As a six-year-old boy, I visited the Chinatown market with my great Uncle, during Mooncake festival, to buy mooncakes and lanterns. I got lost because it was very crowded at nighttime. But in getting lost, I discovered for the first time the “Five-Foot-Way Shophouses”. Everything around me was fresh and new. This night tour experience and the memory of shophouses is what I am going to recreate for this exhibition.
Sir Stamford Raffles propose his idea in November 4, 1822 and this idea became the “Five- foot way” Shophouses that we see today. Ground floor was for business and the second floor was for residence. The structure incorporated a covered passage, to provide pedestrians relief from the tropical heat and rain. From 1840’s to 1960’s, there were few shophouse style developed. Currently, counties like Singapore and Malaysia try to protect and conserve our roots, our heritage. By going through the different styles, if reflect the era of the city’s development.
Using clay as my primary medium, in order to create my version of “Five- foot way” shophouse. I will like to apply different techniques in hand-building with Minimalist Arts movement. At the same time, materials such as glass, wood and stone will incorporate into the clay or porcelain. The contrast and harmonies of materials and the materials limitation, pushes me to move beyond my comfort zone.
