Step inside this digital house of wonders and be mesmerized by the collaborative art pieces by our student artists and migrant workers
Everyday Wonders: a glimpse of our migrant workers' perspective
Everyday Wonders: a glimpse of our migrant workers' perspective
Come visit our live exhibition!
26 October - 8 November 2023
NUS UTown Stephen Riady Centre Anteroom
Build-A-Bridge 2023
“There’s something amazing about the sun. It rises to open the day, and sets to close it. The boundary between day and night, light and dark. But it also brings light and warmth to our world. As the workings of our world became more uncertain, the sun was still there shining over us. And it still is. Its presence above reminds us of the wonder and curiosity, our innate desire to connect with others, our capacity to feel and to love, all of which makes us human. Amidst trying times and complex mobilities of people, ideas come with tensions. But there is also the positive side of things, the unyielding belief that regardless of who we are as people, we have a shared sense of humanity, and that guides all that we do. Among us, we have different stories of how we exemplify our humanity in our daily lives. In this exhibition, we feature the stories of migrant artists, construction professionals and domestic helpers, and how they find this sense of humanity while working abroad, a space away from the familiarity of home. Come immerse yourselves into the inner worlds of migrant workers in Singapore, and their stories of longing, hope and resilience. These are their Everyday Wonders. ”
Photograph by Arul Rajesh
Swipe to access the individual art pieces of our student and migrant artists
INDIVIUAL ARTWORKS
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Rohimah, Jay Askelson
Photograph
Poem: A Photo, Taken from a Balcony
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Barcelona Lonalyn Dolor, Chiew Chen Faye, Loi Zi Xian
Photograph, Poem: Finish Contract
Music: 930 Days
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Sujin Ganesan, Cara Wong
Poem, Photograph
Poem: Wings of Time
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Siti Aminah, Ivan Yoong, Zhang Peiran
Poem: Your Attendance
Music: Your Attendance
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Lora Jane Arugay, Tai Dae Ern
Photograph, Poem: Tell Me What You Wish
Poem: Midnight Walks by the Bridge
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Catherine S. Arances, Tan Shim Yean
Photograph and Poem: Our Beloved Nature
Animation: Animation of the Sun
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Nelie Bautisa, Eira Tan, Poh Yijian
Poem: With Every Smile There’s New Hope
Poem: Through The Wire
“I took this photo quite sometime ago from 15th storey, i could enjoy different colour of the sky every day. When the sky getting dark and soon night will fall to let me wrap up the day and have rest through the night. And it’s mean I could erase the stress for the day.
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Rohimah and Jay Askelson
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High up on the fifteenth floor,
The stars are the same anywhere else.
As the lamps like fire glow through the windows.
This, too, can be fixed.
And the world tilts (tilt the city’s edge)
And the world tilts on its edge.
Why, in the moment, when the shutter clicks–
It feels like the world could stop forever.
Move, our bodies bathed in clear light.
rest, our hands covered in the dark.
see orion’s belt on earth so wide and far.
wrap it around your head like a crown.
return the stars to the sky–
where they will burn, knowing they were loved.
where they will shine ever brighter–
for you to capture their light again.
Barcelona Lonalyn Dolor, Chiew Chen Faye, Loi Zi Xian
Finish Contract
By Barcelona Lonalyn Dolor (Migrant Artist)
Stop dreaming, start building
Packed my bags, went on an airplane ride
And my adventure starts
Got me thinking, can I finish my 2-year contract?
930 are the days I am away from those dear me
Like the weather, most days are sunny, some days are gloomy
Just like how I feel when I think about my family
But I need to be strong, like a tree that withstand the storm
Every time I feel down, I just think why I started this journey
Time is passing, days are counting and will realize soon I can be with my family
The time has come, finally I can say I am home!
Click below to listen to the response piece to Barcelona’s poem!
SUJIN GANESAN AND CARA WONG
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Siti Aminah, Ivan Yoong, Zhang Peiran
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You came into my life when I was so weak
I didn't find anyone to be behind me
I had no one to listen to me
I had no one to share everything with me
Suddenly you came into my life, like life jacket for a drowning woman
Life rains for dry plants
You held my hand and let me go with you
You have changed my point of view towards life
I fell in love with you because you loved me when I couldn't love myself.
Like ice in the water, in your hug makes me melt
You are the only one with whom I felt
Like a plant in the soil can grow
Let me for my great love to you show
Like rains fall a drop after a drop
My heart for you will never stop
Like smiles on people's faces appear
For everything with you I will forever share.
Before you came into my life, I was empty
You made my life two halves
Half with me and half with you
You are my better half
You are the smile of my days
You are the warmth in my life
You are the kind hug I throw myself in
You are the sweet touch that I feel
You are the hope that I live for
You are the light that guides me on my way
You are the best part of my day.
Nelie Bautisa, Eira Tan, Poh Yijian
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With Every Smile There's New Hope
by Nelie Bautisa (Migrant Artist)
The magic of a new beginning
in my life It's a new adventure and
A new stage of my journey
To all my dreams
I have a desire to succeed.
Every smile on my face
You can see the happiness in my eyes
Even though it's cover with a mask
I won't let the problems of the world
Hinder my happiness I am strong and
resilient in all the trials I face.
I keep a positive outlook on life
I always thought there would be
A magic in the next chapter
of the new beginning.
It would suppress all
The virus in the world.
With a big smile on my face
I remained steadfast,
I pray and hope that the day will come,
When the mask will disappear forever
And I never have to cover my face again
And again,
I can breathe freely...
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Through the Wire
by Eira Tan and Poh Yijian (NUS Students)
I exist only through the wire where
my voice connects but not my heart.
The Swab was really effective. my
humanity has long been
extorted
purged
bleached clean of its obligation.
I lay on a bed within a room
enclosed
trapped
within walls that I am uncomfortable with.
How long has it been since I last saw a face
beyond the camera?
Zoom calls, isolating walls
We may be in this for the long haul
But despite it all,
I feel
warmth, like fine sand
trickling back into my hand
When I see that others are powering through this
too
So yes, the masks may be tight but
I find that the world is
breathing again-
We can abstain from contact
To avoid contraction
but connection, in whatever form
it may take,
remains
Despite the trials and experiences, I am
getting stronger in my conviction and belief that I will
overcome all of this and succeed
in every desire that I aspire to. I will
remain strong no matter what I face in life and I will
be proud of myself that no matter what deluge and disaster comes, I can
handle it and I will
never give up. I can
emerge from my dreams
and one day,
I will return to my motherland
to retire with my family and the love of my life.
Catherine S. Arances, Tan Shim Yean
Our Beloved Nature
By Catherine S. Arances (Migrant Artist)
I've always, looking forward for tomorrow
I could get up, and see the sunrise
The garden, the fragrance of the flowers
The cool breeze, the smell of wither leaves
The lush of green grass covered in early morning dew
The silly rats run fast across to the other side of shrubs
The calm lakes, were the sunrise greets everyone
As i walked through, And look up the blue sky
These warmth my heart and bring smile to my face
Animation By Tan Shim Yean (NUS Student)
