Comments for s/pores http://s-pores.com new directions in singapore studies Sat, 04 Sep 2010 14:25:52 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 Comment on Interpreting National Language Class by Yishun Voice http://s-pores.com/2007/04/national-language-class/#comment-747 Yishun Voice Sat, 04 Sep 2010 14:25:52 +0000 http://s-pores.com/?p=63#comment-747 Sg1960 curator: Thanks for the clarification that the painting "National Language Class" (上国语课) was indeed dated 1959. Sg1960 curator:
Thanks for the clarification that the painting “National Language Class” (上国语课) was indeed dated 1959.

]]> Comment on Interpreting National Language Class by Sg 1960 curator http://s-pores.com/2007/04/national-language-class/#comment-730 Sg 1960 curator Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:22:01 +0000 http://s-pores.com/?p=63#comment-730 The painting was completed in dec 1959 but displayed at the 2nd equator art society exhibition in feb 1960. Tj The painting was completed in dec 1959 but displayed at the 2nd equator art society exhibition in feb 1960. Tj

]]> Comment on Culture and the Arts ‘After’ Kuo Pao Kun by Lee Wen http://s-pores.com/2010/03/after-kuo-pao-kun/#comment-673 Lee Wen Sat, 21 Aug 2010 04:44:58 +0000 http://s-pores.com/?p=849#comment-673 I think even though Kuo Pao Kun is well respected in the arts community he represents different things to different people. I kind of agree about the chance lost from the AGA gathering, however I think the fault lies with the Singaporean apathy overall and especially wonder where our intellectuals and academics stand and why they were not the ones around to take a leading role? This has not changed much over the years, and my own hesitation was that there weren't enough people in the room willing to stick out their neck that far and I felt in some ways PK was actually asking for solidarity which he doubted existed at that point and who would go all the way if the battle were to go on and therefore I agree with him that it will affect Josef Ng negatively. As for coming to grips in the post Kuo Pao Kun and AGA, there have been developments going on which are not nearly like the arts boom then the slow down in recession like in elsewhere such as China. The problem I find is still to take our own artists more seriously. Even between artists there is need for more mutual respect and dialogue. Our schools, researchers and writers often research on or write about the usual superstars of the art world if not some artists they find on the internet but neglect our own backyard. I think even though Kuo Pao Kun is well respected in the arts community he represents different things to different people.
I kind of agree about the chance lost from the AGA gathering, however I think the fault lies with the Singaporean apathy overall and especially wonder where our intellectuals and academics stand and why they were not the ones around to take a leading role? This has not changed much over the years, and my own hesitation was that there weren’t enough people in the room willing to stick out their neck that far and I felt in some ways PK was actually asking for solidarity which he doubted existed at that point and who would go all the way if the battle were to go on and therefore I agree with him that it will affect Josef Ng negatively.
As for coming to grips in the post Kuo Pao Kun and AGA, there have been developments going on which are not nearly like the arts boom then the slow down in recession like in elsewhere such as China. The problem I find is still to take our own artists more seriously. Even between artists there is need for more mutual respect and dialogue. Our schools, researchers and writers often research on or write about the usual superstars of the art world if not some artists they find on the internet but neglect our own backyard.

]]> Comment on Review: +65 Indie Underground by Joseph Tham http://s-pores.com/2010/03/65-indie-underground/#comment-665 Joseph Tham Thu, 19 Aug 2010 04:45:16 +0000 http://s-pores.com/?p=768#comment-665 I understand the apprehension Vivian felt after she read my "review" on the 3 CD set of Singapore Indie Music but I think I would like to qualify a few things in response to her reaction as well as some more personal musing on music as well. I think music as part of culture can never be separated from politics, society and ideology; the hippie music in the late 1960s, punk in the late 1970s, etc were a ground-up reaction to the socio-political as well as economic contexts then. We seldom create art, music and literature in a vacuum. The apolitical (apathetic even) nature of most Singaporeans is a reflection and product of our system. Music and the arts to me is never about 'entertainment'. William S Burroughs was blacklisted by the FBI, why? The governments around the world, ours included have always been wary of popular music in the past as music is a mode of expression which could in turn critique the society and the authorities and challenge stale social conventions. Rimbaud's poems are not elegy to trees but a direct questioning of the values of France and Europe in the mid-19th century. Godard's films are highly controversial and debatable as they throw the prevalent societal norms into sharp relief in contrast to the rising unhappiness and ennui of the French in the 1950s and 1960s. The list goes on. As one of Val Wilmer's books go, music and the arts should be AS SERIOUS AS YOUR LIFE. I understand the apprehension Vivian felt after she read my “review” on the 3 CD set of Singapore Indie Music but I think I would like to qualify a few things in response to her reaction as well as some more personal musing on music as well.
I think music as part of culture can never be separated from politics, society and ideology; the hippie music in the late 1960s, punk in the late 1970s, etc were a ground-up reaction to the socio-political as well as economic contexts then. We seldom create art, music and literature in a vacuum. The apolitical (apathetic even) nature of most Singaporeans is a reflection and product of our system. Music and the arts to me is never about ‘entertainment’. William S Burroughs was blacklisted by the FBI, why? The governments around the world, ours included have always been wary of popular music in the past as music is a mode of expression which could in turn critique the society and the authorities and challenge stale social conventions. Rimbaud’s poems are not elegy to trees but a direct questioning of the values of France and Europe in the mid-19th century. Godard’s films are highly controversial and debatable as they throw the prevalent societal norms into sharp relief in contrast to the rising unhappiness and ennui of the French in the 1950s and 1960s. The list goes on. As one of Val Wilmer’s books go, music and the arts should be AS SERIOUS AS YOUR LIFE.

]]> Comment on Review: Making and Unmaking the Asylum by Review in s-pores « Making and Unmaking the Asylum http://s-pores.com/2010/08/review-making-and-unmaking-the-asylum/#comment-628 Review in s-pores « Making and Unmaking the Asylum Sat, 07 Aug 2010 14:06:45 +0000 http://s-pores.com/?p=967#comment-628 [...] Review: Making and Unmaking the Asylum [...] [...] Review: Making and Unmaking the Asylum [...]

]]> Comment on Forgetting Detention by busy http://s-pores.com/2009/10/forgetting-detention/#comment-621 busy Tue, 27 Jul 2010 01:44:03 +0000 http://s-pores.com/?p=639#comment-621 See par 23 and 24 - the 'Malaysian' argument why ISA is still needed. http://www.pmo.gov.sg/News/Speeches/Prime+Minister/Speech+by+PM+Lee+at+the+Internal+Security+Department+60th+Anniversary+Dinner.htm See par 23 and 24 – the ‘Malaysian’ argument why ISA is still needed.

http://www.pmo.gov.sg/News/Speeches/Prime+Minister/Speech+by+PM+Lee+at+the+Internal+Security+Department+60th+Anniversary+Dinner.htm

]]> Comment on Interpreting National Language Class by Chong Pang Voice http://s-pores.com/2007/04/national-language-class/#comment-597 Chong Pang Voice Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:49:19 +0000 http://s-pores.com/?p=63#comment-597 The Ng Eng Teng ceramic sculpture called "Confrontation" dated 1969 can be found in the exhibition catalogue "Masterpieces from Private Collections" / presented by the Ministry of Community Development and the National Museum, as part of Singapore Festival of Arts 1988. http://catalogue.nlb.gov.sg/cgi-bin/cw_cgi?fullRecord+23577+3002+4740666+14+0 The Ng Eng Teng ceramic sculpture called “Confrontation” dated 1969 can be found in the exhibition catalogue
“Masterpieces from Private Collections” / presented by the Ministry of Community Development and the National Museum, as part of Singapore Festival of Arts 1988.
http://catalogue.nlb.gov.sg/cgi-bin/cw_cgi?fullRecord+23577+3002+4740666+14+0

]]> Comment on Interpreting National Language Class by Gambus Noise http://s-pores.com/2007/04/national-language-class/#comment-595 Gambus Noise Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:07:22 +0000 http://s-pores.com/?p=63#comment-595 Chong Pang: Maybe Ng Eng Teng was referring to the racial riots “May 13, 1969 Incident” in Singapore? Wikipedia say "The 1969 race riots of Singapore were the only riots encountered in post-independence Singapore as a result of the spillover of the May 13 Incident in Malaysia. The seven days of communal riots resulted in the final toll of 4 dead and 80 wounded" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1969_Race_Riots_of_Singapore Where to see his work? Got catalogue or book? Chong Pang:

Maybe Ng Eng Teng was referring to the racial riots “May 13, 1969 Incident” in Singapore?
Wikipedia say “The 1969 race riots of Singapore were the only riots encountered in post-independence Singapore as a result of the spillover of the May 13 Incident in Malaysia. The seven days of communal riots resulted in the final toll of 4 dead and 80 wounded”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1969_Race_Riots_of_Singapore

Where to see his work? Got catalogue or book?

]]> Comment on Interpreting National Language Class by Chong Pang Voice http://s-pores.com/2007/04/national-language-class/#comment-594 Chong Pang Voice Wed, 23 Jun 2010 08:53:14 +0000 http://s-pores.com/?p=63#comment-594 Yes, I also remembered seeing that "big" Choo Keng Kwang book at the "IMPORTANT SECOND-GENERATION ARTISTS SERIES (5) " exhibition at an art gallery at Holland Village in 2006, and I was quite shocked that the woodcut by Choo, dated 1954 could be described as the event that happened in 1969! http://www.dlrgallery.com/events/2006/28102006.html Incidentally, another "second generation artist" the late Ng Eng Teng did create a sculpture based on the racial riots "May 13, 1969 incident" in Malaysia. Not sure if NUS Museums has the work? Yes, I also remembered seeing that “big” Choo Keng Kwang book at the “IMPORTANT SECOND-GENERATION ARTISTS SERIES (5) ” exhibition at an art gallery at Holland Village in 2006, and I was quite shocked that the woodcut by Choo, dated 1954 could be described as the event that happened in 1969!
http://www.dlrgallery.com/events/2006/28102006.html

Incidentally, another “second generation artist” the late Ng Eng Teng did create a sculpture based on the racial riots “May 13, 1969 incident” in Malaysia.
Not sure if NUS Museums has the work?

]]> Comment on Interpreting National Language Class by godot http://s-pores.com/2007/04/national-language-class/#comment-592 godot Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:19:45 +0000 http://s-pores.com/?p=63#comment-592 It's 1959. http://www.biotechnics.org/2kohnguanghow.html http://ampulets.blogspot.com/2005/08/real-life-of-artist.html Mistakes do happen in art history. The problem then is that it gets perpetuated if unchecked. A catalogue of Choo Keng Kwang's works described his '513' woodcut as referring to the May 13 racial riots of 1969 in KL. But Choo was depicting the May 13 clash of 1954 between students and the police over the issue of National Service. What one can do is to go back to the source, double check the facts and talk to the artists, if possible. And do erratas. It’s 1959.

http://www.biotechnics.org/2kohnguanghow.html
http://ampulets.blogspot.com/2005/08/real-life-of-artist.html

Mistakes do happen in art history. The problem then is that it gets perpetuated if unchecked. A catalogue of Choo Keng Kwang’s works described his ‘513′ woodcut as referring to the May 13 racial riots of 1969 in KL. But Choo was depicting the May 13 clash of 1954 between students and the police over the issue of National Service.

What one can do is to go back to the source, double check the facts and talk to the artists, if possible. And do erratas.

]]> Comment on Interpreting National Language Class by Yishun Voice http://s-pores.com/2007/04/national-language-class/#comment-585 Yishun Voice Fri, 04 Jun 2010 04:39:24 +0000 http://s-pores.com/?p=63#comment-585 See 3rd June 2010, ST Life! report on the "Singapore 1960" show. The caption net to the painting reads "National Language Class , 1960 by Chua Mia Tee" See 3rd June 2010, ST Life! report on the “Singapore 1960″ show. The caption net to the painting reads “National Language Class , 1960 by Chua Mia Tee”

]]> Comment on Interpreting National Language Class by Yishun Voice http://s-pores.com/2007/04/national-language-class/#comment-584 Yishun Voice Fri, 04 Jun 2010 04:35:14 +0000 http://s-pores.com/?p=63#comment-584 I am "confused" that the caption for the painting "National Language Class" by Chua Mia Tee, is dated as 1960, in Straits Times' report on the exhibition "Singapore 1960" opened recently at the Singapore National Museum (SNM). Apparently Singapore Art Museum has already updated the date to 1959 in their last few displays of that paintings since 2004. How come the painting can be dated as 1960 for this show at SNM now? Or it is a mistake by the ST journalist?? I am “confused” that the caption for the painting “National Language Class” by Chua Mia Tee, is dated as 1960, in Straits Times’ report on the exhibition “Singapore 1960″ opened recently at the Singapore National Museum (SNM).

Apparently Singapore Art Museum has already updated the date to 1959 in their last few displays of that paintings since 2004. How come the painting can be dated as 1960 for this show at SNM now? Or it is a mistake by the ST journalist??

]]> Comment on In Memory of Linda Chen (1928-2002) by academic :: Bacaan Sejarah (3) :: May :: 2010 http://s-pores.com/2007/04/linda-chen/#comment-579 academic :: Bacaan Sejarah (3) :: May :: 2010 Wed, 26 May 2010 04:40:37 +0000 http://s-pores.com/?p=53#comment-579 [...] (Menurut catatan berikut tesis di atas ditulis oleh Mrs Tan Seng Huat (i.e., Linda Chen). Linda pernah ditahan oleh Pemerintah S’pore dua kali - kali pertama 1956 dan ketika operasi Cold Storage 1963 - baca s-pore) [...] [...] (Menurut catatan berikut tesis di atas ditulis oleh Mrs Tan Seng Huat (i.e., Linda Chen). Linda pernah ditahan oleh Pemerintah S’pore dua kali – kali pertama 1956 dan ketika operasi Cold Storage 1963 – baca s-pore) [...]

]]> Comment on Once Bonded by Hand to your mouth to stop the rain; « http://s-pores.com/2009/07/once-bonded/#comment-570 Hand to your mouth to stop the rain; « Fri, 07 May 2010 16:48:55 +0000 http://s-pores.com/?p=308#comment-570 [...] the price of everything will always be something else. It doesn’t help that I’m reading this, with great big dollops of weepy music coming out the speakers at the same time. And anyway the [...] [...] the price of everything will always be something else. It doesn’t help that I’m reading this, with great big dollops of weepy music coming out the speakers at the same time. And anyway the [...]

]]> Comment on Reminiscences on a HDB Point Block by damon http://s-pores.com/2009/07/hdbblock/#comment-566 damon Fri, 30 Apr 2010 06:27:24 +0000 http://s-pores.com/?p=341#comment-566 hi, i'll be very glad if you reply this, and even more glad if you know the answer to this: why was the design considerations made to have lifts in early HDB flats not stop at every floor? is it because it was expensive? or having it stop every floor make the average time lift usage increase? thank you!! hi, i’ll be very glad if you reply this, and even more glad if you know the answer to this: why was the design considerations made to have lifts in early HDB flats not stop at every floor? is it because it was expensive? or having it stop every floor make the average time lift usage increase? thank you!!

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