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Noise - the apprenticeship programme

photo journal (nov 2011-jan 2012)

Seet Yun Teng (photography mentee of yi an huang)

22nd Oct: first NOISE gathering @ Goodman arts centre

26th Oct: first meeting with Yian

focus: trying to capture raw emotion and expression in different situations

1. documenting our last days in secondary school – expressions, actions, moods, interactions

2. taking photos of people's eyes in various expressions/moods, or of a pair of hands holding each other

in various ways (focusing on specific parts of the body and exploring the nuances that can be depicted

through them

3. examining the intensity of individuals absorbed in reading/technological devices/working (focusing on

their expressions)

4. trying to capture the world in a child's perspective (this also means from a child-height) vs an elderly's

perspective

5. taking photos of different scenes, but in every scene, there will be an identical clock somewhere

6. capturing the world as reflected on a water drop/puddle of water

7. various expressions of individuals when taking part in marathons/races

The New Singaporean What have you brought back from the foreign country?

What have you left behind?

Examining how the Singaporean identity evolves with the outflow (and subsequently, inflow) of human

talent. In particular, that of young individuals going abroad for various reasons (study, family.etc), who

have come back or are coming back in the near future – in what way have they changed from their

experience overseas, in what way have they brought something back to Singapore (“the new singaporean”)

and what continues to draw them back to Singapore?

Looking at their motivations, their emotions, their actions. Format: One standard portrait shot of them in

their bedrooms/houses/place that means something to them, other photos documenting them with either a)

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something they do before they leave b) something they do when they come back c) what brings them back

here.

1) something they brought back with them from the other country

2) what they will miss from Singapore in the other country

29th Oct: RGS teaching session 1

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4th Nov: Exhibition opening

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10th Nov: meeting number two

1) Samantha Chan

16 years old, after completing the four-year IP programme in RGS, instead of going on to RJC she decides to step off the worn path

and go to UK, to a not-so-well-known college to study. Her motivations are because that college, despite not having high standing, is

known for sending students off to medicine school (which is what she wants to do) – it’s easier to get into med school from there

rather from Singapore – the atmosphere there, she feels, is also more helpful, more close-knit and warm, less competitive than that

of RJC. She has kept her imminent departure a secret from most of her schoolmates, and only revealed it to them upon her

graduation on 4th November. She is leaving for UK on 19th Dec.

What she’ll do before going/what she’ll miss: Play soccer (she currently plays with the RJC team, who are all surprised she’s

leaving), eat Singaporean food

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18th Nov: RGS teaching session 2

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19th Nov: meeting number three + tedx talk

26th Nov: artist talk

8th Dec: meeting number four + studio shooting

Chin Ailin (3 years in York, UK, 2 years in Tomioka, Japan) Teacher

Thing she missed:

Her family, her husband. He’s mainly the reason why she came back, and even while

they’re building their own careers separately they share a strong bond (in character,

they’re very different.)

Thing she brought back:

Having studied in small towns with few people, a lot of space and short daylight hours,

she has learnt to enjoy solitary time, as well as appreciate company and conversation.

She has also adopted a habit of getting together with friends and organizing board game

parties – something which they did to entertain themselves in small, quiet towns, as well

as a way to catch up with friends who she met overseas.

Serene Ow (6 years in Sweden) Electrical engineer

Thing she missed:

Her family. The Sun. In Sweden, there was this period during winter when she, without

any apparent reason, felt very depressed – she couldn’t identify why and she just lacked

any energy. But as soon as the seasons turned, her spirits went up, and she really

realized how much she needed the sun and how she loved that about Singapore

Thing she brought back:

Physical mementos from Sweden (a small stack of handwritten photographs and cards,

paintings she painted there – a skill she adopted but gradually stopped in SG – books,

baking tools – that she gave up as well in SG – swedish CDs of a childhood favorite TV

show)

Another thing was learning what it meant to truly relax and enjoy each moment –

started to take time off for herself during morning brunches at the nearby kopitiams.

Kang Meng Choo (5 years in Japan)Studied mathematical economics, now retired

Thing she brought back:

Different pace of life, started to have the opportunity to do many sports that she didn’t

have the chance to do in SG (eg diving, climbing) and started to run a lot as well, along

the rivers in the rural areas.

Realizing that life is much greater than merely SG, becoming more broad-minded,

different perspectives.

Sense of personal peace, able to manage her life better and sort priorities

Goh Liang Kee (6 years in NZ, 2 years in US, planning to migrate to Australia)

Professer at Duke@NUS

Thing she missed:

Her parents. What brought her back was also her Singapore pride – at the system, the

values that we were brought up with that make us unique as Singaporeans. Wanted her

children to still have some ties to Singapore

Thing she brought back:

An appreciation for the greater amount of freedom in thoughts and creativity overseas –

greater breadth VS depth, different mindsets. Something she translated in her lab with

her students (who are mostly foreign students) in their interactions and discussions.

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10th Jan: meeting number five + looking for frames

6th Feb: meeting number six

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Final exhibition shots:

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