Author: Lhu Wen Kai

I’m Holding My Debut Solo Photo Exhibition “Facade: The Back Alley Collective”

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I am very thrilled to announce that I’ll be holding my debut solo photo exhibition from the 7th of August to the 5th of November 2015. Facade: The Back Alley Collective is a series of 13 photographs that aims to unwrap the all-is-well but superficial facade of contemporary Singapore, presenting a multi-layered examination that complicates the world’s perception of the city-state. As the images explore local issues within a local context, I can’t think of a better place to exhibit than a hostel, where global audiences intersect, exchange stories, and explore our city-state. It will be held at Atelier@5footway.inn Project Bugis (10 Aliwal Street 199903, Nearest MRTs are Nicoll Highway & Bugis), and it’ll be open 24/7 for viewing. ARTIST’S STATEMENT In a global city where most things lack singularity, the back alleys of Singapore are distinct. Often overlooked, these neighborhood microcosms each possess unique personalities and features; the iconic green bins, the worn-down exteriors, and the people who use the alleys for a myriad of reasons. This hidden world alternates  between the dense, chaotic activity of …

Little Texas, Singapore

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After such a heavy post the last time round, I figured it’ll only be right if I blogged about something more positive this time round. I’m also frustrated with myself for being unable to write an article that doesn’t exceed the word limit I set for myself everytime. It bothers me a lot, so this time round, I’m going to try a more informal type of writing, let the pictures do the talking and see if it helps with the word count issue. I recently (at the point of the first draft, which was two months ago) discovered this absolute gem nestled near the northern borders of Singapore. While Punggol Ranch isn’t exactly a downright doppelgänger of Texas, it does have many things in common, at least on a stereotypical level. With my ten-week semester break coming to an end, I got a bunch of friends (Imran, Aaron and ODS) together and stayed over at this gorgeous settlement for a night.

Social Media Didn’t Connect Me With People, It Ruined My Life

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// Photo by Thong Vo I always wondered if people realise the irony when they call out advertising agencies and the oh-so-convenient “mainstream media” for their excessive use of Photoshop. We’re always talking about how unethical it is, how manipulative it is, how misleading it is. Perfect facial composition and fair skin encourage unrealistic comparison and pursuits of beauty, they say. Slim cover girls promote unhealthy body standards, they say. Topless models and scantily-clad clad ladies degrade women to being objects of sexual desire, they say. But the truth is, with the advent of social networking, almost everything around us has been Photoshopped, and it’s unsettling that many of us have not realised that. I‘m not a heavy consumer of social networks. I mainly use them to promote my works and share major moments with my followers and potential clients. I do, of course, scroll through my various feeds to see what the world and my friends are up to. The Pet Society and Restaurant City days are over, and it has been quite some time …

It’s Not My Moral Duty To Feel Sad At LKY’s Death

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// Photo from The Straits Times I find Singaporeans really superficial at times, and the passing of Mr Lee Kuan Yew just furthers my observation and opinion. Maybe it’s the way we had been brought up, or maybe that’s how society has been like for awhile, but it seems as though there is this obligation to be self-righteous and follow the popular opinion on this small little island. It’s as if we’re born with a knee-jerk reaction of hatred when one expresses his stand on a certain matter, a stand that is unpopular, or one that isn’t deemed politically correct. There are many people who have expressed glee, joy and a myriad of other emotions that lies on a different trajectory from sadness. Emotions that reflect, on a contextual level, negativity. Negativity on his methods, negativity on his reign, negativity on his thinking. And while a few of these are constructive, fellow Singaporeans have come in waves and swarmed these critics with “how dare you”s aplenty. Yes, how does one dare to speak ill of the dead. Yes, …

Debunking The Economical Rice Myth

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For my international readers who are not exactly acquainted with our local culture, Economical Rice, or what we locals like to call Cai Fan, is a dish where you pair a serving of steamed white rice with vegetables, meat and fish dishes of your choice. There is anywhere between 10 to 30 dishes to choose from, and they’re always displayed in a glass case or behind a transparent plastic board, making them one of the most recognisable and mildly iconic storefronts in Singapore. It is, like its name suggests, economical, as they’re usually the cheapest option for a complete meal in a food court or kopitiam (coffee shop). If you’re a local, I’m sure you have stumbled upon the following picture that went viral several times over on social media: Apparently, you can manipulate the person serving into giving you a larger portion. It seems simple enough to execute right? You just had to request for “more rice” instead of “add rice”, order the meat dishes instead of the vegetables next and then act really …

10 Reasons Why You’re Still Fat After CNY

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Don’t you just love the positivity of Chinese New Year, where adults sit in a corner and curse the government with such, vile, passionate anger while children sit in the other corner, smiling, laughing and socialising with their smartphones. With families indulging in reunion steamboat dinners and jars of pineapple tarts, kueh bangkits, and other new year goodies lying innocuously on tables, it is the time of the year when worries of getting fat ring the loudest. Slimming salons offer themed discounts and enticing promos in a bid to capitalize on low-esteemed Singaporeans, while nutrition companies cash in on the clueless public with their variety of pointless and ineffective slimming products. It’s probably the most exciting festive season for the majority of Singaporeans, and there’s no reason you should forgo the pleasure of digging into orgasmic snacks due to fears of putting on additional weight. Losing your fat is actually a really straightforward process that is not only fun, but cathartic as well, a process where most of the work is done in the kitchen rather than the gym. I’m not saying …