Synopsis:

Rubber is a common material rarely given a second thought in our daily lives. It is elastic, resilient and waterproof and used for essential everyday products such as tyres, gloves and boots. Rubber has revolutionised the way we live yet few may know that Singapore once played a pivotal role in the development of this billion-dollar industry during the late 19th and 20th centuries. Brought in by the British empire, this South American native tree eventually evolved into a major cash crop.

A chimeric surrealist assemblage of ceramic, botanical material, photography and shadow play – this installation references and reimagines, in a modern-day context, various aspects of the often-overlooked history of rubber plantations in Singapore. Inspired by the herringbone rubber tapping technique refined by Henry Nicholas Ridley (the first director of the Singapore Botanic Gardens), this work invites the curious visitor to peer into the diagonal slits to discover the sights and textures of the forgotten rubber industry, against quotidian rubber objects that populate our daily lives.

About the Artists:
Fawn World is a botanical design studio established in 2024 and based in sunny Singapore. Fawn World wants everyone to uncover the secrets of the botanical realm. They believe in the mud, acid and overgrowth of our wonderful natural world.

Hans Chew is a ceramic artist currently based in Singapore. He graduated with a major in ceramics from Tama Art University, Tokyo, Japan. Apart from making functional pottery, which he considers as his bread and butter, Hans also creates objects in search of himself. His works often deal with themes of foreignness, discord and nostalgia. As clay is a highly tactile medium, he strongly believes that the ability to think with both hands is equally as important as the ability to conceptualise and communicate one's thoughts.

Isabell Hansen is a photographer who explores the ideas of desire, passion and romance through the encounters we have with place and space, work, craft and play. Aiming to evoke nostalgia and mood, she uses photography as a vessel for memory. She hopes to inspire stories, start conversations and believes that we are but a small speck in a vast universe of wonder.

Behind the Work:
This installation explores the often-overlooked history of rubber plantations in Singapore. Through a combination of ceramics, botanical materials, photography and lighting, the chimeric work invites audiences to peer through apertures, listening, touching, and observing the textures and traces of the rubber industry. Historical images and audio files from the National Archives of Singapore are presented alongside living botanical materials, creating a multi-sensory experience.

Building on the theme of "Island Nights," the artists drew inspiration extensively from a wealth of books and print materials at the National Library Singapore, pondering on Singapore's botanical past, present and future, and how the island's botanical identity connects it to the wider world. Their research spanned publications on local medicinal plants, religious practices incorporating botanical elements, and the trade and commerce of plants and produce in Singapore. The team ultimately focused on rubber plantations, captivated both by the visually striking images found in NLB's collections and the complex narratives surrounding the commodification of plants under British rule.