Starting out to the
gallery for the Iranian photo-journalist Abbas, the smiling Indonesian boy in
the lift apologized for his English. After all, the lad was a visitor too, and
indeed found in the subordinate position in regard to language in this
particular country of Asia. Immediately apparent good-natured lad fifteen or
sixteen, sporting a woolen home-boy knit cap for the scorcher outdoors, even at
ten in the morning...Seemed to understand the joke and that there was no
ridicule intended. In the room they had the aircon full-blast possibly for some
fun. Knowing the climate in his home region, Mabel at reception guessed for the
lad it is was not hot.
On the bus out a couple of odd English proclamations in one of the most intriguing forms here—the ubiquitous billboard tee. This in an area where English competence was anything but high. First an everyday housewife going home with some early shopping. Somewhat bedraggled, heading up to her HBD to get lunch on for the family. Baby pink, not quite hot after too much washing: GET NOTICED.
A daughter's purchase for her deserving mum. Possibly. A bit like our featured Asian calligraphy back home, chosen on the basis of.... nothing concrete. All those OSAKA tees.
SAVE THE CHEERLEADER
SAVE THE WORLD
An older, rather lumpy Mainland working girl at the top end of Geylang under one of the alcoves.
Often on the other hand the tees here were rather stylish and fetching, even on Geylang borne by the labourers & working girls. Bought at the source factories.
The exhibition turned out mediocre. The pics of the Iranian revolution held some minor interest because of their absence in the Western media. One arresting image from the war in Vietnam caught an exceedingly young South Vietnamese soldier with a rifle slung over his shoulder leaning against a Cadillac, elbows resting on the sills of the open window. Late sixties model, pink possibly in true colour; gorgeous style sitting on a waste piece of ground. The Americans we know didn't take the young man out on the last transports.
On the bus out a couple of odd English proclamations in one of the most intriguing forms here—the ubiquitous billboard tee. This in an area where English competence was anything but high. First an everyday housewife going home with some early shopping. Somewhat bedraggled, heading up to her HBD to get lunch on for the family. Baby pink, not quite hot after too much washing: GET NOTICED.
A daughter's purchase for her deserving mum. Possibly. A bit like our featured Asian calligraphy back home, chosen on the basis of.... nothing concrete. All those OSAKA tees.
SAVE THE CHEERLEADER
SAVE THE WORLD
An older, rather lumpy Mainland working girl at the top end of Geylang under one of the alcoves.
Often on the other hand the tees here were rather stylish and fetching, even on Geylang borne by the labourers & working girls. Bought at the source factories.
The exhibition turned out mediocre. The pics of the Iranian revolution held some minor interest because of their absence in the Western media. One arresting image from the war in Vietnam caught an exceedingly young South Vietnamese soldier with a rifle slung over his shoulder leaning against a Cadillac, elbows resting on the sills of the open window. Late sixties model, pink possibly in true colour; gorgeous style sitting on a waste piece of ground. The Americans we know didn't take the young man out on the last transports.
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