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.

Shout Out

To Alex & Javier

Trick Or Treat

Happy



Halloween

Pictures I Lost Last Year

Yesterday, as it has been for a few years, my uncle invited us to one of the dinners organised by the temple, held in conjunction with a noisy auction. It's rather hard not to miss when it's held behind a huge wall that looks like a castle, bright lights, huge flags, and a Chinese opera playing out next to it. Last year, smart little me accidentally deleted all the photos before I could even upload them anywhere. Well not this year!

This year was slightly different than the past few, the tent was much bigger, but the tables seem to shrink, and it was in a totally different location. My 2 cousins took a ride with us to the location and amazingly didn't start their nonsense until much later. Ian, usually cranky when tired, actually was cheerful enough to pose for a few photos, especially happy when posing with his toy puppy. I got a feeling it's all the bubbles in the orange soda he drank that got him to lighten up. I would never get my Coke Light... so I ended downing glass after glass of Iced Chinese Tea. What a joke! Even bigger joke was when I asked for Chinese tea in English and she told me in Mandarin that they don't have it but they have exactly the same thing, only known to her as "zhong guo cha". I didn't know if I should laugh or cry then as I knew I had to start yapping in Mandarin to them the whole night to make sure that I get an iced tea and not some hot stuff that burns my tongue.

Anyway, it started around 8.30 together with the auction, making people bid ridiculous rates for mundane things like a bicycle. When I say different, even the food this year was different, it's the same caterer, it's always catered by my grandfather's neighbour. Anyhoo... it usually starts with hot steaming buns, but this year the first dish was actually the one that usually came out at the end, the noodles. The noodles looked really plain and simple yet tasted really good, must have been the leeks in it that added to the flavour, something which my mom, unfortunately, could not taste.

Somehow, the arrival of the next dish depended on the auction, if they think it's going well, the next dish is served up rather fast, and if they needed to stretch it out, we kinda go hungry. The next dish however, marked the arrival of the Guest-of-Honour, one of Singapore's MPs with a long name. Ian was considering going over to grab a few prawns off their plate when they got up to greet her but he was a little too shy. So 2nd dish was my fave among all the Chinese dinner dishes, the cold dish that's a platter of assorted yummies.

Personal Cold Dish




Ian Ate It All

Eventually the food is served rather quickly, possibly due to the presence of the VIP, but portions this year seem to have shrunk. Well, doesn't really matter when u have quite a few different dishes to go through.

Shark's Fin Soup


Herbal Chicken


Runaway Mushroom?




Huge Steamed Pomfret


Sweet Steamed Prawns

Oddly, it seemed to stop there and the auction was going really fast as they were running out of time. When the plates arrived, it gave a few of us quite a shock as it was something new, and some of us were almost full, waiting for dessert. Well, more buns for me then.

Kong Bak Pao

Quite a few people didn't bother to stay for dessert and left but they definitely didn't miss anything special.

Iced Canned Longans

Went home satisfied and a little deaf.

People Beg To Differ

You Are Not Scary

Everyone loves you. Isn't that sweet?

How Scary Are You?

The picture in the result scares me somehow... it's rather creepy.

Shout Out

To Putra

My First Love

It's been 2 years, and I still love you.

And I know you're shining down on me from Heaven
ANGEL OF MINE

Spill The Beans

After a certain comment, Amy keeps asking if it would be better to let all your problems out or keep it all in. Her question makes me wonder if it's better just to have a balance of both. Guess it really depends on the person and how they handle their problems. I know some, including Amy, who pours almost every drop out, and I know those who just ask for opinions till they figure out within themselves.

I personally am not one to pour everything out from my jug to anyone and everyone, nor do I really ask for advise, making Mark and her think that I keep every damn thing inside to brew. Then again, when anything troubles me, I seem to either find a solution or let it all out on this. Somehow I'm just lucky enough to find answers at the right time, although I may realise some disguised blessings a little later than I should. Then as Amy also pointed out, my mom will probably be the only one who knows all my crap. What I can honestly say is that my mom doesn't.

Not every little thing.

I guess there are still things that should be kept within oneself, but it seems like, between the 3 of us, that seems to be strictly my opinion. Though thinking about it more, I don't know what exactly I should be telling. Another thing is, you've got a mouth, you've got a brain (I give u that much) ... You wanna know? ASK. So maybe I need prompting, but I never stopped anyone from asking... (tell me if I did.) I might have tried to avoid a question or two, but tell me who hasn't actually done that in their entire life?

Guess now if you want to know more about me, or from me, shoot that question out your mouth, and most possibly you'll get an answer shot out from mine.

Not True Enough?

Your Gluttony Quotient: 60%

You definitely have your gluttonous moments. For you, eating is a true hobby. And while you do spend a lot on food, you can always make it back winning eating contests.

How Much Gluttony Do You Have?

Free & Easy

After a really stressful month, I'm finally free from all the issues that held me down, that diverted my attention from everyday life, and from the people around me. I realised that people have told me things, or I've told them things, during that period of time, and I seem to remember them very vaguely. Worst of all, right when the assignments were due (or so I thought), my body got attacked by that menacing stomach virus, creating more problems. Now that I'm done with all the datelines and tests, I'm still left picking up some pieces, as well as starting anew on other aspects of life.

Soon all the problems faced in class with the essays will start again, but it'll be different this time since we at least know what we should be looking for. Unlike the last semester, where we were basically going into the library like 2 mountain tortoises, walking around slow and totally at a lost with what we were supposed to do. One thing though, Amy and I gave up on AP102, deciding that it would be a better option to just try it all over again instead of cracking our heads to finish the 2nd essay. Rather good choice, as it left me sometime to explore myself before the next term, which I haven't done in a while.

Whoopididoo!