Sunday, October 26, 2008

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Singapore Biennale 2008 Day 2 Part 2

After our trip to South Beach Development, we had a bit more time to kill before Shirley was to meet with Eugene. Thinking that Eugene wouldn't mind meeting us at the Marina Bay location for the Biennale, we headed there and were almost confused by the set-up to hold the few installations we wanted to check out.

Following the arrows and going through some covered walkways (due to the on-going construction), we were slightly surprised, confused and tickled by the use of shipping containers to house an art exhibit. Even though containers were big enough to make into a home, what surprised me was the way the containers were stacked, together with pillars that looked like giant paper towel roll inserts. The overall look of the container pavillion looked rather like some building with roman columns that hasn't had white plaster added on to finalise its look. With all the construction going on around it, the container pavillion looked like it actually was part of some construction project.

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Once we got into the designated location, we were greeted by slippers stuck onto the ends of sticks that were 'planted' across the field next to the huge container pavillion. I wondered if it was something about walking tall, or walking on stilts. Reading the installation information, I think it got me more confused, but the small bit on the Yellow Ribbon Project was rather touching.

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Next was the information on the container pavillion. I guess this is a rather good idea, considering the amount of things this structure could hold, making it a refugee shelter with the benefit of everything being recycled in it's creation.

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Giant Paper Towel Roll Inserts

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More Recycling

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Walking into the pavillion, you can see how the whole place looks something like a block of flats, and considering the construction of the flats these days, the containers seem to offer more privacy and breathing room. Strange part was that although it was a cool breezy day, the area inside was rather warm. Another good point for it being a refugee shelter.

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By the time we got there, they were starting to pack things away and wondered if they've moved most of the things out. However we found out that they were only packing the special edition t-shirts as they were moving to another location. Looking around the place, I felt as though I've seen this set of furniture previously. Now that I've been able to review my photos, I think they might have been from the same concept as the wardrobe we saw at City Hall.

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The next piece I didn't really understand, or maybe didn't want to understand. It looked like some concept to create a village with strange housing and possibly a planetarium. You figure it out for yourself.

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Next one was supposed to be something about sensory deprivation. The information said that you're supposed to feel something when you're standing in the middle of circle, or distorted figure of 8. All I felt was warm, and I think that affects me more than anything. I guess if the place was cold, I would have stayed long enough to try out the artist's theory.

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Next we headed towards the containers to check out what they held. One was the company information on NOL, while another was the temporary gift shop. Three more containers held art pertaining to the specially designed t-shirts called 'Art Of The T'. One was just t-shirts being lighted up randomly accompanied by music.

The 2nd container held 'Mosiac Voices', was like an online shopping experience, looking at all the available t-shirt designs on a large screen that was activated by a smaller touch-screen console, making it look like a card game.

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The third part of the series was another fun one, with your view of the t-shirts all being distorted in some way. I guess it's easier to let the pictures explain what I'm trying to say.

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Peeping Holes

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The next huge installation was some secret hidden inside this wooden structure that seem to hold a really white interior. Visitors were asked to leave their shoes out to preserve the (almost) pristine white floor and use the bedroom slippers provided. Some how I think going barefoot would have felt less disgusting to me at that point when the thought about how many people have warn the same pair of slippers came to mind.

Anyway, the white tunnel led to a little round-a-bout at the end with white bean bag chairs set around the central pillar. Once you take a seat, you see that the view is of some snow-covered landscape, trees that had shed their leaves, and frozen pools of water. Oh how I wished the tunnel was blasting cold air. I think I would have sat there for much longer then.

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The final container in the pavillion was showing the video below. Don't really know what the significance is, but it could make you seasick.


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That's All Folks!