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Just after the Bukit Merah Library Origami Exhibition,
[3rd & 4th June 2000] we were approached to set up a similar one for
Queenstown Library but as we were involved in other events, it was finally
decided to have it during the December school holidays. Since then, the
Public Relations Officer, Daniel Choy, has been transferred to another
branch and the new PR, Mrs. Chan took over his duties. I had to repeat
everything that I had discussed with the former PR but Mrs. Chan proves
to be very efficient and everything ran smoothly. Given the short time,
the promotional bouchers and posters were done and ready on time. The arrangements
of tables and chairs at exhibition area, the auditorium was set up on time.
Mrs. Chan also arranged to gather all the books on Origami and other related
titles and these were displayed along the edge of the stage for the public
to borrow.
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8th December 2000. [Friday]
I arrived late in the afternoon to set up the exhibits.
The chairs were all set up but there were not enough of tables. Mrs. Chan
managed to get another three tables from the store and another two from
the children’s reading room. Although still 3 tables short of the 14 that
we originally required, it was good enough because at the very last moment,
some of us cannot participate. Mrs. Chan helped me to rearrange some of
the chairs and I set up my exhibits.
Leong Cheng Chit arrived later with his load of models from our overseas friends. He set up his own creations and his latest, a striking Pangolin folded from tracing paper [his favourite medium] took the centre spot on his table. We then set up the overseas models as well as Andy Lim’s models. This guy just left all his models with us during our exhibition at Bukit Merah Library and mysteriously disappeared. It was getting late; I encountered some difficulties in setting up his delicate models and decided to do it early next morning, when I am in a better frame of mind.
Mrs. Chan came in and looked so excited. She immediately
went to inform Mr. Lim, the Head of the Library. Although not all the exhibits
were set up, as some of us cannot make it that day and can only come the
next morning, Mr. Lim was very pleased and thanked us for supporting his
library.
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9th December 2000 [Saturday]
I arrived at 9am. Lim Hee Sen was already setting
up his models. The very first thing that I noticed was a string tied across
two chairs - on top of his table! Beneath this string hung several Kusudamas.
Now, this is one sure way of getting attention but I do not think this
is the proper way in an exhibition. Hee Sen agrees, “I know what you will
say.” he said. I took out some wires, attached them to bamboo skewers and
neatly anchored them under the lighting covers on the ceiling. The string
was then attached to the wires and all the Kusudamas now hung from the
ceiling. We were very pleased with the result and I added another Kusudama
to his collection.
Besides Kusudamas, Hee Sen also displayed a wide
variety of Fuse’s Boxes. These replace the absence of Brigitte’s “Fuse’s
Boxes.” Brigitte [Our “box fanatic”] was having a fine time spending her
Christmas holidays in Australia. Fuse’s Masks were also neatly mounted
on plastic boxes. This is something “new” from Hee Sen as he normally displays
animal or insect models.
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I added a few more items to my table and hung up a Snowflake mobile that I made just the night before. It was not my best mobile but at least it provided something different from our previous exhibitions. I then tidied up Andy’s table.
Chan Yew Meng and Peter Chai arrived at about the same time and they set up their own displays. Chan Yew Meng set up his usual simple models in his unusual artistic way, making use of unusual props. This time, a lovely Fuse mask was displayed in a small Gold Fish Bowl. This deserves a place in the showcase and Mrs. Chan could not but agreed. She opened up the showcase and it took the centre spot. Momotani’s centipede, some Fuse’s boxes and a single stalk of Kawasaki Rose in a gold-plated narrow vase were also included in the showcase. I displayed Momotani’s Bullock cart and a couple of airplanes and all these models will remain for some time in the showcase, long after the exhibition is over.
Peter Chai’s table was set up as a Jurassic theme, consisting of dinosaur models. Proper write-ups and drawings of each dinosaur model were included. His table was also specially set up differently from the rest so that the viewer can “work” his way around the table to view and read about the dinosaur models, all very delicately folded. Peter also displayed Albert Sng’s origami insects, which were mounted in a box. It looks like a collection of insects that one would normally see in a museum. A tablecloth covered the photocopy machine and the origami insect collection was placed on top of it. There were many other models folded by Albert, which Cheng Chit brought along yesterday but they were not displayed.
Teik Seong arrived and his exhibits took up half a table. Each of his model, mostly animals and some human figures were neatly folded and mounted on black bases. Benjamin Tan also came to give us his support. They both helped out and kept track on the number of visitors.
The library opens at 10AM for the public and as expected, we had few visitors in the morning. I took this time to have a late breakfast. Yew Meng joined me. Visitors came and went. At any time, there were not more than 20 visitors in the room. We noticed that there wasn’t anything to direct the public to the exhibition hall. Peter Chai did a quick write–up and I folded an Origami “arrow”, mounted it on the notice board and placed it at the entrance. More visitors came and most were very well behaved but the Ugly Singaporean is always present at any function. If they cannot appreciate origami, that has nothing to do with us but these adults, simply cannot understand that the exhibits are folded from delicate papers. Children are not to be blamed as they cannot understand but these adults, instead of looking after their own kids and explaining to them that the exhibits are not to be touched, do so themselves and just let their children run wild. They are not happy when you tell their children off.
By noon, the attendance reached 100. Leong Cheng
Chit came to have a look. He stayed for some time but I did not notice
when he left. I was asked to give a talk on Origami at 2.30 PM. Adults
and children arrived early and all the chairs were filled up. More chairs
were added. It was really very good to see so many people. [More than 60
attendees] Mrs. Chan gave a brief introduction and I took over. I briefly
explained the basic requirements of Origami and demonstrated the mechanism
of some models by well-known Origamist. Papers were then distributed and
I wasted no time to teach them a simple box and a butterfly. Chan Yew Meng
took over and demonstrated and taught a simple flapping bird and the Traditional
Box. Albert Sng arrived while I was giving the talk and helped out to answer
to some queries from the public. The Folding session was supposed to end
at 4PM but many still remained behind to learn more folds. One very young
kid approached me and asked me to teach him how to fold a Montroll scorpion.
I directed him to Teik Seong and he asked the little one to come the next
day. A smiling Mrs. Chan told me that she was very surprised to see so
many children remaining seated for more than an hour. The library had to
make an announcement to diplomatically chase out the remaining attendees.
All the books on Origami that were on display along the edge of the stage
were gone!
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Aw Kum Seng came when everything was over. He could not come the next day. Ronald Koh could not make it but may turn up the next day and bring along some of his creations. Robert Choy was on overseas assignment. It was a very rewarding experience for all of us and we thank Mrs. Chan for hosting this event and providing us refreshments and souvenirs.
No. of visitors for Saturday - 251
10th December 2000 [Sunday]
I arrived at 12.30PM and removed some of the chairs
to provide more space for the visitors to move about the exhibition hall.
There will not be any workshop today. I also tidied up some of the exhibits.
The air-condition system was not turn on as the library opens at 1PM on
Sundays. It was rather stuffy so I decided to go outside to have some fresh
smoke. Hee Sen and his daughter arrived as I just lit up a cigarette. We
chatted for a while and then went in to the exhibition hall to do some
final touch ups on the exhibits.
When the library opened for the public at 1PM, we had our first 15 visitors. The hall was never crowded but a steady handful of visitors came and went, many feeling very disappointed when told that there will not be any talk or hands-on. I folded some models to pacify them. There was a lady who acted as though she owns every model in the hall. Tugging her son along, she asked him to select any model he liked. When her son selected a highly complicated model, she demanded that we fold it for him. Hee Sen diplomatically told her that it would take some time to fold. She expected that it would only take a couple of minutes but when she was informed that it would take at least 3 weeks, she just kept quiet and moved on. I guess she realized that instead of acting smart, she had in fact shown us how ignorant she really is.
We thought that the response was poor but when we looked at the attendance sheet, it showed that we in fact had more visitors than we had yesterday. The final total from 1PM to 4PM was 180 – a very good response for just 3 hours! We had 108 visitors yesterday.
Chan Yew Meng, Teik Seong, Benjamin Tan, Peter Chai and Cheng Chit were present but Ronald Koh could not make it. Paul Ee, one of the pioneers from our original group also came along with his son, to keep in touch with old friends. We chatted and talked origami.
It was an easy day; Yew Meng and myself rearranged the showcase and added more models for the library. We also chatted with some of the library staff and gave them some origami models. The library closes at 5PM and we decided to pack up at 4PM, so as not to cause inconvenience to the library staff to remain behind for us. While we were folding up, Yukiko Izawa, from the Japanese Culture Association turned up. She just managed to catch the final glimpse of the models on display. I presented her with a couple of my creations and she was very pleased.
We had a final group photograph and bid farewell
to the library staff. We thank Mrs. Chan for hosting this event and I wish
to extend my sincere thanks to all who has turned up to make this a successful
event. Each of you has contributed in your own special way and I look forward
to future events with you.
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From left to right of picture:
Francis Ow, Lim Hee Sen, Chan Yew Meng, Peter Chai, Leong Cheng Chit, Benjamin Tan, Teik Seong |
No. of visitors for Sunday - 280
Page 1 - Main (this page)
Page 2 - HS Lim's Contributions
Page 3 - Yew Meng's Contributions
Page 4 - Peter Chai's Contributions
Page 5 - Cheng Chit's Contributions
Page 6 - Francis Ow's Contributions
Page 7 - Teik Seong's Contributions
Page 8 - Albert Sng's Contributions
Page 9 - Others
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