People’s Market Series, consists of found sign boards salvaged from People’s market, or Pearl’s market when the building was renovated, and shop owners were asked to relocate. Now taken out of context, they remind us of the aspirations Singaporeans had when naming their shops in the late 60s, possibly unaware that we today will view them as exotic, tourist attracting names wanting their own history.
The artists have their own interpretation:
Asia –It incorporates numerous regions, cultures rather than a homogeneous physical entity. It always feels good to belong somewhere, and Asia has a place for everyone. Singapore, a city with a history of immigrants in colonial times calls Asia its roots and home.
Lido – An island reef of northeast Italy separating the lagoon of Venice from the Adriatic Sea. The town of Lido, at the northern end of the island, is a fashionable resort.
Mee Sin – A possible short form for New Singapore. Perhaps a name to forget the colonial past, and the shadows of WWII.
Tokyo – the capital of Japan, a place too far for one to travel to in the 60s.
Paris – one of the fashion capitals of the world; It is common to do ‘brand association’ with a product or lifestyle with a classier image.