Home: The Gates of Bukit Brown
2“We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
Through the unknown, remembered gate
When the last of earth left to discover
Is that which was the beginning.”
(T S Eliot, “Little Gidding”)
The gates of Bukit Brown are now “reunited” with the pillars in the new entrance to the cemetery.
Painted black – which was established to be a common outdoor colour for gates in the past – it looks like a very different pair of gates from five years back in 2011, but its form and substance, remains.
It will take some getting use to as we all come to grips with the vast changes to the landscape of memory markers that are now being undertaken. But in time, we hope when the dust has settled, and the mechanical cranes no longer dot the landscape, there is much the community can contribute to in restoring the sense of arrival, that once welcomed us into our past.
Until then here is look at the now and the before in photographs which speak to us poignantly of what was lost. A special thanks to Leong Kwok Peng of Nature Society whose facebook album I had raided for photos of the gates circa 2011/2013.
“They also serve who only stand and wait.” John Milton. The Gates, September 2011 (photo Leong Kwok Peng)
The Gates 30 July, 2016 (photo Claire Leow)
The Gates at the old entrance in 2013 (photo Leong Kwok Peng)
Gates, Sept 2011 (photo Leong Kwok Peng)
Gates, 30 July 2016 (photo Catherine Lim)
“Bat” 30 July 2016 (photo Catherine Lim)
“Bat” 30 July 2016 (photo Catherine Lim)
Gates September 2011 (photo Leong Kwok Peng)
Gates 30 July,2016 (photo Catherine Lim)
Reps from atbb, NHB and MND with Fusion Clad Precision checking out the gates (photo Catherine Lim)
The hinges are in working order, 20 July 2016 (photo Catherine Lim)
Fusion Clad representative explaining the challenges faced in restoration (Catherine Lim)
Customary group shot. 30 July 2016 (photo Catherine Lim)
On 25 July 2016:
On the first day of installation, a snake was spotted at the altar of the Earth Deity (photo Serene Lee)
Embracing the “Datuk Kong” on its way to the “Tu Di Gong” or Earth Deity” 25 July. 2016 (Photo Serene Lee)
“Ampersand” A new beginning (photo Catherine Lim)
*************
A postscript on the installation
Start of installation 25th July 2016 (photo from a well wisher)
The installation began on Monday 25th July and was anticipated to take 5 days but all went well and by Wednesday, it was in place and on Saturday 30 July, 2016, All Things Bukit Brown together with officers from the the National Heritage Board and Ministry of National Development had a viewing with a briefing from Fusionclad Precision which had undertaken restoration works over a more than 6 months.
A report on the restoration process is available here
Blog post compiled by Catherine Lim
The line is “through the unknown, remembered gate” — not “unremembered.” This is a common error but it changes the meaning greatly. Check the authorized volumes of his poems or listen to his recording of it.
Thank you Portia. Will amend.