Picture History

The purpose of the exhibition was not just for the students in the elective to learn more about history in the 20th century and how to set up an exhibition. It was also for other TJCians to appreciate history through a fun method of looking at photographs. The turn-out for the exhibition was quite healthy, which reflected the increased interest of TJCians in the arts.

My favourite picture was of the World Trade Centre taken in 1988. Most people would have expected a picture of the collapse of the World Trade Centre during the terrorist attacks on 9 Sep 2001. However, this unique photograph showed the shadows of the twin towers on the surrounding houses of New York City. The shadows could possibly symbolise the shadows of doubt and fear cast upon New York and the entire United States in the wake of the attacks. With fears of another attack happening elsewhere in the world, this photograph serves as a warning against complacency and living in the past.

The exhibition was well-done, serving its purpose in enlightening TJCians on events that happened during the 20th century, thoroughly bringing out the spirit and the culture of the humanities. Hopefully, more of this type of exhibitions could be held to encourage students to gain a better liking and understanding of history. We do not have to wait till Humanities Week every year just to spread love for the arts. Anytime is definitely a time for the arts and culture.

Contributed By: Lim Xiu Zhen (32/03)

MEP performance and Art Showcase

The MEP composition showcase kick-started with a piece by August Lum, “Xin Chao” (“Welcome” in Vietnamese). It was a vibrant piece and the wide range of instruments, both ethnic and classic, produced an interesting medley of sounds. “Murder” and “Puppets” were two pieces that left a great impression on me. The former, composed by Jessica Choi, had a slow start that seemed to be building up towards a climax. The violin was unsurpassed in its ability to bring out the suspense of the piece. The latter, composed by Zheng Kan Kan, was inspired by Vietnamese water puppets and “wayang kulit”. It had a very lively and catchy tune.

The Art exhibition at the Scope was indeed an eye opener for me. I never knew there are so many talented artists in our College. Gazing at the life-like self-portraits and sketches of still life, one would really marvel at the potential of the young artists. The centrepiece of the exhibition was a stack of chairs that were painted by the students. A moment in time, like the backview of two schoolgirls, was captured superbly by the artist. A frog peeked out from the foliage and koi swam peacefully in a pond. These paintings were even better than photographs as the artist was able to focus on what he wanted to bring out more effectively with a paintbrush.

The Humanities Week has indeed changed my perspective of the students in our College. They are not stuffy and boring. On the contrary, they have a multitude of talent worth noticing. These gifts of art are the finer things in life that we tend to overlook because of our busy schedule. However, do spare some time to appreciate them because we will definitely emerge richer from the experience.

Contributed By: Desiree Fu (32/03)