Tag: beauty

  • The Esplanade Library – A Memory

    The Esplanade Library – A Memory

    I miss the Esplanade Library.

    It will forever remain as one of my favourite places in Singapore insofar as my memory stays in tact, and undesirably but ineluctably, accompanying that memory, lies a deep grievance that such a treasure of a place is now gone – targetted, enveloped and destroyed into bits (yet again, as I see it) by commercial interests and utilitarian intents:

    “Singapore’s only public library dedicated to the performing arts – library@esplanade – will close on June 30 (20231), and its collections and programmes will be moved to the National Library Building in the Bras Basah area… the move will allow it to centralise its arts resources in the heart of the Civic District, where they will be close to arts institutions and practitioners in the area…

    The premises currently occupied by library@esplanade will be converted by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay into arts and commercial spaces…” (Source: The Straits Times)

    – as if a library is no more than a mere transferrable storage warehouse for books and resources, and place-making all but non-existent – even despised? Well, on the one hand, this should not be surprising for such is the natural outcome of a society that knows the price of everything but the value of nothing, where all interests are essentially utilitarian and economically motivated, where places exists primarily for the sake of efficiency, productivity, and – who are we kidding – profitability. And so, all who get in utility’s way will be wallowed up, dissolved, and remade into its image.

    Is it no small wonder then that the National library (yes Singapore’s flagship library) looks and feels atrociously sterile resembling a laboratory (or if you prefer, a learning laboratory) for rats and machines for production purposes rather than a warm and inviting space for learners to find solace, delight, and inspiration to explore, connect, and create? Look at the comparison between the exterior of the old National Library and the current, and then the interior of the current National library against the then-Esplanade Library:

    The Rustic Charm of the Old National Library against the Sterile-looking “Learning-Laboratory” National Library of the present (Image sources: Roots and NLB)
    The ‘homeliness’ of the Esplanade Library of the past (left) against the laboratory-like tables of the present National Library (right) [Image source: Lemon8]

    As it is, as mentioned, on the one hand, it should not be surprising to witness the failures of our country’s conservation efforts and declining quality of buildings for they merely reflect our culture’s core beliefs but yet on the other hand, in spite of one’s preparedness, the shock and sadness that result in actually losing a beloved (be it a person or place or anything for that matter) must be squarely acknowledged…


    I know not when that I encountered the space,
    But pleasantly surprised was what I felt,
    “A library in the Esplanade?
    “Now that’s interesting.”

    In curiosity’s trial I treaded along,
    Up the escalator and around I turned,
    Greeted by art which adorned the side-walls,
    Admiring-walking…
    I encounter an impasse
    – Or so I thought.

    On the woody wall the engraving is there:
    “library@esplanade” to direct one’s path.
    And so I resumed walking along,
    an intriguing opening materialising before my eyes…

    The entrance.
    Spacious, warm, and inviting.
    Clearly distinct from its paquet flooring,
    Extending around
    To the performance stage.
    A hallowed ground?
    A defined entry?
    A crossroad I say
    To decide the next route.

    To the left three things stand out,
    two involving seats, and one an art display.
    On the latter,
    Many a time I have paused to look
    At the art encased in the column rows,
    Lining up toward the tables and chairs
    – the study area that is –
    That place I spent
    In hours galore
    To get work done
    Or simply to read.

    The other seats are one-of-a-kind.
    For those puffy red chairs are found in cinemas no more.
    They clang and cling when one uses them,
    But still it’s a joy to give them life.
    For their comfort?
    Not so much.
    But for their uniqueness and richness?
    Most absolutely yes!

    To the right from the entrance,
    Gives a different vibe.
    If the left wing is Yang,
    Then the right wing is Yin.
    Mellow, dark, and subdued in buzz,
    Yet not a cave but a haven light-shone,
    Where one can bask
    In the silence and sights…

    And if you’re lucky,
    From time to time,
    Sounds adorn the silence,
    Free and Raw,
    That refreshes and sparks,
    Of all attuned,
    The pleasures to have,
    When live music is heard.

    So why would you steal,
    This treasured place from us?
    Lessoning the count
    Of spaces adored
    – of places tried?

    If it’s progress you say that warrants such acts,
    Then why does it feel that the opposite is true?

    A sense of connection
    Eroding away,
    Giving way to function
    Disregarding form.
    Beauty bereft
    Efficiency King,
    Leave no room for structures
    That provide no price.

    And so it was
    For the 21 year old library,
    In what remains –
    A memory.

    • A favourite spot of mine in the right wing (Image Source: TimeOut)
    • The “Impasse” (Image Source: Wikipedia)
    • The Entrance (Image Source: Shaun Chng)
    • The Entrance (Image Source: The Straits Times)
    • The performance stage (image source: Shaun Chng)
    • The art display (Image Source: Shaun Chng)
    • The “puffy red” chairs in the left wing (Image Source: Shuan Chng)
    • Part of the right wing (Image Source: TimeOut)
    • Part of the right wing overlooking Marina Bay (Image Source: Shuan Chng)
    • Dance book section in the right wing (Image Source: TickiKIDS)

    *Featured Image Source: The Straits Times

    1. It officially opened on the 12th September 2002. ↩︎
  • Kinto Water Bottle: Fluid Pottery

    Kinto Water Bottle: Fluid Pottery

    Doesn’t Beauty, although “useless”, nevertheless hold a mysterious grip among its enraptured beholders? Oscar Wilde once remarked that to put usefulness first, we lose it. But to place beauty first, what we do will be useful forever. And part of the reason that beautiful everyday objects will be “useful forever” is that it is conserved and cherished by the user by virtue of the object being beautiful – and that is exactly what I experienced with my Kinto Water Bottle (as with the case, in a larger scale, of historical buildings being conserved and not destroyed due to their beauty – watch “Why Beauty Matters” at the 17:20 mark).

    My Kinto water bottle is the first water bottle that I actually cherish. Here are three actions that I wouldn’t do for any other water bottle:

    1. Not bring it to the tennis court (I play tennis) and place it on the dirty floor.

    2. Leave it to dry when not in use so as to prevent algae growth.

    3. Look at it repeatedly and think to myself, “what a lovely water bottle this is.”

    Indeed no other water bottle has caught my attention as the Kinto water bottle for its curved shapeliness that is, first of all, unique to say the least but also creating a seamless form from bottom to top analogous to a pottery piece deserving of display. Its plastic (made from recycled material) is sturdy and perspicuous like glass – that also comes in five colours (clear, amber, smoke, blue, green) and three sizes (300ml, 500ml, 950ml) – which paired up with its soft curves amplifies the pleasure of looking at the water contained within as if the water is at one with the bottle.  

    Kinto Water Bottles in five colours and three sizes
    Kinto Water Bottles in five colours and three sizes (Image Source: Shopee)


    Drinking water from the bottle also feels great due to its “practical size sprout” which apart from being designed for easy refilling and washing also enables one to drink comfortably, and exceptionally so I must say – no awkward contortion of lips to get a sip as we do for some water bottles! Also, the lid opens with just a few twists which – to my surprise – does aid in the ease of the drinking-water experience as does the handle moulded to the lid contributes greatly to the portability department in enabling one to pick up the bottle and to make carrying it around a breeze.

    Ought “form follows function” or “function follows form” in the creation of everyday objects? I say, both are essential but the best marry both in perfect unity and harmony as in the case with this Kinto Water Bottle – as I would term it: Fluid Pottery.

    *Featured Image Source: My Own

    If you like click and purchase the Kinto Water Bottle here: https://amzn.to/43WuTN9. I may earn a small commission if you do so but at no additional costs to you. Thanks for your support, Cheers! 

  • A Look at Eyes

    A Look at Eyes

    At life’s inception,
    I opened them –
    A fuzz, a blur, a searing blaze…
    Blinking-wriggling,
    The need to progress,
    Blinking-wriggling,
    Shades of grey,
    Blinking-wriggling,
    On light’s first meet.

    Shapes, Colours,
    Are next I saw – and movement,
    Yes, movement, here and there –
    From side to side,
    Front and back,
    Sometimes high,
    Sometimes low.
    A strange world materialising
    Before my eyes –
    Endlessly fascinating it must have been,
    But left me drained to heed sleep’s call.

    Eyes, it’s said,
    Are windows to the soul.
    To encounter another is in no way slight.
    Look eye-to-eye and you might see…

    Those haughty eyes who look down upon;
    Those cunning eyes who dart, wink, plot;
    Those seductive eyes who capture and charm,
    Eating away those unawares
    Their flesh and bones,
    All life unspared…

    Shivers. Cold. A Nightmare.

    Awake, Awake,
    Into the light!
    Expectantly look
    Into lovers’ eyes…

    “Your eyes are doves.”

    “With a glance, you ravished my heart.”

    “Avert them away, for they – your eyes – overwhelm me so!”

    –

    An abundance of love
    Expressed and felt
    In the softness of eyes
    With compassion aglow
    Assures the anxiety-laden
    Reinvigorates the weak.

    So from eye to eye,
    As with torch to torch,
    Inflame one another
    Till the brim of light!

    –

    Light is sweet,
    And to see is a gift.
    But remember also
    Of the day to come:

    When grey shades return,
    And visions go blur…

    Blinking-breathing,
    The will to survive.
    Blinking-gasping,
    Fading light.
    Shut.
    Sleep.
    At the close –

    Of light’s first meet –

    *Featured Image: My own












  • BiC Japan Clic Gold Ballpoint Pen: Ordinary, not!

    BiC Japan Clic Gold Ballpoint Pen: Ordinary, not!

    I have to admit that my first reception of these pens were like “oh, another hotel pen” – you know those black ballpoint pens (yes, I first received the black version) available on the reception desk often with a cable or string attached for visitors to use (before wide-spread digitalisation) or those found in hotel rooms with a notepad.

    To which my giver retorted, “No, they are not! They are special and made-in-Japan.”

    So I gave it a second look, and concluded still, “nah, it is ordinary”, until I started using it…

    [Admittedly, this is not the first time that seemingly ordinary-looking objects “grew on me” (see The Bag My Friend Gave), and I wonder if there is always an element of hiddenness in the truly beautiful which requires time for the beholder to uncover and see.]

    “The grip and feel of the pen actually feels great” was what I found myself thinking after a couple of days of usage. The smooth veneer of the pen is pleasurable to touch, glide – and swirl (if you’re into it too) – and the grip is comfortable to hold with fingers fitting nicely at the pen’s narrower tip. Clicking the pen also felt good in its firmness and slight pushback, and the tip leaves a fine (it has a 0.5mm ball diameter) unique greyish-black trace that does not smudge easily (which is a plus-point I like).

    In the looks-department, adjectives such as “elegant”, “sleek”, and “classy” begin to replace “ordinary” in my mind’s judgement of the pen, and with it also a realisation of the increased frequency and duration of my glances, admiring its shapeliness and base colour against the gold trimmings and platings. And so it was in the midst of my enjoyment, that it had to happen:

    I lost it.

    Not in misplacing it but (this is rather embarrassing:) in swirling my (only) black “Clic Gold” pen out from my hands into the inaccessible recesses of the underside of immovable furniture, to oblivion. A sure case of tough luck, that is.

    But – yes, but – as luck providence would have it, I needed to wait just a couple more months before receiving more “Clic Gold” pens from my empathetic and generous friend (who came to know of my dismay), and this time receiving back not only the black variation but also obtaining another colour variant: shocking pink (see below)!

    BiC Clic Gold Ballpoint Pen Pink

    Image Source: My Own

    As I surmised and later discovered, the “Clic Gold” range does indeed contain a melange of colours which you can even mix-and-match with (visit here to experiment and see my video below)!

    Image Source: Amazon

    In all, the BiC Clic Gold pens are ballpoint pens suited for everyday usage with an affordable price but more: they remain one of my favourite (if not my favourite) ballpoint pens for its casing-feel, elegant-look, colour-variety, and reliable ink-trace. I highly commend them for personal use and/or gifts! And if anybody ever comments that they’re ordinary “hotel pens”, you can consider responding as such:

    “No, they are not! They are special and made-in-Japan.”

    *Featured Image Source: My Own


    If you like, click and purchase the pens here: https://amzn.to/4jcuWIR. I may earn a small commission if you do so but at no additional costs to you. Thanks for your support, Cheers!






  • Jesus of Nazareth, Beautiful?

    Jesus of Nazareth, Beautiful?

    “… he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.”
    – Isaiah 53:2

    Jesus of Nazareth, certainly one of the most – if not the most – influential singular human figure in the history of humanity, ranks also objectively speaking one of the most – if not the most – beautiful of all men. But how so we may ask? We know neither the exact face of Jesus except through a myriad of depictions of him (see below) and the enigmatic shroud of Turin. The Bible too is silent about his looks less for his glorious and fearsome appearance in visions and epiphanies (e.g. Matthew 17:1-13, Revelation 1:9-18). In fact, as we read in the passage above from the Prophet Isaiah about Jesus, he was anything but good looking. So how is he beautiful? And why even bother about his beauty?

    Many faces of Jesus

    Many faces of Jesus
    (Image source: Pinterest)


    On the first inquiry, it must be somewhat obvious that our mentioning of the ‘beautiful’ here extends beyond mere bodily and facial appearance in form and countenance, to encompass the essence of human beauty which is that of body-and-soul: we are embodied souls-ensouled bodies. This salutary regard of human beauty, is to some extent (only that it is perhaps becoming increasingly difficult with the ascendancy and ubiquity of social media – and so, superficiality), considered in our “lookout for character” advice to singles and in the “thoughtful questions” segment of beauty pageants to draw out the wisdom of the ‘beauties’. Thus this valuation of human beauty should not be foreign to us (if not serving as a rightful reminder) and should lead us to uncover and discover Jesus’ beauty.

    But first: what are we praising when we pronounce that someone is beautiful (remember: beyond mere looks1)? Quite invariably his/her virtues, attitude, words, mannerisms, actions. Or in other words, his/her qualities shone through his/her demeanour, actions and speech. But is that adequate to touch us enough to warrant a bestowment of “beautiful” upon him/her? No, I think not for something more is needed, and that is the factoring in of the situation in which the act takes place. To judge and heap “beautiful” on anybody who does charitable acts (e.g. donating money to a beggar in public) without considering the particular circumstances is rather foolish – yes, the charitable act can be perceived as beautiful but all you know he/she could be donating money in public to bolster his/her reputation, and hardly caring for the beggar at all – would we want then to praise him/her? So the situation is paramount along with the outward expressions of virtues in judging a person beautiful.

    In relation to Jesus of Nazareth, his virtues were evidently present, documented and well-accepted. He was wise, temperate, passionate about advancing right, brave, devout, and loving. He worked (as a carpenter), taught, fasted, healed, fed, embraced the weak, washed feet, rebuked, acted on injustice, prayed, endured hardships, suffered, and died. Prostitutes, criminals, the rich, the powerful, the poor, the sick, outcasts, and children were drawn to him. But without taking into account of his situation, all his deeds, attitude, and words would not have the impact that it did. Because behind his service, he was poor, misunderstood, grieving, despised, and God.

    “He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity; and as one from whom others hide their faces, he was despised, and we held him of no account.”
    – Isaiah 53:3

    And

    “For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.”
    – 2 Corinthians 8:9

    And

    “In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
    – 1 John 4:10

    I must admit that the phrase, “not that we loved God” by St John strikes a deep chord in relation to the contrasting love of God towards me-us. How often do we see an individual love an enemy who does them harm? Rarely, if ever. And if we do, to what extent does the individual love the hater? Offering forgiveness? Perhaps; avoiding slandering him/her? Difficult; helping him/her with a task? On good days; but sacrificing your life for your enemy to save his/hers? Preposterous.

    And this very absurdity is precisely what God had done towards me-those who hate him through the willing hands and feet of the Nazarene, Jesus. From the most mundane acts of kindness to the extremity of sacrificing oneself for the good of another, this was what Jesus of Nazareth, had chose to do for haters, forgoing for a time his “riches” (i.e. his prestige, privileges and comforts) as the Son of God as St Paul states, to living a life of simplicity, poverty and service that he may reach all – yes, even the poorest. This had befuddled many a curious mind throughout the ages and still for some others, Jesus has touched their hearts through his goodness (virtues) and truth (situation) displayed in forms as beauty (actions, manner, and words).

    As to why bother about the beauty of Jesus of Nazareth? I simply have this to answer: We love whom/what we find beautiful.

    *Featured Image Source: Wikipedia

    1. For that we have adjectives like “pretty”, “handsome”, “good looking” to employ. ↩︎
  • Good Old Flats of Pasir Ris

    Good Old Flats of Pasir Ris

    If you were to ask me which area of Singapore is my favourite, I would unhesitatingly reply the “East” but particularly Tampines, Simei, and Pasir Ris. If you were to probe further to ask why do I fancy the “East”, my reply would be because of the unique bucolic “homey” vibe it exudes. Could it be due to a biased preference since I have been living in the “East” all my life? Possibly, but I could also list down objective reasons for my preference such as its interesting circular streets, landscaping, open spaces, lower rise buildings (due to its close proximity to the airport) enabling one to see more of the skyline, and also its organicity and “homeliness” – which, sad to see, is fast dissipating due to frenetic (even vulgar) development in a utilitarian world.

    But gloom aside, I would like to highlight and commemorate one prime vestige of such organicity evinced in – what I would call – the “good old flats” of Pasir Ris.

    Back in 2022, I had a serendipitous encounter with the “Pasir Ris Heritage Trial” while researching on places in Singapore to explore as part of my fulfilment of a module in teacher-college (National Institute of Education) which I eventually embarked on. That solo trip and showcase after (through an artefact which we have to create – which is made available below) led me to delve deeper into the architecture of the old public housing flats.

    Having spent most of my childhood in Pasir Ris, those flats were certainly not alien to me and I had always found them attractive but never wondered why until then. Coming off the trail, I was blown away by the intentionality, coherence and fittingness that went into the intricate designs of the flats as well as its landscaping based on a particular theme unique to the identity and history of Pasir Ris, that is, the “seaside resort” theme – for Pasir Ris was near the beach and had multiple beachfront hotels in the past. And in that trial I witnessed with my own eyes, the artist’s (dare I say) loving intents in features such as:

    “lighthouse-shaped turrets formed by columns of balconies and grille patterns inspired by traditional tropical basket-weaving designs… void decks and precinct boundary walls feature(ing) porthole-shaped openings, and flat windows and balconies are (being) framed within clam-shaped openings.” (source:Roots)

    Needless to say, I was delighted and in all honesty a bit awestruck, not least with the amount of thought that went into the details but also discovering what it meant for buildings to have a “face” – a “soul”.

    Roger Scruton, in his book The Aesthetics of Architecture mentions a kind of facelessness existing in modern edifices whose facades of windows simply mirrors their surroundings, lacking any soul or distinctiveness which is essentially anti-human flourishing: 

    “Vast and overbearing though the modern building types may be, they never acquire an air of permanence, but recreate the city as a frozen junkyard. Their raw functionality hurts the eye and the soul, for it speaks not of us and our right of dwelling, but of them. It is an anonymous they who built these things for inscrutable purposes that lie beyond our sympathies. In losing the reference to sacred architecture that inhabited our building types from the Greeks until the beginning of the twentieth century, we lose also our conception of the city, as a place where absent generations reside among the living, and the living room reside. The real cause of the decay of our inner cities, I believe, is the architecture that has killed them.” (PXII)

    And sadly Singapore is not spared such a phenomenon: look around and notice the new housing developments (both private and public), are they not a far cry from the “good old flats of Pasir Ris” but instead reek of bland pungent functionality – resembling Le Corbusier’s vision of the house as a “machine for living in”?

    No wonder I always felt “at home” in Pasir Ris (and other parts of Simei and Tampines) especially being in the presence of such “life-giving” architecture and landscaping borne out of the location’s historical roots and distinctive characteristics, and in the converse, a feeling of alienation and uneasiness in (regretfully) other (newer) parts of Singapore. It is my prayer and hope that the “Good Old Flats” of Pasir Ris might be loved, remain, and shine as a beacon and model for new (re-)developments to come. For Shalom!

    *Image Source: roots.gov.sg