- Joined
- Oct 30, 2014
- Messages
- 36,768
- Points
- 113
SINGAPORE - Welcome To Jingapore, reads an explanatory plaque for a two-part artwork installed at two new stations on the Downtown Line.
The line, which was a play on words, drew flak from netizens, with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) receiving feedback that the term "Jingapore" appeared to be a misspelling.
The Art in Transit work by local artist Jing Quek was made up of two collages installed at Tampines West and Tampines East stations, LTA told The Straits Times on Thursday (Nov 9).
LTA said it is in discussions with the artist, and the explanatory plaques that accompanied the murals have been temporarily removed. However, the art pieces continue to be displayed at the stations.
Photos of the plaque went viral this week. Facebook user Mark Tan Tk posted a photo of it on Tuesday, writing in Chinese: "Is it real or fake? Why is it Jingapore not Singapore?"
The artist himself posted an explanation on Wednesday night, saying it was brought to his attention "that some people raised a fuss about the title of my artwork".
Mr Quek wrote that he has "proudly waved the Singapore flag showcasing images of everyday Singaporeans in competitions, advertising campaigns and exhibitions all over the world, from Jakarta to France, from USA, to Italy, to Japan".
He added that contributing to the Art in Transit effort was "the highest honour and number one dream in his artistic career bucket list".
For his artwork, he photographed almost 500 Tampines residents over the course of a year.
The pieces feature images of people, places and objects found near those two stations.
"The title 'Welcome to Jingapore' is a wordplay on the artist's name," said the LTA spokesman. "By combining his name 'Jing' and 'Singapore', the work was an attempt by the artist to portray Singapore through his eyes."
The Chinese word "Jing" has several meanings, including scenery and sights.
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapo...play-on-artists-name-not-misspelling-says-lta
Last edited:
