Calling all heritage and photography buffs:
Admission free. To register email: museum@nus.edu.sg or call 6516 8817 / 8429
Featuring the works of photographers Ken Cheong and Zann Huang, this panel discussion will feature the photographers’ visual documentation and insight into the ritual of the Wayang, as well as spaces like Buangkok and the Bukit Brown Cemetery, trailing into a discussion of how documentation via photography infers and affects our construction of heritage in Singapore.
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The photo below is a gate which has 2 stone benches and is an extension of the tomb located at Blk 1 at Bukit Brown Cemetery, visible from the road. It invites questions as how it came to be a standalone with no surrounding perimeter.
photo credit::Jon Wong
For more of Jon Wong’s photos please visit the Bukit Brown face book group. Type Jon Wong in the search facility and you can see more of his album.
On the menu on Wednesday 22nd, 7 pm @ Blu Jaz in Bali Lane:
For more details visit here
Talk 1: Bukit Brown: The Hidden Treasure of Southeast Asia
by SOS Bukit Brown
Description: Bukit Brown is both a 200-hectare green lung which is home to diverse wildlife and a 180-year-old cemetery which is the final resting place of 100,000 of our forefathers and foremothers. In this talk, members of SOS Bukit Brown discuss various aspects of this hidden treasure with a focus on reasons why we should not destroy Bukit Brown to build a highway.
Earth deity, or Tu Di Gong (Tua Pek Kong). (photo: Claire Leow)
Talk 2: Chronicles of The Green Corridor: The Community, The Minister, and The Last Train
by Eugene Tay
Description: The Green Corridor campaign was launched to support the Nature Society’s proposal to keep the KTM railway lands as a continuous green corridor for nature, heritage, recreation and transport benefits. In this talk, Eugene Tay provides a behind the scenes look at the campaign, including tracing of key events, and the sharing of practical lessons on community building and social media campaigning.
Speaker: Eugene Tay manages the “We Support The Green Corridor in Singapore” Facebook page, and “The Green Corridor” website. Eugene is also the Founder of Green Future Solutions, a Singapore-based business that promotes environmental awareness and action for our green future, through sustainability consulting and a network of green websites.
The KTM trains and tracks near Kranji crossing. (photo: Claire Leow)
Talk 3: Discover the Dragon: Cultural History and Current Practice at a Singaporean Wood-Fired Ceramic Kiln
by John Stewart Jackson
Description: Once a staple of Singapore’s ceramics industry, wood fired “dragon kilns” have now become all but extinct. In this talk, John Stewart Jackson traces the history of one particular dragon kiln, from its role in commercial ceramic production to its current status as a center for a thriving artistic community. The talk includes images of dragon kiln firing, examples of current work produced at the kiln and thoughts about how this important Singapore cultural treasure can be preserved for the future.
Speaker: John Stewart is an experienced sculptor, known for his interactive and collaborative approach to space, movement and sound. A graduate of Birmingham-Southern College, Alabama, he has won numerous awards and commissions for his work in the United States and Singapore. Jackson currently serves as a curriculum specialist, teacher and global arts ambassador for School of the Arts (SOTA) in Singapore.
For more details visit here
He’s tall and handsome and was once considered for the team of the inaugural Youth Olympics in Singapore. An unfortunate accident put him out of the running. But he maintains his fitness still today with regular exercise at Bukit Brown and takes the opportunity for some healthy snacking whilst there. There is an air of sartorial elegance about Astroboy’s braids and he is always well groomed. Astroboy is 13 years old. Do say a gentle hello if you should ever encounter him in your visits.
Astroboy snacking in the shade
braided elegance
Astroboy is very much a ladies man
His constant companion is Melissa from the Polo Club
Some members of the Love Cycling Sg Face book Group rode through Bukit Brown on January 2 for a post New Year Nature Tour organised by the Nature Society of Singapore. They enjoyed it so much there organized one on Feb 12.
They came, they saw, and they blogged! Here is one of their reports.
All lined up and ready to explore on foot
Peter Pak shares his passion with a rapt audience
Lets park neatly and explore! That's the spirit!
And here’s a demonstration of how we share personal histories, not necessarily found in the archives or newspapers of the day. This tomb below (Tan Yong Thian) is a relative of one of our friends, Rosalind Tan, who has beautifully restored the site. In part, she cleaned up the front courtyard in anticipation of lessons like this to be shared. It makes history come alive, and helps visitors be more connected to what happens at Bukit Brown. Here, Peter guides. The cyclists were very impressed by the renovation. Rosalind, thank you.
Sharing personal family stories at Tan Yong Thian's tomb
Tan Yong Thian and wife. Beautiful tiles.
As it looked right after renovation in 2011 (no flowers planted yet)
The cyclists moved on to the highlight, the biggest tomb at Bukit Brown.
Doing their signature pose at Ong Sam Leong's tomb
Here's a reverse panoramic shot for a sense of scale
Catherine Lim introduces the iconic Sikh guards
Love Cycling SG visits Bukit Brown and makes an impression!
We love Love Cycling SG! They demonstrate the meaning and spirit of passion. They were considerate to pedestrians and motorists, cycled safely, were caring of each other, attentive to the guides and so patient in the heat as we stopped and trekked often. Yet they never complained and were really keen. We would love to have them back!
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And here are some photos of their visit on 2 January…….
Enjoying a leisurely ride through Bukit Brown, sharing space with walkers
Kevin and Gywn loved it so much they got off their bikes to join the nature tour and were instrumental in organising this next one!
Margie Hall was leading the nature tour but felt compelled to detour into cultural heritage when confronted by the Bukit Brown iconic sikh guards.
Margie Hall of Nature Society of Singapore
no bike access, so walk the talk
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