bLeW mY mInD aWaY

It's been ages since I last step into a museum...

The last time I went for an exhibition was when I was in my uni days for a sociology module and the students were all invited to attend the Ottoman Empire exhibition at the Asian Civillisation Museum.

And now after a span of 2 yrs (estimated), I have once again set foot into the newly renovated National Museum on Tues. It was a wonderful suggestion by my beloved to visit an educational place to gain insightful insights on our anniversay holiday. And realli, it was a refreshing change.

The National Museum onli opened it's doors for visitors to the basement area where the exhibits were housed. Other levels were still out of bounds as work is still going on in there. Admission was free and we were treated to the Japanese Film Festival (although we did not catch any films as the queue to watch was long and each film lasts an average of an hour to 2 hours) and the Singapore Biennale 2006.

The exhibits at the Singapore Biennale 2006 took my breath away. First, we stepped into a darkened hallway and saw this soft glowing structure that glows and darkens intermittenly. Whenever the glow was lost, the whole room was plunged into total darkenss. To tell the truth I was a lil' scared since it was pitch dark and all hell will break loose if someone bumps into me. In such darkness where I can't even see my fingers, beloved and me will halt our steps.

It amazes me how some other visitors could still continue walking in pitch darkness. Weren't they afraid of accidentally knocking into someone and getting mistakened for a pervert? Immense relief that flooded thru me when the glow came back on (albeit for a short while) and I could make my way about.

We then left the room and chanced upon this artwork titled: Harajuku Schoolgirls. On first look you would have thought it was a pretty painting/picture of chio jap schoolgirls but upon closer inspection, you will realise to your horror, that the painting is a sadistic form of art. Each school girl was performing an act of suicide or being slashed by another girl. Colourful innards spilling out, blood spraying and foaming at the mouth. Only one girl stands in the middle of the pic victorous with a long sword high up in her hands with another girl clawing at her thigh. Urgh! Thought provoking!

We then went into a room separated by a curtain where artworks titled under "The Heart Is A Lonely Painter" were housed. Kaoz, it has a parental guidance warning stuck on to warn parents to keep their kiddies away. Guess what was so RA/violent about the canvas paintings? The paintings depicted this man who had his heart and testicles dug out. Goodness, it was quite graphic in nature. But realli the artist was darn good, the paintings look sooo real and the expression was beyond words.

There was this other HUGE structure to depict something like a HUGE tent (i assume de) where you can step inside and see little blue spots flying about on the ceilings of the structure. Sounds of busy insects can be heard and it suddenly dawns on you that the installation mimicks a tent scene and you watching the fireflies dancing under the nite sky. Simple yet breathtaking.

Make a trip down to the National Museum and tour the exhibits. They are well worth your time :)