This stairway “garden” is simulated via digitally composited photographs of botanical gardens with colonial origins in Hanoi, Manila, Bogor, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. The images were superimposed on bands of colours in a pattern mimicking Regency era stripes, and printed on roller blinds, self-adhesive vinyl and more than 5,000 sheets of A4 coloured 80 gm photocopier paper. The artists then reverently applied these to the walls. This meditative labour is inspired by the meticulous gold leafing of the interiors of sacred places. It is also evoked through the Tibetan Buddhist mantras on the walls that symbolically cleanse passing visitors of negative karma.
This project is shaped by the ideals of shared authorship. The artists intend to share the installation’s image files as an open source resource. As a starting point, they invited Sydney-based Singaporean architect Renjie Teoh to use the image files to design a paper cut pavilion with pan-Asian architectural motifs. Installed on the central stair landing, it frames a “photogenia” or camouflaged chair that visitors can pose with for photos. This installation also includes a community “garden” along the corridor on Level 5 featuring paper cuts of plants such as Singapore’s national flower, the orchid Vanda Miss Joaquim, made by participants in workshops conducted by Jeremy Chu.
NOTE
The blinds come down at 7am and go up at 7pm daily.
- Where: City Hall Wing, stairwell between Levels 4 and 5