Bystanders Series.Changi Beach. Print

This painting depicts an actual photograph I captured of my family enjoying ourselves at Changi Beach during a family chalet in 2018. The time stopped for a moment. Suddenly tons of steel was floating in the waters designed by engineers and welded by skilled craftsmen encompassing almost all the landscape. What were our thoughts? Did we see our future? We were swimming and playing in the same body of water, where we observed a huge ship pass us tainting the very same water we were playing in. Here I find myself with the people I love submitting ourselves to the role of an everyday bystander. And in awe, we stand at attention to this huge ship that goes past us, not an everyday scene, but one that seems enchanting. Moments of still silence, with our gaze fixed to the large robust vessel that strides against this beautiful nature. The boy in me exclaims the magnificent sight of this mechanical engineered machine. We are very much part of a sociological overwhelming problem despite the distance we observe it from. Also, when was the last time we lived in a different “reality”? Where we were able to enjoy family and friends gatherings and outings safely without any group size limit or the masks and other restrictions. The social gathering was once upon a time natural and safe. Now, relationships have become precarious with the others from our very own family. Our busy life turned into a great relaxing time during our staycation and we enjoyed each other’s company so much. After three years all of this has suddenly stopped due to a pandemic that has affected the world and our lives. Today, my almost-two-year-old baby girl is looking at my completed painting and pointing at each part of the painting that she can recognise and name the particular object in the composition, be it the clouds or grass or a ship. The pandemic like the ship shrouds our landscape in our everyday lives. Reminiscing Life. Remanents of Life. Life.