that some plot loopholes could be spotted. How-ever, I felt that it aided the film as it went by because it just creates much emphasis on how people, nowadays, would gawk insensitive-ly without offering any assistance. “Kidnapper” was definitely a gamble due to it being such a foreign genre to the Singaporean film culture but it was what made the movie worth watching.

18 February 2015

Perception

Unless you’re 30-years-old and have been living under a rock, you should have heard about the case on ‘Sticker Lady’ by now.

Recently, a 25-year-old woman that goes by the name of Samantha Lo but is more well-known under the name SKL0 or Sticker Lady, has been going around pasting humorous circular stickers around the streets of Singapore.

One of my favourites would have to be “PRESS UNTIL SHIOK” on traffic light buttons. Of course, there are other humorous ones such as “PRESS ONCE CAN ALREADY” and “ANYHOW PRESS KENA FINE”.

Obviously, she was caught and got arrested for vandalism. The punish-ment if convicted is a fine not ex-ceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding to 3 years and shall be liable to caning

STICK IT TO THE LAW.subjected to the Criminal Procedure Code 2010.

But what she was sentenced with was just 240 hours of community service. That’s 10 days of community service. I think it’s quite fair, don’t you think so?

What I think about this whole street art thing is that it comes with respon-sibilities and a thrill of defying the

law. That’s what street art is mostly about, right? Going against the law and doing art in public areas.

Sadly, this means that graffiti artist, public art artist, street art artists – whatever you’d like to call it – knows of the risk and is willing to take this risk to spread their art.

This means that Samantha Lo knew of the consequences. She even has a sticker that says “ANYHOW PRESS KENA FINE” which pretty much shows her familiarity with the Singa-pore laws.

Look at Banksy, for example. He challenged the status quo with his street art. I’m kind of sure he have his fair share of pieces destroyed or dam-aged for defying the law.

Singaporeans react towards this case and the consequences as if she didn’t deserve it and that she should be giv-en a pass on this; saying that her case was unique and such.

What they fail to realise is that in other countries, they practice the same strict laws on street art and vandalism on public spaces too.Therefore, the netizens’ opinions can be taken into account but in the end, it’s the law that decides what to do with her.

Just like Banksy’s quote, “Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfort”, that’s what street art is all about; going against the so-cial norm, fighting with the law and challenging the status quo. You know, get yourself in a sticky situa-tion.

Street art is a growing movement that’s happening before us. The law won’t like this social, art movement but they have other bigger and more important responsibilities to tend to.

This national debate that was caused by the Sticker Lady just goes to show that her art is appreciated and is valuable, and that this movement is making an impact in Singapore.

I hope this won’t stop her and other artists out there in Singapore from believing in street art.

February 2015 19

Perception

20 February 2015

Perception

CREDITS :

THEODORE, DEANNA, CHUNYAN, SHARRIFAHGROUP 4