At Peace with Bukit Brown

04/03/2019

Graveyard is fun

A group of young people are trying to preserve the rich multicultural history of Indonesia's forgotten cemeteries.

01/05/2018

For a cloudy moody first of May ....

After the death of his parents, Chanho Park was left bereft. He started taking photographs and felt himself drawn to traditional Korean funerals and religious rites.

05/10/2017

Thank you supporters who have back me in this photo book project and i had mailed out silver gelatin prints as gift and a short note to you all explaining the circumstances why this campaign was cancelled. I had informed Indiegogo on 15 Aug. of the decision to end this project and had told them to do a refund to you all but .... i hope you like the prints.

Indiegogo requested me to post this here as it is their policy, in order for them to do a refund to you all. They will do a refund within five working days.

25/08/2017

It was on 15 June the project At Peace with Bukit Brown was launched. The saying behind every artist is a great critic and awesome editor. The artist is too close to their work to evaluate it. Of course, needless to say, everything written and done by the artist is good in his own eye. That is where the critic and editor step in. It is what a certain politician said “We are the co-driver. If the driver does anything wrong, we give him a slap “.

After a run of 58 days at Indiegogo and a rather poor response to the photo book. I must bow away. Perhaps the local market is not ready for a quality print photo book. Perhaps the pricing range needs to be below a certain amount. Perhaps a cemetery is too niche an appeal. Perhaps there is more to it. Problem is I have no urge to do feel good and mass appeal work. It explains why the government board must provide funding / grant for the local art to take off. It is a journey for me to experience the art of self-publishing firsthand.

Thank you Clarie Leow and Catherine Lim for your kind help.
A picture showing Claire and my finger pressing the Launch button on the laptop to launch the crowdfunding campaign on 15 June.

08/08/2017

Till death do us Part

“ Crazy
I’m crazy for feeling so lonely
I’m crazy
Crazy for feeling so blue

I knew
We will love as long as we are happy
And then some day
We will leave for someone new

Worry
Why do I let myself worry
Wondering
What in the world has it become

Oh crazy
For thinking that my ass could hold you
I’m crazy for trying
And crazy for crying
And I’m crazy for loving you “

An encounter which sets two hearts to go fluttering. One is wary and the other bashful. In the name of love, free spirit and youth. They embark on the unknown journey which brings them happiness. Perhaps …. It’s better to have loved and lost than not to have loved at all, right ? To lose will be a big blow and what happens after that. Does one stay away and hibernate ? Cry a little bit and after a sleep will feel better ?

Love is crazy and some said only a fool will love. Some said Love’s like Magic and it’s driving me crazy. How does one feel when love creeps in ? There are times when one falls out of love, it’s like a piece of their tender heart being cut off. They swear never to risk it again. Before their poor heart could recover, someone appears and they are once again having their first love. Perhaps it is their first love. They say I love you and you love me. To say it is their first love sounds a bit absurd but then who cares. You should live life like there is no tomorrow. Who knows what tomorrow brings. If you kiss me, i will fall in love again. There are no excuses not to love like it is the first love.

As I sit down in my studio, to write, which is at the McDonalds at Alexandra Retail Center on 19 April. I wonder on the power of love as I wrote. Is one born to love. Will the more you love, the crazier your soul becomes. Is there innocence in love. I do know the only guaranteed thing in life is death. Till death do us part in the day of May.

This narrative and image appear in the photo book titled At Peace with Bukit Brown. To read more of this photo book, please click on the below link. There is only 4 days left to get it
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/at-peace-with-bukit-brown-photography-art #/

31/07/2017

The Stranger

On Ridley’s, Billy Idol, West Coast Park and 風繼續吹

“Stranger in the night, exchanging glance
Wondering in their mind; what were the chances
We be sharing our phone number before the night was through
Something in your eyes was so inviting
Something in your smile was so enigma
Something in my heart told me I must know you

Strangers in the night, two lonely people
We were pensive in the night
Up to the moment when we said our first hello, little did we know
Running was our first love, with a glass of whisky while we talk
And ever since that night, we have been running together
Strangers at first sight, in touch forever
It turned out so right for two strangers in the night “

We met at Ridley’s, a pub at ANA hotel which was at Nassim Hill but the building was demolished in 2004. We were standing in the classic pose, one eye shyly glancing at the subject with the other eye talking to our friend and trying to act cool. Shagies and Krueger alternated at the stage and the music was good. I always look forward when John Molina sang Mony Mony. I had a glass of Black Label in my hand. Then the inevitable happened and we asked err, do you want to keep in touch. One of our favourite activities beside whiskying was running. We ran twice a week. One was at the rustic West Coast Park before McDonald’s invaded the place and a playground was set up there. At West Coast Park when it rained heavily the day before, one can be assured the uneven asphalt would still be wet and a portion of it will be flooded. You could see boats and sampan at the coastline and at times, fisherman will be returning with their catch. The other run was at Bukit Brown cemetery before some of the residents were kindly asked to leave for the construction of the highway. I imagine it must be traumatic to be evicted after resting there for decades.

Our conversation topics during the run consisted mainly of what to eat for dinner after the run. We are Singaporeans at heart so we talked like true blue Singaporeans. At times, we bi***ed about work and I guess it is the norm for every salaried man. Sometimes I wonder why I have not heard anyone rave about their working environment.

As風繼續吹 (The wind continues to blow) at the West Coast Park when we ran, the run finally came to a stop and all it left now is a memory. It becomes too painful to run at Bukit Brown cemetery and I have since stopped running there. I always wonder is it possible to ask to be buried there based on emotional attachment of the place?

I hope you find peace wherever you are ….

There is twelve days left for the crowdfunding of the photo book titled At Peace with Bukit Brown. Twelve days left to hit 100 copies. Maybe a miracle will happen and the publication of this book will turn into a reality. This is the first photo book to focus on Bukit Brown exclusively and your support will be appreciated. An awesome black & white photographs of Bukit Brown cemetery to go along with the narratives, which you will be happy to have it.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/at-peace-with-bukit-brown-photography-art #/

24/07/2017

On comics book, music, cosmetic surgery and Hermes Birkin 包 包 ....

Continuing the ….
La coupe de cheveux horribles
(The Horrible Haircut)

He proceed to tell me his life story and how he met his ex-girlfriend. How his girlfriend influence his hair style and how they broke up. At this point, I discreetly take out my phone and look at the mirror image of myself. Nope, I don’t look like a shrink. Finally, or should I say hallelujah when he come to how they break-up and he was sad and keep his hair long.

Then it dawns on me this could be the cute boy who was in the same playground as me and we met occasionally at night but never talk to each other. I have a proper upbringing, never talk to stranger. See what happen to me, I was the only one with no boyfriend at the university. Could he be the one whose eye is forever glue to Paris De Nuit. He looks cuter now than before. Of course, in the department of hair style, he needs help.

After hemming and hawing, it is confirmed, he is that cute boy. Oh My God!!! I nearly p*e in my pants. At the same time, he confirms I am the nerdy girl who read Xiao Tian Tian.

Then I ask him did he sing this song at the playground:

Baby said you had to be a lover
One way or the other
Nobody wins without once giving in
so don't cry now , don't cry now

Love is just a game you played in high school
Girls know how to be cruel
Most of the time girls are cruel to be kind
so don't cry now , don't cry now

And they try to be cool as they dance in a crowded room
At the end of the day, making love to a paper moon
She said, boys do fall in love, they make time
Making love on a Saturday night

Shaggy hair guy blushed.

He say he can’t find any resemblance of me and it is now my turn to blush. I confess. I went to South Korea and came back a slightly different person. I have gone from A to C.

Both decide they should make haste and she coyly agrees. After a period of going to the cinema, walking in the park, coffee and cakes, going to the opera house, holding hands, and days when she lugs his camera gear around, she calls him Baby. They agree that she will be the one who decides which hair salon they will go for their haircut, and she volunteers to pay for it since it is her idea. Baby agrees whole-heartedly.

Female dog 3 smiles when she relates this story, and it is an enigmatic smile that Baby knew very well at the playground.

Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa, men have named you
You're so like the lady with the mystic smile
Is it only 'cause you're lonely they have blamed you?
For that Mona Lisa strangeness in your smile?

Do you smile to tempt a lover, Mona Lisa?
Or is this your way to hide a broken heart?
Many dreams have been brought to your doorstep
They just lie there and they die there

Female Dog 1 asks, “What, you bring him to Shunji Matsuo every time and you pay for both of your haircut? Isn’t that expensive.”

Female Dog 3 replies, “It’s ok lah. See, he gets me this as a token of appreciation.” With that, she brings out a Himalayan crocodile Hermes Birkin with gold detailing.

Female Dog 1, 2 and 3 laugh, cry and slam the table at the same time. Maybe not in that sequence.

The End
I am doing a crowdfunding for a photo book titled At Peace with Bukit Brown. It comes with unorthodox narrative on Bukit Brown cemetery which i am sure you will enjoy reading it with the images. Do support local art. Thank you.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/at-peace-with-bukit-brown-photography-art #/

To convey the beauty, majesty and austere dignity of Bukit Brown Cemetery in Singapore. | Crowdfunding is a democratic way to support the fundraising needs of your community. Make a contribution today!

23/07/2017

Continuing the ….

La coupe de cheveux horribles
(The Horrible Haircut)

Female Dog 3:
You are all very bad to bad mouth about your hubby. I am like your Ah Lao and Darling when growing up. Since young, my mummy will take me along to the hair salon whenever she needs a haircut. Then she will instruct the aunty hair stylist to cut my hair into a short bob. I was practically an ugly duckling during school days. I did audition for the role of ugly duckling in Swan Lake and you know what. I always get that role without fail.

One day, I was at TATE and standing in front of a magnificent photograph at an exhibition hall. Something about that photograph resonated with me. The playground looks familiar but I just could not put a finger on it. All I can recall was I use to go to the playground at night whenever I had a bad hair day and it happened often. Next to me, a shaggy hair guy was looking at it with an intensity of someone who know a bit about photography.

I ask the guy does he know what is the story behind this image. He says it is about a haircut agony story. He then relates a story about a school boy in his school days and how his hair was abused by the Chinese barber and Malay barber. He goes on and on about the image background story like he was the main character and a script writer. When he finally stops, I ask him how does he know the intimate details about it when the description of the image is just “A Playground at Night”. He simply say “I took this photograph.” Then I ask him what type of print is this and he talk non-long about silver gelatin paper and the process behind it. I was trying to stifle my yawn. It is not polite to yawn in front of stranger you know.

I ask him where was this photograph taken and when he mention it. I am shocked. This was the playground I used to take refuge in when I had bad haircut days.

This is a bit too long, so I will break it into 2 parts.
Part 2 of 3.