Monday, 10 June 2002
of not ever having lived, not ever having deeply considered their life's
higher purpose, and not ever having stepped into that purpose and
at least tried to make a difference in the world."
- Joseph Jaworski
maybe a realisation of this will persuade more people to go out and chase their dreams?
Saturday, 8 June 2002
urls:
- this guy changed the boring view out of his window to resemble that of the Manhattan skyline...amazing...
- copies of Spider-Man 2 already pirated on the web before the movie is actually filmed.. this is quite funny..
- the Pi-Pi-to-Phone is a dangerously cute new Japanese kids' cellphone that is preprogrammed to only dial three numbers - damn, it's really cute!
- and control Anthony for 2 weeks through the Remote Control Challenge... very bizarre...
Friday, 7 June 2002
i met the oddest and most diverse bunch of people today.
just in case you are now thinking i have the illusion that i am myself not odd at all, let me assure you otherwise. i know i am odd, but nowhere quite as odd as the people here who stumbled into my shop today.
there is firstly this big woman who struts in looking like she owns the world - proud, big-haired, and with her chin pointing up, she looked at everything around her with a certain disdain and then started questioning me on my materials and telling me about who else she buys her things from. anyway, she was quite informative albeit the somewhat annoying arrogance.
then i had these two young girls bouncing into the store wondering what materials they need to paint on candles. they are thinking of setting up a stall (or even a company!) at Stadium Cove selling candles in colourful bright abstract designs that they come up with. they are quite convinced the wrong use of paint for the candles will cause their customers to be poisoned. quite entrepreneural anyway.
then i had this man who came in with his two daughters and went around the shop looking and touching all our paper products like mounting boards, corrugated paper etc and finally looked up and asked "Do you sell namecard holders?" huh?
and then there was this guy who came in and went into this monologue where he spoke about his painting which was spoilt by the wrong use of paint and then (did i miss something?) started to talk about himself, about his joblessness, about his telling his friends to "F**k Off" if he is unhappy with them, about Tibetan sayings, his loss in the stock market.. anyway, i lost him after a while...
that's a day in the life of an art shop..
just in case you are now thinking i have the illusion that i am myself not odd at all, let me assure you otherwise. i know i am odd, but nowhere quite as odd as the people here who stumbled into my shop today.
there is firstly this big woman who struts in looking like she owns the world - proud, big-haired, and with her chin pointing up, she looked at everything around her with a certain disdain and then started questioning me on my materials and telling me about who else she buys her things from. anyway, she was quite informative albeit the somewhat annoying arrogance.
then i had these two young girls bouncing into the store wondering what materials they need to paint on candles. they are thinking of setting up a stall (or even a company!) at Stadium Cove selling candles in colourful bright abstract designs that they come up with. they are quite convinced the wrong use of paint for the candles will cause their customers to be poisoned. quite entrepreneural anyway.
then i had this man who came in with his two daughters and went around the shop looking and touching all our paper products like mounting boards, corrugated paper etc and finally looked up and asked "Do you sell namecard holders?" huh?
and then there was this guy who came in and went into this monologue where he spoke about his painting which was spoilt by the wrong use of paint and then (did i miss something?) started to talk about himself, about his joblessness, about his telling his friends to "F**k Off" if he is unhappy with them, about Tibetan sayings, his loss in the stock market.. anyway, i lost him after a while...
that's a day in the life of an art shop..
Thursday, 6 June 2002
"THE PHYSICAL SPACE IMMEDIAT-
ELY SURROUNDING SOMEONE, IN-
TO WHICH ANY ENCROACHMENT
FEELS THREATENING TO OR UN-
COMFORTABLE FOR THEM".
"SPACE DESIGNED FOR THE USE
OF AN INDIVIDUAL WITHIN A LAR-
GE COMMUNAL AREA SUCH AS AN
OFFICE. TIME IN WHICH SOMEONE
IS UNDISTURBED AND FREE TO
CONCENTRATE ON THEIR OWN
THOUGHTS AND NEEDS."
Wednesday, 5 June 2002
the creation of these so-called "bald chickens" disturbs me greatly... how much more will humans alter nature to suit themselves? is there no more respect for what we are eating anymore??
this slaughterman kidded around with a pig's ears and nose after a hard day's killing:
it's times like this that i wonder if i should become vegetarian...
running.
one of the best things i discovered in life.
i run when i am sad.
i run when i am happy.
i run when i am stressed.
i run when i am relaxed.
i run when i am tired.
i run when i feel strong.
i run when i feel fat.
i run when i feel slim.
there are 1000001 reasons to run.
there are days like this where my heart is so burdened with worries and uncertainties - about work, about family, about friends, about the future... about almost everything that a person can conceivably worry about... i find myself sighing almost unconsciously and my mind wandering off, interrupted only by yet more thoughts... i don't think i am depressed... just worried...
it is times like this that i realised why i am such an optimistic person by nature and why i sometimes have the weirdest things happening to me... maybe it is to help me to handle difficult and troubling situations when they actually happen ...
it is times like this that i realised why i am such an optimistic person by nature and why i sometimes have the weirdest things happening to me... maybe it is to help me to handle difficult and troubling situations when they actually happen ...
a dose of wisdom (dispensed by the police in the form of a rolled up cigarette butt-sized nugget when i went to report stolen laptop two weeks ago):
Tuesday, 4 June 2002
the Powerpuff Girls: The Movie is starting next week!!
sis suggested i bring Buttercup down to the cinema for the premier and then started getting carried away, going on to say i should bring down also my bag with the small Buttercup keychain, wear the Buttercup watch and hairclip and finally said i should also dress in green, wear a black belt, wear long white japanese style socks and my Oakleys to make my eyes bigger...
errr...
sis suggested i bring Buttercup down to the cinema for the premier and then started getting carried away, going on to say i should bring down also my bag with the small Buttercup keychain, wear the Buttercup watch and hairclip and finally said i should also dress in green, wear a black belt, wear long white japanese style socks and my Oakleys to make my eyes bigger...
errr...
Talks On Photojournalism
today will no doubt be remembered (by me) for marking a new milestone in my whole attitude towards photography.
first speaker Marie-Laure de Decker (France) brought a whole new dimension to my view of photojournalism being a mostly male-dominated domain with her gutsy-ness (her philosophy: "if they don't want you to take the picture, all the more you should!" and "if you die, you die. if you don't, at least you have your picture"), her view on the power of photojournalism in steering public sentiments (e.g. during Vietnam war) and strong principles on what images she will capture and what she will not (no blood, no naked women).
i was also thoroughly inspired by Singapore-based photographer Tay Kay Chin - who in his short talk (heavily laden with sentimentality) captured the exact sentiments i have about what it is and means to be Singaporean. He spoke of a "love-hate" relationship, the feeling that he will never fully understand this place and yet being fully convicted that this is ultimately still "home" - the thought that if he was ever not to be able to return to this country for whatever reason - totally unbearable.. from his words, pictures (he actually uses the Hasselblad XPan dual-format camera - a cool rangefinder) and body language, i could tell that this was someone who felt the same affection i have for Singapore, for the food, the off-the-beaten track spots, the quirkiness of Singaporeans etc etc.. even though he had been all around the world, spending time working and experiencing life overseas.. i was thoroughly moved that he had decided to spend the next couple of years just taking pictures of people and places in Singapore so he can remember them and record them in some way..
about photojournalism, he had these words: don't go into war just so you can capture nice pictures. go into war only if you think your pictures will make a difference. it is already messy enough in there without reporters getting into trouble.. so true..
today will no doubt be remembered (by me) for marking a new milestone in my whole attitude towards photography.
first speaker Marie-Laure de Decker (France) brought a whole new dimension to my view of photojournalism being a mostly male-dominated domain with her gutsy-ness (her philosophy: "if they don't want you to take the picture, all the more you should!" and "if you die, you die. if you don't, at least you have your picture"), her view on the power of photojournalism in steering public sentiments (e.g. during Vietnam war) and strong principles on what images she will capture and what she will not (no blood, no naked women).
i was also thoroughly inspired by Singapore-based photographer Tay Kay Chin - who in his short talk (heavily laden with sentimentality) captured the exact sentiments i have about what it is and means to be Singaporean. He spoke of a "love-hate" relationship, the feeling that he will never fully understand this place and yet being fully convicted that this is ultimately still "home" - the thought that if he was ever not to be able to return to this country for whatever reason - totally unbearable.. from his words, pictures (he actually uses the Hasselblad XPan dual-format camera - a cool rangefinder) and body language, i could tell that this was someone who felt the same affection i have for Singapore, for the food, the off-the-beaten track spots, the quirkiness of Singaporeans etc etc.. even though he had been all around the world, spending time working and experiencing life overseas.. i was thoroughly moved that he had decided to spend the next couple of years just taking pictures of people and places in Singapore so he can remember them and record them in some way..
about photojournalism, he had these words: don't go into war just so you can capture nice pictures. go into war only if you think your pictures will make a difference. it is already messy enough in there without reporters getting into trouble.. so true..
thoroughly inspiring talks @ art museum today:
Japanese Master photographer Keiichi Tahara (Art Photography) showcased a series of his photographic works centred around the theme of light, shadows, reflection - reminding us that photography is ultimately about light - observing the movement of light, painting with light and capturing of moments.. he seems to have a fetish for taking photographs of windows.. had a whole series of them but was definitely fascinating - mostly in black and white.. a medium i haven't really gone into yet..he also used his knowledge of light to do this really cool "installation" project to illuminate Canal Saint Martin in Paris with rainbows of light.. must have been amazing to see it...
Second talk was by wacky Master photographer Horst Wackerbarth from Germany (Fashion Photography) - the presentation of his ongoing work Gallery Of Mankind (otherwise known as the "Red Couch Projects") was fascinating, thought-provoking and at the same time one cannot help but smile looking at the small sampling (out of some 400 pictures) of amazing pictures of "people from all walks of life - rich and poor, famous and unknown, old and young, regardless of race and religions" sitting or resting on the famous "universal Red Couch" - see some of great works here. Even his fashion photography works were not just wonderfully taken, but also carried with them symbolisms of meaning - the search for identity, role playing, awareness of life...
good session.. looking forward to tomorrow.. :)
see also some wonderful installation works by thai photographer and installation artist Jakraphun Thanateeranon - whose portfolio was on display.. some people are really creative...
Japanese Master photographer Keiichi Tahara (Art Photography) showcased a series of his photographic works centred around the theme of light, shadows, reflection - reminding us that photography is ultimately about light - observing the movement of light, painting with light and capturing of moments.. he seems to have a fetish for taking photographs of windows.. had a whole series of them but was definitely fascinating - mostly in black and white.. a medium i haven't really gone into yet..he also used his knowledge of light to do this really cool "installation" project to illuminate Canal Saint Martin in Paris with rainbows of light.. must have been amazing to see it...
Second talk was by wacky Master photographer Horst Wackerbarth from Germany (Fashion Photography) - the presentation of his ongoing work Gallery Of Mankind (otherwise known as the "Red Couch Projects") was fascinating, thought-provoking and at the same time one cannot help but smile looking at the small sampling (out of some 400 pictures) of amazing pictures of "people from all walks of life - rich and poor, famous and unknown, old and young, regardless of race and religions" sitting or resting on the famous "universal Red Couch" - see some of great works here. Even his fashion photography works were not just wonderfully taken, but also carried with them symbolisms of meaning - the search for identity, role playing, awareness of life...
good session.. looking forward to tomorrow.. :)
see also some wonderful installation works by thai photographer and installation artist Jakraphun Thanateeranon - whose portfolio was on display.. some people are really creative...
Sunday, 2 June 2002
pics from my lca:
month of June is the Month of Photography!! going for free talks at Singapore Art Museum tmrw morning organised as part of Asia-Europe Workshop For Young Photographers, with sharing on different aspects of photography by some gurus from Japan, Germany, France and Singapore... what a great time to get some solid inspiration :)
month of June is the Month of Photography!! going for free talks at Singapore Art Museum tmrw morning organised as part of Asia-Europe Workshop For Young Photographers, with sharing on different aspects of photography by some gurus from Japan, Germany, France and Singapore... what a great time to get some solid inspiration :)
a friend of mine was tickled pink recently reading Notes From An Even Smaller Island - a book by an ang moh capturing his feelings, views and observations about Singaporean life from his time here on our little island ..i'm sure this guy was really funny, judging from how my friend couldn't stop laughing and prodding me to read the book too... there were bits about kiasuism, government policies and also daily local life in the book. ..
yet, on the other hand, i felt a little annoyed...and the reason why this was the case was because this friend of mine is Malaysian and a more than occasional critic of Singapore-related stuff. I'm not saying that all Malaysians are Singapore-bashers (though that might appear to be the case of late - judging from what is written in the press).. yet, much as my views on Singaporeans (and especially on govt polices) may not always be positive, i know that i do love this country. in fact, i can even imagine myself willing to die for Singapore if the need ever arises.. so one thing that never fails to get to me are how foreigners (even Malaysians) poke fun or laugh at, criticise and slam this country even if they don't know enough about this place and who have obviously no deep vested interest in the country to hope it will flourish (other than so they can work here!) - i mean, who are they to speak as if they know better? they could just walk away when things go bad - no loyalty whatsoever even if they have been here a while, studying, working or living... we all know that Singapore is imperfect in many ways, but unless they have a genuine interest in making this place better, all this talk is fruitless and empty.. for this reason, i am a 100% supporter of local forums such as Sintercom, ThinkCenter and Singapore Window where Singaporeans themselves take an interest in and discuss local issues openly..
yet, on the other hand, i felt a little annoyed...and the reason why this was the case was because this friend of mine is Malaysian and a more than occasional critic of Singapore-related stuff. I'm not saying that all Malaysians are Singapore-bashers (though that might appear to be the case of late - judging from what is written in the press).. yet, much as my views on Singaporeans (and especially on govt polices) may not always be positive, i know that i do love this country. in fact, i can even imagine myself willing to die for Singapore if the need ever arises.. so one thing that never fails to get to me are how foreigners (even Malaysians) poke fun or laugh at, criticise and slam this country even if they don't know enough about this place and who have obviously no deep vested interest in the country to hope it will flourish (other than so they can work here!) - i mean, who are they to speak as if they know better? they could just walk away when things go bad - no loyalty whatsoever even if they have been here a while, studying, working or living... we all know that Singapore is imperfect in many ways, but unless they have a genuine interest in making this place better, all this talk is fruitless and empty.. for this reason, i am a 100% supporter of local forums such as Sintercom, ThinkCenter and Singapore Window where Singaporeans themselves take an interest in and discuss local issues openly..
i guess much of how i feel stems from the fact that i know how blessed i am to have been born in this country - knowing that given enough hard work and smartness, my opportunities and choices in life are relatively unlimited... having lived overseas for a while and travelled fairly extensively in the region these recent years, i know the life and career, travel etc. opportunities we have here are but an impossible dream for many born in poverty and hardship in most of the countries surrounding us.. a friend of mine told me Singapore was described recently by some politician in Singapore as a super efficient sports car that is viewed (puzzledly) by Singaporeans as just an ordinary car... makes you wonder why... maybe Singaporeans are just afraid they will be accused of being "blind PAP followers" if they do openly show appreciation for the so-called "good life".. but how did they get so confused..?
Saturday, 1 June 2002
Senegal's unexpected upset of World Cup holders France by 1:0 proves that just about anything is possible.. (see news).. umm... suddenly realised that even as i rack my brains real hard, i don't seem to know anything about this African country other than that it is in Africa... as a matter of fact, I don't even know which part of Africa it is in! but wouldn't it be cool to visit Senegal...? :)
managed to finish stocktaking early and dropped into Festival Village @ Fort Canning for an enjoyable evening of World Music stuff.. everything from Argentinian contemporary tango from La Chicana (really nice!), classical South Indian music by Mangala Vadyam (from Singapore) - orchestra of indian wind and percussion instruments - and hiphopping funky jazz by Eval Manigat & Tchaka (Haiti/Canada) to some rather odd masked dance and drama thing (good triumphs over evil) from West Bengal (India)'s Purulia Chhau Group - doing the all-time favourite Ramayana - and an unexpectedly enjoyable Balinese-style Gambuh Macbeth by Indonesian group Arti Foundation (this is really really cool...). All this for only $13! (plus they give you two bottles of Perrier per ticket!) it's a good deal.. try not to miss it if you can.. great international stuff doesn't come around to Singapore all that often, especially at this price..
managed to finish stocktaking early and dropped into Festival Village @ Fort Canning for an enjoyable evening of World Music stuff.. everything from Argentinian contemporary tango from La Chicana (really nice!), classical South Indian music by Mangala Vadyam (from Singapore) - orchestra of indian wind and percussion instruments - and hiphopping funky jazz by Eval Manigat & Tchaka (Haiti/Canada) to some rather odd masked dance and drama thing (good triumphs over evil) from West Bengal (India)'s Purulia Chhau Group - doing the all-time favourite Ramayana - and an unexpectedly enjoyable Balinese-style Gambuh Macbeth by Indonesian group Arti Foundation (this is really really cool...). All this for only $13! (plus they give you two bottles of Perrier per ticket!) it's a good deal.. try not to miss it if you can.. great international stuff doesn't come around to Singapore all that often, especially at this price..
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