Still Building (2020)

Still Building speaks to the ideals of Singapore’s National Pledge, to the site (of the Padang, and of the former Supreme Court and City Hall which now houses the National Gallery) and to National Day itself. Its ‘prismatic’ form reminds us that the ongoing work towards justice and equality needs to include diverse voices and perspectives.

The work responds to Bumi Hangus (1987), a painting in the National Collection by artist Wong Hoy Cheong who in turn was inspired by W.S Rendra’s poem of the same title. We see the painting and the poem it references as a meditation on loss and sacrifice amidst the search for justice and belonging. Our work adapts Wong’s prismatic palette to reflect the facets and complexities of building a democratic society.