Singapore Biennale 2006

Shirley sent me a message one day asking if I'd like to take a look at this exhibition, but I think her mind was more set on collecting the badges that they were giving out. The badges were part of a competition, but no one said we couldn't collect them as souvenirs, and they were free too! (well sort of). We started off on the 1st of November with City Hall as the first location, one place neither of us have ever stepped into or even climbed up the stairs. So risking my life to try and get a nice photo wasn't such a bad idea for a while. Didn't get the pic I want but at least I got something that shows nicely enough.

When we stepped in, the girl at the reception appeared as though she was on some kind of noise restriction, whispering details to Shirley while Shirley was loud with her replies. I doubt she was on any restriction to talk at a normal volume cos the guy sure explained everything rather clearly. We then had to take the lift up and was greeted by a cardboard cut of an artist in a Singapore Girl uniform... and she justs looks plain weird. Guess it was a prelude of things to come. We decided to take the nearest entrance and the first few exhibits we saw were expected, paintings and pictures of things we wouldn't really understand. Just opposite them was a dark room with videos playing, marking the start of creepy exhibits to come.

Some exhibits were actually voices for specific topics, like the one cleverly set in a courtroom seeking justice for a woman that was stoned because of some religious laws. Most of them were displayed in rather dimly lit rooms, some almost pitch black save for the light from the displays, and flash photography wasn't allowed. Guess it was something to do with light and damage to the art and all that jazz. Funny thing was that we were allowed to take pictures of the exhibits but we weren't allowed to take pictures of the building. That I really don't get, but I got some before we were informed about it anyway.

Is This Part Of The Building?

Something Interactive


One Of The Creepy Ones






Something For Customs Officers To Note






Room Lighting & Decor Ideas?








Deep In Thought

The next few photos are from a collection that has obvious connections with Christianity but I didn't get the one with the lion and how it actually connects. Anyone can clue me in, post a comment.

This one was an interesting view on time. The video playing showed the artist along Orchard Road, throwing the notes that were printed to look like currency. Thinking that it was legal tender, people started picking them up and returning it to him (how honest), until they realise that it was just wasn't of any monetary value. Another one had people exchanging their things or wrote poems about time in exchange for a time-note. That souvenir would be kinda cool.

Back to creepy stuff and these are the few of those that ranks high on that scale:

As well as entering a really dim area to hear hysterical laughter and only noticing a conference table in the centre. Click here to watch the video.

Then more fun stuff greeted us towards the end of our "tour" of City Hall:

Saw Me Taking This Pic In The Microscope


Camera Between The 2 Ducts


Different Take On 'Bohemian Rhapsody'


Turning The White House Totally White

"White House" Video Here

We then took the free shuttle and headed to another one of 4 locations, Tanglin Camp, where we were told was much more eerie. The skies decided to add to the ambience by giving us a nice thunderstorm. Deciding to start off at the very last block, we were greeted by a big pink bomb-like structure sitting on railway tracks that had broken pieces of clay-replicated people scattered across them.

This location seem to house bigger displays, with some just painted directly onto the walls of a room, while others were just a pitch black room with some lighted effect on the floor to create the illusion of lava. One room had just 5 speakers surrounding a circular platform, with a music video playing across it... the video was a sight to behold but I didn't get the whole point of it anyway. The room was basically filled with the music so if it was some surround sound thing, I don't get it. Most blocks were left either really dark, or were dimly lit, some were even really cold and the worst bit was when u turned a corner and u were greeted with an image of a dead person on the wall.

Watch the icky video here.


Wanna Feel Like A Fish?








No Idea What Was On It


Get Hypnotised?








Merlion Chop Anyone?


Thinking Of Redecorating My Room...


Pop Ur Head In....


And See This.

The next day, we continued with the other 2 locations, the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) and the National Museaum. Starting at SAM, we weren't too sure if the exhibits were part of the Biennale or were actually just somethings displayed permanently there. Photography of the artwork wasn't allowed, but I took a pic of a painting before I knew.




We then took a short walk across to SMU where they had some more badges to grab, as well as one of the souvenir shops where I got a few t-shirts and some tape. So don't be surprised if your Christmas presents this year are taped with "Belief" all over it. Hahaha!


Right across SMU, was the final destination, the National Museum, where there were irritating screaming schoolgirls greeting us at every corner. The lady at SMU told us that the one thing worth having a look at, or watching, was a documentarty entitled "The Last Supper". We missed about the first 10 minutes but as we watched the reat of it, those bloody schoolgirls had to come in and make a whole lotta noise and commotion. Thank goodness it was nearing the end when they came in, making them tolerable. We ended the whole trip watching another video done in reverse, with the artist actually quoting part of the bible rather clearly. Turn to get out of the room and we were once again met by that bunch of bimbos. The only memory of that place was the final picture I took of the new dome atop the building.