Project 49 - 49 days of painting Marina Bay Sands

Project 49. Everyday, I painted the Marina Bay Sands, pondered about the significant of it all for 49 days. It was a form of meditation. 49 days has a great significant in Chinese numerology, pugilistic master goes into a sealed cave or room to meditate for 7x7 days and supposedly emerge with greater wisdom. '49 days' is a form of therapy of the mind. The process was really enriching as I had to juggle with work, traveling and the growing size of the canvas I had painted. It is all worth, as discipline and perseverance is key to completion of the project. I had selected some to be printed on fabric and used in these 'Throw Pillow' . Enjoy and thank you to all. Have a great Christmas!!!

Project 49 - 49 days of painting Marina Bay Sands

Project 49. Everyday, I painted the Marina Bay Sands, pondered about the significant of it all for 49 days. It was a form of meditation. 49 days has a great significant in Chinese numerology, pugilistic master goes into a sealed cave or room to meditate for 7x7 days and supposedly emerge with greater wisdom. '49 days' is a form of therapy of the mind. The process was really enriching as I had to juggle with work, traveling and the growing size of the canvas I had painted. It is all worth, as discipline and perseverance is key to completion of the project. I had selected some to be printed on fabric and used in these 'Throw Pillow' . Enjoy and thank you to all. Have a great Christmas!!!

Click on the images to BUY!

2 Face - Photography and Poetry. Meng Foo and Dan Snow

This book was inspired by 2Face the coffee shop at Tiong Bahru. In the day it was a traditional coffee shop serving Yong Dau Foo and noodles, but in the night it becomes western restaurant serving Pizza and some fusion dishes.

A sketch of 2 Face

A Beautiful Day – A Love Story

I had photographed many weddings since the Eighties, no other wedding had touched me so deeply except this very special one which I had the opportunity to participate. Each time I revisit the photographs I learned to see the beauty of life and I am more determined to live each moment to its fullest. The big picture becomes clearer and the nasty little distractions dissolve into obscurity. This beauty motivates me to retell the story in this Photographic Non-Fiction Book bestrewed with comment from the bride and her friends. 

More than 400 over pages photographs described that special day. A woman's living wish to be married in Church was fulfilled by her friends after she suffered a relapse of her incurable sickness. A beautiful and touching day that one would always remember. 

Sept 26th 2016
About a week ago, a friend bought a copy of this book and she said that she cried when looking through the book. The only thing is that the photos did not come out well in the printing, black is not black enough. I knew about the difficulties in black and white printing, it is just not economical enough to print them in the highest quality and eventually the solution is to have them printed in color and look like Monochrome. My consideration was to have the images and the words tell the story, even when the quality of the images suffer, as I prefer to have the book than have no book while waiting for the perfecting. Perhaps for me the perfection is in getting the story out at the cost that we all could afford. 

Here I had made a slight improvement by designing them in Hardcover and better quality paper. Hope I can get more copies sold. BUY HERE Hardcover!

Yoga in Nature - an exploration of nature and the mind

A photographic journey of yoga and nature inspired by the yoga instructors. Through YOGA and nature, we hope to see the relationship between man/woman and nature as completeness and wholeness. The limitless situations and their responses present a certain coincidence of occasion, where we could see the beauty in the mundane or the mundane in the beautiful. Both coexisting and situate in the landscape of stillness, framed and freeze in a single moment, a single imagery. Presenting themselves for the readers’ interpretations and calisthenics of the minds. All will seek an inward journey reaching the ocean of inner within – the whiteness of peace.

After many months of photographing, reading and pondering, the book is finally out.
BUY HERE

Tiong Bahru – Portraits of History IV

So glad that I had finally gotten the book published and is it now selling in: http://t.co/5pAxsPqrbN

One Bodhi Tree

This is a record of the celebration and praying on honour of the special Bodhi Tree.

We love PAP

Election documentation

All the teammates were raised up above the crowd when they won!
I had put the photos into a Photobook form. They can be purchased here http://www.blurb.com/b/2236228-we-love-pap

Park(ING)

We had great fun

It was a great way to promote healthy and friendly living.

Take a Portrait - Artist Day Out at Istana Park

This is a community project to bring awareness among people living in Singapore, helping to foster a happy and friendly environment. It was started a few years ago in Little India. Portraits were taken and the workers wrote on the photographs and we helped to send them back to India or Bangladesh. Now it has enlarged to include all who love this country.

We started with Little India.
Take a portrait awareness event. To date we had done 3 of such events in the first year. We had 2 sponsors, Cher Tan and Fotohub. The first one we did was at Little India, the second at Golden Mile Complex and the third Lucky Plaza vicinity. 


The Plan.

Thank you to our first sponsor of the event Cher Tan, we deeply appreciate his generous donation. Slight changes to the timing as advised by Ande. It will be postponed to 23rd Sunday from 10:00am to 12:00noon

Usher -
Printer - Ande
Photographer - Meng Foo
Date: 23rd Oct, Sunday

Start Time : 10:00am to 12:00noon, (Volunteer are to come at 9:30am for briefing)

Venue : Golden Mile Complex, Beach Rd
Contact Email : choomengfoo@gmail.com

An event to bring awareness to Singaporean about the contributions the foreign workers have done in Singapore. At the same time, provide the foreign workers a photograph to send home. Simple set up with cameras and swapping of SD card for printing by Ande. The project cost is consumables or printing cost only. We are looking for sponsors for the premise and printing cost. If possible, the postage can be sponsored too will be great. It will be held in Golden Mile Complex.


For Golden Mile Complex Event
The set up

The briefing started at 9:30am at Golden Mile Complex, in front of unit #01-46.
All volunteer photographers are to bring at least 2 SD cards so that the card can be swapped for printing. Please indicate your name on the card to reduce confusion during the printing process.
Ushers will help to explain and prepare the people for the shoot. Allocate 1 ushers to a photographer. Usher will helps to put in name and contribution of the worker on plastic cards with erasable ink to go with the portraits.
Ande will manage his printer with a helper to give out the print. The helper will help to ensure addresses are written behind the postcard. So the last step is a stamp to go with it.

The printer is a speedy printer this time

Volunteer required to stay from 10:00am to 12:00noon

Ushers and helper minimum 2 – Shashi
Photographer minimum 1 – Meng Foo
Printer minimum 1 – Ande

Portraits of History VI

Portraits of History VI - Portraits of History VI

2014-2015

Little India 

Now Exhibiting at Muffinry

112, Telok Ayer Street

Documenting the living before they become history. For the dead shall rest in peace. And, nothing is more vivid and intriguing than those which are living.

Choo Meng Foo

iphone:98150357 • choomengfoo@gmail.com 

 The Vegetable Street, 27th Jan 2015

Choo Meng Foo

Ink on Acid Free Paper

149mm x 210mm

The Little India Series

$650

Description

Drawn with Platinum Desk Pen 14K EF Nib with Atramentis Archive Ink. 

Along The Buffalo Road are many shops selling vegetables and through the years the numbers have increased. Selling vegetables have perhaps been more profitable than selling spices. Daisy Green occupies two shop lots and it is one whose business is flourishing. The displays overflow to the five-foot ways and turns round the corner along the partition wall. Every space is worthy of more business opportunity. The shop intrudes into public spaces, calling out to the passerby. It becomes a certain social, spatial arrangement, giving Little India its special flavor. 

 Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, 28th Dec 2014

Choo Meng Foo

Ink on Acid Free Paper

149mm x 210mm

The Little India Series

Private Collection

Description

Drawn with Platinum EF nib and Sailor SEF Nib Lamy Ink. The temple is located in the middle section of Serangoon Road (Little India). It is dedicated to the Goddess Kali, who embodies the power of time, change and destruction. Perhaps it is also the manifestation of Brahman the supreme power. Kali is always depicted with ferocity. One common scene is her sticking her tongue with Lord Shiva beneath her foot. The legend has it that she was carried away with killing the enemy in the war such that she killed everyone in her way. To stop her Lord Shiva threw himself beneath her feet. She stuck out.

The Fish Monger, 25th Jan 2015

Choo Meng Foo

Ink on Acid Free Paper

149mm x 210mm

The Little India Series

Collected

Description

Drawn with Pilot Penmanship EF Nib with Black Ink cartridge that comes with the pen.

The Prata Man, 2015

Choo Meng Foo

Ink on Acid Free Paper

149mm x 210mm

The Little India Series
$700

Description

Drawn with Sailor 1911 Demonstrator Transparent Clear F Nib with Sailor Black Ink. This would be one of the oldest Prata stall in Little India. Most of the cooks appear to be at least above 50 years old. One of them sport a dark glass. He was responsible to fry the Prata, others turned and flipped the Prata while another was the cashier. They knew their job well and they work like clockwork. There wasn’t much talking nor shouting.

The Little India Tailor, 2014

Choo Meng Foo

Ink on Acid Free Paper

149mm x 210mm

The Little India Series

$900

Description

The tailor rent the small table outside of the shophouse for slightly less than two thousand dollars, I was told. Amazing that sewing for simple alteration for the pants could sustain that kind of rental. 

 Usual Breakfast, 2015

Choo Meng Foo

Ink on Acid Free Paper

149mm x 210mm

The Little India Series

$650

Description

Drawn with Platinum 3776 EF Nib.

It is a common scene where old India gentleman’s dressing in their neatly ironed traditional daily wear, having his breakfast. The same beverage and the same Prata, nothing special, nothing bothers him. Every day is just another day. The same dressing, but he is not complaining about boredom as everyday is another repeat of the same. Perhaps he has seen through all the fancy and superficiality of live. Perhaps the ultimate reality lies in the flavour of ‘masala cha’ and the daily recurrence. 

I’m a King, Dec 2014

Choo Meng Foo

Ink on Acid Free Paper

149mm x 210mm

The Little India Series

$950

Description

Drawn with Platinum 3776 EF Nib with Lamy Ink.

Perhaps all of us wish that we are all kings. For being a king, we can have all we want and be free from the materialistic world. However, can we be free from the spiritual world of Gods. Perhaps not, as we see him, declaring 'I am a King' and yet praying to the Lord of Hinduism. The King of the Jungle looks at him, roaring in his supremacy. The Lion too is a King. Who's the King of Kings. 

For those who desire supremacy, there is always a price to pay. Perhaps it comes with great responsibilities too. All those idling will look above them to find an easy way to life, as if the well-to-do ought to share their results of labour. The smart should help those lagging behind. The rich should distribute their wealth. The rulers should benefit their citizens. One wonders if supremacy is still good with such responsibilities and burden. Can the King bear it?

Prayers, 2015

Choo Meng Foo

Ink on Acid Free Paper

149mm x 210mm

The Little India Series

$700

Description

Drawn with Sailor 1911 Demonstrator Red F Nib with Sailor Black Ink

People frantically moving around her. She is aware and yet oblivious to them as she prostrates before the supreme goddess, like an obedient child. Kali is the ferocious mother that traverse across time and made every devotee her child. The motherly nature in her woes every devotee to confide to her and she would answer their prayers. 

As I walk the path of a young Artist before continuing my education. I’ve started compiling the Portraits of History Series with Little India, Telok Ayer and Gardens by The Bay. 

Zhu Shengyiyu

Shengyiyu@gmail.com 

Telok Ayer garden

January 2015

Zhu Shengyiyu

Ink on Acid Free Paper 

149mm x 210mm

SGD150

Description

The small garden along Telok Ayer Street beside the Indian Muslim Heritage Centre. The pond reflects the shophouses nearby this conserved area. 

Nagore Dargah Indian Muslim Heritage Centre, January 2015

Zhu Shengyiyu

Ink on Acid Free Paper

149mm x 210mm

SGD150

Sold LookArchitects

Description

Since 1830, it was built on the sandy beach of Telok Ayer, followed by a restoration work in 2007.

Forest Circuit, December 2014

Zhu Shengyiyu

Ink on Acid Free Paper

149mm x 210mm

SGD150

Description

The bridges connecting each SuperTree from this distance forms a circuit, it implies to me the circle of life as it brings glory to our green home, Singapore.

GBTB super tree

december 2014

Zhu Shengyiyu

Ink on Acid Free Paper

149mm x 210mm

SGD300

Description

 At this angle, it shows that the tree is much bigger than the usual ones we see in Singapore.

Man-Made Tree

december 2014

Zhu Shengyiyu

Ink on Acid Free Paper

210mm x 149mm

SGD150

Description

Gardens By The Bay is filled with huge trees made by man.

Focus 

december 2014

Zhu Shengyiyu

Ink on Acid Free Paper

149mm x 210mm

SGD150

SOLD Lookarchitects

Description

On the second level Teka Market, a floor which caters to Tailoring Business its surprising to see a male Tailor as oppose to fairy tales where most Tailors are Women.

 Black/White Side, November 2014

Zhu Shengyiyu

Ink on Acid Free Paper 

149mm x 210mm

SGD150

Description

Cheap slippers on sale along the busy vegetable street Buffalo Rd.

Matchless gifts

December 2014

Zhu Shengyiyu

Ink on Acid Free Paper

149mm x 210mm

SGD300

Description

A scenario between a buyer and seller.