Visual Arts : Self-Portrait

I kinda like the visual arts: Self-Portrait by Ari Bayuaji showcased at Esplanade Tunnel from 17 Jan to 31 Mar this year. Perhaps its the combination of light coloured wood and pastel colour which I find attractive. I'm looking forward to next visual arts exhibition at Esplanade. 

From Esplanade Theatre by the Bay website This 17 Jan – 31 Mar 2019

A portrait is not just a representation of a person’s likeness. It is imbued with cultural references and speaks of the milieu in which it is created. In the past, only the affluent and influential had their portraits painted; while in today’s technology-driven world, everyone has access to creating images of themselves. Self-Portrait investigates the value of a portrait in contemporary society and how this value has evolved over time.

The installation features a diversity of portraits drawn from different eras, cultures and sources. Bayuaji juxtaposes Indonesian wooden masks with images of faces appropriated from paintings by old European masters and advertisements. Pivotal to the work is the use of mirrors that capture the expressions and appearances of people passing through—a subtle hint at today’s prevalent “selfie” culture where anyone can create their own portraits. The installation presents different interpretations of portraits and attests to their power to tell stories about the human condition that transcends time, cultures and geographical borders.

About the Artist
Ari Bayuaji (b.1975, Indonesia) works between Montreal, Canada and Bali, Indonesia. Proficient in a range of techniques and mediums, Bayuaji has developed an installation practice that incorporates the use of found and readymade objects accumulated from different parts of the world. His work has been exhibited internationally, including the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Canada; Kunsthal Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Redbase Foundation, Yogyakarta, Indonesia and Nunu Fine Art Gallery, Taiwan. He has also been invited to participate in artist residencies internationally.

The Ship and the Moon

Saw this interesting sight last month at Marina Bay Sand in early evening when both moon and sun are up in the sky.

Chinese Vegetarian Menu at Holiday Inn Hotel

Recently I attended wedding dinner and I chose vegetarian menu. To my shock, they requires additional payment of about a hundred dollars plus for the change. I was thinking it should be cheaper since its just gluten, vegetables and mushroom. 

I don't like mock meat since its just gluten. I prefer natural fruits and vegetables. Alas the Chinese vegetarian menu here include lots of mock meat which I don't normally eat. Thankfully the mock meat here are quite palatable.Given a choice I still prefer fruits and vegetables which are more healthy. Maybe Vegetarian cold dish can include a little mock meat with fruit salad, and maybe vegetarian prawn salad instead of vegetarian fried chicken. Instead of lotus leaf rice with chestnut, we can also have fried ee fu noodle with mushroom with vegetarian sauce. 

Holiday Inn Hotel at Orchard Road

Nearest MRT: Orchard Road MRT

 Vegetarian cold dish combination. It really taste like meat. 

Deep fried vegetarian chicken. 

I like the vegetarian soup which is light and refreshing.

 There is one empty seat so I had this ee fu noodle with mushroom.

Yam paste with pumpkin is a must have dish for Teochew.

Sketching

I decided to improve on my sketching so I set a goal to practise sketching everyday.  When I opted for pure Science in upper secondary, I stopped sketching for many years. 

Now I aim to sketch at least one hour everyday. I actually enjoy the process of sketching as it is relaxing and fun. 

Minimalism Arts Exhibition at ArtScience Museum

I love visiting arts and design museums. This Monday, I went to ArtScience Museum to see the Minimalism arts exhibition.  Two tickets are priced at $16.00 due to 1 for 1 promotion.

This exhibition gives a more zen vibe compared to National Gallery of Singapore Minimalism exhibition.  Minimalism arts concept is inspired from Zen Buddhism concept of Emptiness and Nothingness. It reminds me of the verse Emptiness is not nothingness and Nothingness is not emptiness. 

Emptiness could be presence of vast space where you have infinite possibilities. 

From Master Sheng Yen,

"Buddhism talks about emptiness in nature while existence produced by causes and conditions, which involves change, non-stopping, unfixed, non-staying without ever remaining in the same state.  This is what impermanence means. 

Since it is ever-changing, constantly changing in appearance, then what about its nature? Its nature changes too. The nature of clouds and that of water are somewhat different. So they exist out of emptiness. In their existence, you see emptiness. 

So the Heart sutra, " Neither increase nor decrease." It is neither arising nor ceasing in the first place. This actually means its neither empty nor existing. 

Emptiness in Buddhism refers to the kind that is neither empty nor existing. That is true emptiness. Rather than a distinct separation between existence and emptiness. That would be a kind of void, hollowness, a lonely kind of nothingness. Buddhist emptiness is not lonely at all. Instead, its lively and bustling. It is ever evolving and constantly changing. This is existence of importance. "

Minimalism at ArtScience Museum 

To view another Minimalism Arts exhibition at National Gallery, click here.

Hwa Chong Institution (Former Chinese High School) Celebrating 100th Anniversary

Although I'm not Hwa Chong Institution/ Former Chinese High School alumnus, but I really like their motto 

自强不息(Unrelenting Self-Empowerment), always improving oneself and never give up. They are celebrating 100th anniversary today. They are lucky to have notable alumnus, Dr Liang Wern Fook, one of Xinyao founders to compose and write a song to commemorate this special occasion. Another popular alumnus illustrator Ah Guo also drew to commemorate  his school centennial celebration. I really like their drawing and song. How about you? 

In Singapore, due to declining birth rate, many schools are merging and now there are lesser schools in Singapore. I hope Hwa Chong Institution, former Chinese High School continues to stay strong, to help preserve and promote Chinese culture in multi-racial and cosmopolitan Singapore and not just let it be another archaic former colonial society where the people don't understand their own cultures and languages. 

Image from Ah Guo Illustration.

《钟声依旧》

About Chinese High School from Wikipedia

The Chinese High School (simplified Chinese: 南洋华侨中学; traditional Chinese: 南洋華僑中學; pinyin: Nányáng Huáqiáo Zhōngxué) was a former independent school in Singapore offering secondary education. The school merged with Hwa Chong Junior College on 1 January 2005 to form the integrated Hwa Chong Institution.

Founded on 21 March 1919, The Chinese High School was the first high school in Southeast Asia to cater to different dialect groups among overseas Chinese in the region.

As early as May 1913, Tan Kah Kee, a prominent businessman, proposed setting up a secondary school for Chinese boys in Singapore. Tan's proposal was supported by the Tung Teh Reading Club and a dance troupe, claiming to have raised S$20,000 as funds for building the school. On 21 March 1919, the Singapore Nanyang Overseas Chinese Middle School was formally opened at Niven Road with an enrolment of 78 students. Six years later, with an additional funding of S$600,000, the school moved to its new campus at Bukit Timah Road, covering an area of 79 acres (320,000 m²), and officially renamed The Chinese High School.

My Travel Blog

Just checked the number of views in my Travel blog. Not a soul visited my travel blog for a week so thought I promote my blog here.

New Vegetarian Dishes at Elemen Restaurant

I'm really happy with the new 8-course set at Elemen. Now I have more choices like charcoal springy noodle with butter cream sauce and chocolate mousse dome which has crunchy hazelnut chocolate base. At $32.80++ per person for 8-course set, I find it affordable. They also have membership rewards whereby one can earn rebates. It is now my preferred choice for vegetarian restaurant.

Menu

Elemen at Millenia Walk

Nearest MRT: Esplanade MRT 

The elemen appetiser. With guava, purple sweet potato

 Grilled halloumi with tomato and watermelon. Its my first time eating halloumi, a semi-hard cheese.

 Creamy carrot soup with pumpkin.

 Charcoal noodle with butter cream sauce. I like the smooth springy noodle. 

 Fresh orange carrot juice.

Chocolate mousse dome. This is my favourite dessert with rich chocolate and crunchy hazelnut chocolate base.