Presences is a two-part artwork that is meant to read as one. It is the result of a study of the Singaporean everyday. Elements that in their quiet existence speak volumes - about the Singapore of 60s and 70s and its sun lit skies. Two markers and motifs of the Singaporen everyday landscape. This is a study of their interactions and the unique identity that they together feed into.
As one takes a detour from Singapore's more prominent visual display of high rises and modern condos wrapped in glass and concrete, and enters its bylanes, Singapore reveals its older and more emotionally evolved self in its landed houses from the 60s and 70s. Resonating with its new found independence, these homes reflected the culturally rooted spirit of the people in their designs, aesthetics and planning. The cast iron grilles on the windows and the doors tell a story of the years gone by, not only in their distinct and unique style of the era they were built in, but also in their practicality. A time with no air conditioners in a tropical city, hot and humid. The grilles were a respite providing security and allowing for a soft cool breeze to flow through and cool the interiors down.
Toaday as one walks by and soaks in the sights, patterns and nostalgia, one notices how the grilles do not tell this story alone. There is a yet another element at play, to add to the charm and the romaticisation of the past. The Sun. Singapore is also identified as the year long sun city, where the sun shines all year through. When the two are combined - the nostalgia of the grilles and the omnipresent sun, the shadows of the grilles cast on the ground and their changing shapes dancing through the course of the day cement the romantic visage of the two elements as one. A transformation of the hard (grilles), against the soft (sunshine) into a state of soothing fluidity.
The narrative lies at the heart of this observational piece. In the selection of the images, the angles of photography, the treatment of the motifs and the shadows, the editorial crafting and lastly the design of the physical publication. A concept based design that flows into every element of the output.
The piece ends with connecting the past with the present and why the identified elements make for not only an interesting study, but a relevant one in terms of design study and exploration.
The physical publication boasts a removable book jacket with an according fold of grille motifs on translucent paper. The purpose of this is to enable removal of the cover to place against the sun and partake in the sensory experience of watching the light against these motifs and the colorful, poetic kaleidoscopic effect they produce. A little interactive element for the touch of lightheartedness.
