I was invited to the opening night of ‘Invisible Life’ exhibition by on 6 Nov 2009 by John. This exhibition artist, Michael Tan and sociologist, Caroline Knowles presents the biography of a single flip-flop as a perspective in studying the landscapes, peoples and processes involved with it.
I got off work pretty late hence I missed most of the pre-launch panel discussion where audiences interact with Michael and Caroline to find out more about the imaginative approaches from the fields of socialogy and art on everyday objects. But no biggie, I am not exactly an arty farty person, I am there more to support Michael and John.
But being a marketer, my first comment to Michael in private was ‘Why did you choose the picture below as your cover artwork?’ Most people will simply assumed that the man in the photo is him. I was surprised to know that the man in the photo who is a chinese worker at a Flip Flop Factory in Fuzhou, China had exactly the same name, Michael Tan!
Incidentally, this guy is named Michael Tan as well
Will the SG Micheal Tan please stand up?
Anyway, a quick summary:
Our 2 heroes brings us beyond the everyday practical aspect of the flip-flop by voyaging across China and Ethiopia to capture and showcase the life – worlds of a single pair of flip-flop that may otherwise become underrated by the schemes of things.
'Flip-flops have the special properties in prising open the social fabric of the global world. In the world that hinges on mobilities, the shoe is at the centre of things' ... Quote Caroline Knowles
Since this is a photography exhibition, might as well test out different effects. Effect 1
- Effect 2. I kinda like Effect 1 better.
They hoped that through Flip Flops, audiences will question further on how we can better understand the social world by studying its most taken-for-granted objects.
HY in deep thoughts on how Blackberry can express Singaporean's social environment
One can visit the exhibition at NUS Museum (University Cultural Centre, NUS) from Tuesdays – Saturdays 10am to 7.30pm and Sunday from 10am – 6pm till 21 March 2010. Please steer away from Mondays as the museum is closed.
You may also like to check out my posts on other exciting travel destinations here