Our team first started out with the intention of doing a documentary about murals. We understand the medium, we weren’t sure with the subject but that is why we decided to explore about this subject itself.

That’s why our research began back to the history of murals- from caveman paintings to street art, to understand the techniques and the purpose of it even. We then realized that we had a problem with getting the actual footage from our research.

We decided to change the focus to our local arts scene, which is Singapore and discovered that our main location is at or around MRT stations.

Then, we basically needed a criteria to choose/separate out what we want.

We came up with artists who have experience in other mediums other than murals, deals with singapore issues, with techniques which might be traditional or digital or even sculptural.

Seeking for the definition of what are murals to singaporeans and do they even care?

Secondly, we developed a story along the way. Talks about how the government is trying to experiment with art by putting at train passage ways, by trying to follow the ways of other countries.

“3. Mr Yam Ah Mee, Chief Executive of the LTA said: “A vibrant arts community plays an important role in the quality of life that we all enjoy. Art recognises the ties that bind people to a place, its past as well as a better tomorrow. A thoughtfully conceived, executed and integrated piece of public art enhances the value and meaning of a landscape. Cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Paris and London have long promoted public art in their transit systems. These cities, too, recognise the value of art and its ability to contribute to the vibrancy of the cities and humanise the often-hectic transit environment.” “

But can Singaporeans catch up with the government?

Thirdly, what is recognised or accepted as art in Singapore, by content? By technique, by a panel of judges?

In our video, we trying to find by comparing and contrasting some issues.

Land Transport Authority. (2008). Circle Line Art In Transit Programme: Weaving art into public spaces. Retrieved December 17, 2009, from http://app.lta.gov.sg/corp_press_content.asp?start=1988

Murals

Theme Questions

Interview Subjects

-Public opinion

-Artists’ opinion

VO

Toca Me

-Patrons give opinions

-Artist reveals intention

Bishan

-Cuts in between passerbys and artist as the work is literal

Ee Shuan

Khadijah’s friend

Samuel’s Father

Izuddin’s friend

Big Equipments

Permissions

Passerbys

Khadijah

-to transcribe the digitize file

Izuddin

-to send reminders for interview subjects

-to book vista lab for this saturday for sound correction/digitizing

2. Do you consider this to be a mural and why?

3. What do you think the artist is trying to say with this work?

4. Do you like the colours/ understand the usage of the colours ?

5. Do you find this work to be relatable?

*Note: Do not have to ask all for the passer-bys.

General

We know that you prefer to do the murals in a traditional way.

Do you do murals in a digital format?

If not, would you give it a try?

Why or why not?

How long have you been in the art industry?

What is your own definition of a mural?

What is your style? What techniques do you use?

What are you usually inspired by? Are there any artists whom you find yourself similar to or inspired by?

Was the space and location important?

Was the medium important? (Painting on canvas vs. murals)

About your works- in toca and at mis’skuzi.

What do both of these works mean to you and do you consider both of them to be murals?

What are your preferred colours used and why?

Do you associate your colours with music?

What kind of characters do you usually use in your works?

What is your intended reaction for the audience?

Are there any main issues that you usually include in for you works?

 Ending off

 Lastly, but not the least, are there any differences in terms of the art scene in UK and Singapore? What is the experience like in creating your works?

 What are your opinions of the other works shown?

,

Jo

1. Asking about Traditional Art Vs. Digital Art- What and how is the difference like for them? If they have a preference over another?

2. How long have you been in the Art industry?

-What is your style?

-What techniques do you use?

3. What is your definition of a mural?

4. Were you comissioned by LTA to do the work?

5. What were your ideas in creating the characters on the mural?

-Is there a story?

-Is the story or issue relatable to Singaporeans?

6. Were there any correction in making the mural? What about your choice of colours?

7. What are you opinions on other murals?

We have asked most of the questions today but I feel that we need to restructure it for some of the other artists.

*Like for example, the artist might been doing art on other forms of mediums. Ask about their preference.

*Was the space chosen by them or were they asked to do it?

*Does the space affect the work, and does the T.A affect the work?

Today these questions were more for Ee shaun because of his 3 murals in Bishan, and because it is under LTA, located at MRT stations.

Credits to http://eeshaun.com/

I asked him, ” Did the colour mattered and why was it that some of the characters in the blue and yellow mural had lesser colours in contrast to the Colorful one.

He replied, ” The colours were mainly inspired by Bishan itself and he wanted to show more irony in the other two murals, like how Singaporeans like to hide or pretend sometimes.”

That kinda sums up my post.

PS, I really think we need to catergorize our posts proper, shall do it this saturday. =)

,

Jo

 We held a meeting last Wednesday on the 28^th of October and we decided to specify the topic of our documentary about murals and people. It is not only about that but as well as about traditional and non-traditional murals such as digital or other aspects e.g. one-cent coins mural as displayed at Bartley MRT Station by Jane Lee (we have yet to get the contact of her –so far to no avail). The questions-as-concepts-and-ideas are as mentioned below:

• What is a mural?
  • Is it a form of art?
  • Why does an artist/audience define it as such?
• What makes a mural?
  • Examples;
    • Painting on walls?
    • Canvas on wall?
    • Printing on wall?
• What is traditional mural?
  • What are the techniques used to produce it (e.g. brush, strokes etc)?
    • How do they interact with the audiences?
      • What do they represent?
      • What emotions are conveyed and why?
      • New forms ideas/messages?
  • What purpose does it serve?
• Is a mural restricted to traditional means? E.g. painting on walls?
• What is non-traditional mural?
  • How is it different from traditional mural?
    • Examples
      • Technology?
      • Techniques?
• How do the technologies (or techniques) used to interact with audiences?
  • Example;
    • Emotions?
    • Representations?
    • Ideas?
• Why do (some) artists choose this platform?
• What purpose does it serve?
• Are there any examples of non-traditional murals?
  • Example;
    • Digital?
    • Painting?
• Are there any other forms of mural?
  • Why do artists choose that platform?
  • How does the artist relate his/her experience with the audiences to convey the art?
  • What purposes do they serve?
  • What do audiences understand from it?
    • Do they consider is as a mural?
• Others?
• • What would be considered as a mural?
  • Is graffiti considered an art and mural?
    • Why and why not?

I believe I’ve written too much. I’ve yet to update the latest questions. But I think I’ll hold that one first and reconsider about that… Night!

Regards,

‘Izuddin; just a stranger, just a wanderer

These are the questions brought up by Izuddin (the one who is blogging now) for the content of the documentary on the 27th of October (do bear in mind that during this period, the mural’s general focus is more into e.g. “murals and people”, though a week later we specified the questions):

QUESTION(S):

Mural Artists for their murals

• How big is the space given to them?
• What are the techniques used?
   -Brush strokes
   -Poster colours
   -Acrylic paint
   -Oil paint etc
     ~why used those techniques
       -Is it making use of technology
• Does their artwork/mural catch the attention of the target audience?
• Why and why not?
• How does their artwork/mural reflect on the target audience and their chosen site/space (for the mural)?
• How long is their experience in painting murals?
• Who is their target audience and why?
• What do they hope their target audience to benefit or gain?
• What do they want to tell the audience?
• Why do they choose that specific place to paint the mural?
• How do you define mural?
• Are they meanings behind the details of the mural
   -Contents
   -Lines
   -Symbols
   -Theme/concept
    ~Why use those details
    ~What influence the artist to use themPasserby
• What do they think of the specific mural?
• Do they consider it as an art? Why and why not?
• Are they aware of the existence of the mural?
  -How do they react to it
   ~What do they feel about it
   ~How long do they look at the mural
• Do they understand the mural?
   ~What do they understand about it?
     -What helped them to understand?
   ~colours/details/elements/contents?
• Do they have any suggestions on how murals can represent Singapore?
  -Have they seen or visited other local murals

Does the objective of mural stand?

• When do people pass by the mural?
• What is mural?
• What is the purpose of this mural (in the specific location)?
• How does the mural attract the audience?
• Who is the mural for?
   ~who is the target audience?
  ~why are they the chosen ones?
• Why is mural a chosen platform?
• When is it created?
• How do the audience responds or reacts to it?
   ~Do they ignore it? why?
   ~Do they appreciate it? why?
   ~Do they consider it as an art? why and why not?

These were the ones me brought up last week. It was only part of contribution; some of these were added by the help of Khadijah and Taufiq. The questions were rather grouped as ideas rather than finalised contents etc.

Yours Truly

The Stranger, Izuddin

We are finding out about the responses of Singaporeans, the artists and even the commissioners. Asking why and what was initial decision to put it at the supposed locations.

Murals placed at MRT and shopping areas: Do people realized that the murals are there or will they even recognize the murals they pass by everyday?

Murals drew using freehand graffiti etc.: Do they have a certain meaning or code they want the public to know or is it for pure expression?

From what we have derived from the research, we know that the different levels of understanding from a human. At first, it was more directional and straight to the point, telling us where to find water, what happened at that point of time. Slowly, it became something more deep-lust, humor and secret codes, what is the human mentality of it today, in our very own Singapore?

Perhaps from all these, we are able to find similarities within the artists, be it their inspirations or styles and techniques in what they do, likewise do Singaporeans share the similar thoughts to the murals as well?

Cheers,

Jo