At the Lasalle graduation exhibition, more than the tangible fruits of two years of labour is on display. For all to see and take in is the exuberance, vitality and avidity of youthful aspiration.
“We didn’t start out wanting to change the world,” the eloquence of one graduate’s announcement did not come from confidence but gushed forth from his convictions. He shyly described his project, aware that he had never been tested in the real world. His eyes never met mine but were safely anchored onto his friends, fellow students, familiar surroundings of the gallery.
“As I made progress on my project, I could see the real applications possible and how I could contribute to the betterment of society,” he enthused in an inspired conclusion.
Meeting the students
Ken Tan, Fatvolution
A quietly subversive animation that challenges the unquestioned faith in leaders and the tide of derision faced by those who do question.
Cheryl Seah, Treeprint
https://www.behance.net/gallery/26224071/Treeprint-WWF
Treeprint seeks to draw a connection between the human world and the realm of nature that has seen a disconnect as human achievements rent the relationship. The premise of treeprint is to scan your own fingerprint and through the mobile application, you will be matched with a tree in a database with a tree ring signature that best matches yours – a cross-genus matchmaking service if you may. Matched with your tree alter ego, you build a rapport with your tree and vest an interest in protecting it.
Mai Pei Ying, K+PO
Instagram: kpo_sg Tags: letskpo #thesarcasmproject
An Instagram social education project which aims to turn common notions of negative on its head. Words with a less-than-favourable connotation can be viewed with a silver lining. It can be interpreted in a positive way. In one of the examples cited, one can be a plain busybody sticking one’s nose into where it does not belong, or one could have a genuine interest to empathise or help someone in need.
Samuel Lim, Easy! MRT
Graphic design as an ergonomical tool for navigation in a complex environment. Communication is most often thought of as verbal and the visual is often rendered in an ineffective way. Using simple principles of graphic design, simple visuals can put across a message in the way concise writing is more effective than the lengthy and verbose.
Kah Hui Chng, Kukoh’s Secret
http://issuu.com/kahhuichng/docs/the_hidden_slums
http://issuu.com/kahhuichng/docs/a_five-dollar_feast
A journalistic endeavour to highlight the unseen poverty in a city-state cloaked in opulence and indulgence. Unbeknownst to many living on this island, in the heart of this wealthy city, lies a sub strata of society that struggles with survival on a daily basis and with how to break free from the cycle of poverty.
Hyrol, Sitwalkstand, repeat
http://pinkyisthebrain.weebly.com/
Sitwalkstand challenges the relationship between work and leisure. Work is the vehicle of life in the sense that work and the money that is earned is imperative to obtaining the things required to live and enjoy a bit of leisure. How one strikes a balance between running the rat race and running off to play is always a narrow tightrope walk. Hyrol melds the two to highlight that the duality is part of a whole.
Jennifer Mehigan, Eat Me Up
Techsex, cyber sensuality, portmanteaus made into three-dimensional works of fine art, as conceptualised by Jennifer. She pairs rough textures of rock with computer generated swaths of smooth sensual velvet to evoke raw lust and heady passions.
With the multitude of disciplines offered at Lasalle presented to me, I contemplated the practicality and marketability of each discipline. Making enquiries along this line, I learnt that the Lasalle college of the arts focuses on practical application to keep the artist engaged at his/her craft. This achieves by way of its networks with former students and organisations, providing students with opportunities for internships and mentorship.
I left the exhibition with an uplifting feeling of hope, a profound sense of optimism. I was as much engaged in role play as the students were, acting out our ambitions but quite graduated into our desired fields.
This is exactly as all schools should be, a place of vision, a place of change on the cusp of transformation.
