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Life Journeys
An exhibition of drawings by Teo Soh Lung and
sculptures by Teo Eng Seng
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Exhibition: October - November, 2009
Venue: Muse House, 22 Marshall Road, Singapore 424858
Visit: By appointment Tel: 97727852
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It does not matter where we come from. What matters is what we want to do
with life. "There are no heroes, heroines, just what one wants to do for
mankind" wrote Eng Seng in a message to his sister, Soh Lung who was
imprisoned at Whitley Road Centre. Indeed, there is no way of knowing for
sure that life journeys would translate into unique experiences capable of
effecting change. But staying still and doing nothing will ensure that
nothing changes.
Teo Soh Lung was kept in solitary confinement at Whitley Road Centre for
alleged involvement in a "Marxist conspiracy to subvert the social and
political system in Singapore" from 1987 to 1990. Alone in a concrete grey
walled cell, she learnt patience and occupied her time befriending her
cell mate, a lizard, observing and learning about insects and larger
creatures like the toad which visited her cell. She attributes her sanity
to these creatures for which she drew the drawings now on display.
Prison life requires discipline.
It was not long after accepting the reality that imprisonment under the
Internal Security Act meant indefinite
incarceration, that Soh Lung worked out a daily routine. Paper was scarce
in prison.
When rules were relaxed and prisoners allowed paper and pen to write
letters, she began to use them to write poems and make sketches. Her
initial intention was to make blank cards for friends.
The thought that she would be unemployed should she be released one day
encouraged her to draw cards in the hope that they could be sold. Such
thoughts were however hampered by the uncertainty that the cards made may
never leave prison.
But she did draw and composed poems to occupy her mind.
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After exhausting all legal recourse, hints of impending release
came. Still uncertain as to whether the works would be release, Soh Lung
pondered if she should destroy them so that the ISD would never know what
she drew. Her enquiries as to whether the works would be released received
no firm answer. She was asked to hand over the works for
consideration. She started destroying her works, tearing them up and
flushing them into the toilet. After destroying some of these works, she
felt a sense of waste and sorrow, having spent so many happy hours
drawing, it was not easy to destroy the works. She stopped and decided to
take a chance. The works were submitted for consideration.
On her release, the Internal Security Department retained all her works.
After 2 years, they returned them to her.
It is now nearly 20 years since Soh Lung was released.
Few can now remember anything about the alleged Marxist conspiracy. Our
society has matured and moved on. The exhibition of these works may be of
some interest to those who lived through those times.
While Soh Lung was imprisoned, her brother, Eng Seng decided to accept a
Fine Art Fellowship at Birmingham Institute of Art & Design.
He created a bronze trophy and took it along with him to perform in open
spaces outside important Art museums and galleries in England. The road
show was titled "Humanity Nurturing Humanity: an exhibition cum dialogue
tour".
He had full freedom to interact with people in open spaces and on trains.
While in England, the Tiananmen Incident took place in China.
The disturbing scenes that appeared daily on the television screen moved
him to swiftly create some mixed media assemblages based on the
happenings.
On display are the Trophy together with slides on the road shows and
sculptures relating to the imprisonment of his sister.
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