LOOKING AT PLACES
WITH OUR GEOGRAPHICAL LENSES
WITH OUR GEOGRAPHICAL LENSES
Teachers share photographs of areas in Singapore which has a different meaning to them at various scales as a way of demonstrating the applicability of concepts in real life.
Xinmin Secondary School
This is an exhibition titled "Home, Truly" at the National Museum. I appreciate the museum space as a space of story-telling. In this exhibition, the meanings of "Singaporean-ness" are explored at various scales - individual Singaporeans' experiences of home and belonging, the curators' choice of events and themes that project a national sentiment of achievement and struggle, and stories that compel us to constantly adapt given Singapore's vulnerable position in this VUCA* world.
*volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity
Temasek Junior College
Marina Barrage holds much meaning for a scalar geographical analysis. At the local scale, it is an intervening feature between a tidal river and the sea to alleviate floods. From a city-scale liveability perspective, it provides a recreational and education space for everyone to enjoy. Further, it is also an adaption measure to cope with the effects of sea level rise associated with global climate change. Through a lens on policy mobility amongst a network of global cities, Marina Barrage has also been represented as a best practice to drive meaningful, measurable and sustainable action on climate change.
Tampines Secondary School
The various photographs have different meaning to various people in the community e.g. residents, workers at farms and Tampinesians. But as a collage, I believe that it represents how the community of Tampines responds to our nation’s aims to produce 30% of its nutritional needs by 2030. Located next to Tampines Secondary School, the Black Soldier Fly Facility, Tilapia Fish Farm and the vertical farm facilities form the Sustainability @ Tampines Park initiative, at the current place and time. How will it grow in size? Only time will tell!
Regent Secondary School
I'm tall, I need room to grow
I need the sun in my eyes
My home is the earth below
One day I know I will touch the sky
- “Don’t Cut Me Down” by Olivia Newton John
A rainforest is an area that tells the story of scale. Every aspect of it when pondered, provides a dimension that opens another. Living near Peirce Reservoir, part of the Central Catchment Area, I can share with you this - you can appreciate the rainforest but you can never really know it.
Have you ever walked in a forest, in the morning, in the afternoon/evening and even at night? You never know what a forest experience is till you walk in, breathe in and just hear everything. It is different in the morning and at night. You never know how big it is and the sheer biodiversity that comes with it. You will never encounter so much wildlife staring at you and perhaps wanting to protect their fawn. You never know the impact of humans and how they modify/adapt the areas to suit them.
You would never know how precious the forest is, till you experience it.