Ugrasen ki baoli, October 2011

In contrast to the rising buildings that dot the skyline of the busy Barakhamba road, Ugrasen ki baoli promises a welcome respite from the aggressive, fast paced traffic that surrounds it.

Believed to be constructed under the orders of Raja Agrasen, and then rebuilt later by various successive rulers, the baoli transports you to a completely different era. Used in its time as a water reservoir and a welcome relief from the unforgiving Delhi heat, one cannot help but marvel at the architectural beauty of such a step well.

It is a pity to see that today, our callous ways have ensured the depletion of ground water resources which were once treasured and so carefully harnessed by our predecessors. What is frustrating to see is that despite obvious clues from the past, we are continuing to selfishly abuse the city.

Has Delhi lost its glory days?

On special request from my cousin, I have recently begun conducting art classes for my nephews, aged 5 to 8 yrs. The classes are pretty casual and the kids have complete freedom to choose any medium they desire. It’s been an absolute pleasure to spend time with them and discover each one’s individual style and creativity!

‘The best dog’

I have always felt that there are a number of faults in the way art is taught in schools. The results matter far more than the ideas, and the technique holds more importance than the intention. By drawing definitive boundaries between what is right and what is wrong, we end up creating walls in a mind whose imagination is otherwise boundless. The trick is to direct, not control.

After just 4 classes, I am convinced that we have much to (re)learn from children. The experience has not only been inspiring, but rewarding as well!

Dilli hits you like a mean wave after the comfort and orderliness of Singapore. People are everywhere, traffic is chaotic, roads sink in where street lights don’t work, water is scarce and power cuts frequent. Everything is wrong and yet it all seems to miraculously work.

As I sit on my desk, contemplating as to what my next move should be, I realize that my mind is clouded with as much chaos as the city that surrounds me now. Home alone, left to myself and between jobs, a million ideas speed through my mind. Lots to do and lots more to achieve, but where is that starting point?

A little positivity allows me to believe that maybe it is time to get lost. The possibilities are immense and the results, unknown. Who knows where the tide might take me. I have my my art to keep me afloat. Life will follow.

For there is order in chaos.

The journey I have undertaken in my research and observations of Singapore during the past few months are presented through the creation of a book. Divided into three sections: change, reality and identity,the book is a graphical interpretation of my understanding and analysis of the factors that shape the country.

Photo credits : Aishwarya Manivannan

For the Singapore Art Show 2007, Vertical Submarine ( Joshua Yang and Justin Loke) created a concrete statue of a migrant worker.  A commentary on the “common ground” shared by migrant workers and Raffles as ‘foreign talents’ who contributed to the island’s development, this sculpture was placed opposite the landmark statue of Sir Stamford Raffles.

East Meets West : Boy’s Power

Justin Lee’s witty artworks adorned the walls of the Singapore Art Museum entrance hall last year. Combining traditional imagery and techniques with contemporary western icons, his work offers an interesting interpretation of today’s Singapore society and lifestyle.

I saw the following vintage poster (probably from the 1930s?) hanging on a wall in the National Library. Equipped with an extremely low quality image and some Photoshop magic, I tried recreating it. But what would the poster look like if it was created today? I decided to have some fun. : )

Before

After

Something old, something new.

Singapore: Crossroads of the east

Came across an old footage showcasing Singapore as a thriving British colony in 1938. Even though the city has come a long way in the past four decades, it is interesting to note that its cosmopolitan nature and its role as a significant entrepôt port has remained intact through the ages. Here’s another footage from the 1950s.

Old Carrier Bags : 1950s- 80s

Exhibition at the National Museum showcasing over 60 paper and plastic bags from the Museum’s collection.

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See what other cities are complaining about here.

It is hard to appreciate the value and understand the potential of one’s own culture. To do so, stepping out of the context often becomes a prerequisite. The foreign eye is valuable for its fresh perspective. It notices details, corners and crevices that familiarity cannot even begin to fathom. As a foreigner (Indian) in a new land (Singapore), I am attempting to bring forth my observations around the city: Urban patterns, colours, architecture etc.
The following are a few of my explorations on the subject.

Food maybe one uniting factor for Singaporeans. Louis Vuitton is another.
Chinese, Malay or Indian- LV seems to have struck a national chord.

In a city which is constantly reinventing itself, almost everyone lives next to a construction site.
Instead of chirping birds, distant noises of drilling and concrete mixtures welcome a new day.
It soon becomes clear that this island city state presents a unique definition of both time and space.

This bowing construction worker is unmissable as you walk on the city streets.
Uniquely Singapore?

‘A flashing green man, like a signal to war, urges you forward.
If you look back now, you will see Another green man, panicking,
A siren’s plea in the opposite direction.

I cannot tell you which way is the right way. All I have is
numbers counting themselves down, towards the inevitable,
towards absolute zero.

What I offer you is the chance to retrace your steps when
the next man appears, back to where you started, where you
never planned to begin this journey.’

HDB Rhapsody

The Merlion. Half lion, half mermaid. A curious mascot for a nation. Yet, since its creation in 1964,
the Merlion has become a strong image for modern Singapore. But do people really connect?

Here’s an interesting poem on the subject by  Alfian Bin Sa’at.

My interpretation of Alfian Bin Sa’at’s  ‘The Merlion’

Armenian Church, Hill Street (oldest church in Singapore)

Chinatown

“Happy Birthday Singapore!” : Girl enjoying ramen at NDP 2009

Chinese Shrine, Toa Payoh

The monotony of the HDBs is broken by a small tree shrine set under an old banyan tree.
Legend has it that when the land was being cleared to make way for the new town, an
engineer who attempted to remove the tree, was run over by his own vehicle. (?!)
Anyway, since then, the tree is believed to be spiritual.

Every city carries an image (official and unofficial). City branding is not a new concept, but rather one that has existed since the existence of cities themselves. We all have our share of perceptions and personal opinions on cities or countries around the world. Tourism, media, government policies and hearsay, are just a few factors that contribute to our judgements. Curious to find out what people thought about Singapore, I sent out mails to friends and relatives, across the globe, asking for keywords that they might associate with the city. As expected, the list was not complete without the words “police state”, “shopping” and “cleanliness”.

Singapore at first glance ?

Is it fair to tag the city with such strong cliches and stereotyping? What lies beneath the perfect exterior? What constitutes the soul of the city? What drives its people?

Sketchbook in hand, I decided to discover for myself.