The term ‘apocalypse’ derives from the ancient Greek word ἀποκάλυψις (apokálupsis) which means revelation, disclosure or uncovering. However, the usual association with the term bears connotations of end-of-the-world imagery, featuring events which are yet to come. In contrast, this project seeks to uncover the past and through the past, rediscover what is in store for the future.
In response to the theme of ‘Echo’, this project attempts to rediscover past murals that are hidden under layers of paint or whitewash by attempting to uncover past murals from the wall of an old building through the gentle removal of layers of paint. Just as echoes are sounds which return to us after bouncing off of other surfaces, and not sounds that originate from the surfaces themselves, the artist seeks a way to make a mural not by adding anything to the wall, but by taking away from it, looking for the ‘echoes’ of previous murals. The interplay of image and text also echoes the site specificity of the mural, with the quote, “If your dog is fat, you are not getting enough exercise” reinforcing the need for a healthy lifestyle amidst all the good food one finds in the Joo Chiat area.
As a continuation of the artist’s practice in drawing and painting to investigate the passage of time, the mural project will encourage members of the public to participate in the removal of layers of paint in accordance to a pattern outlined by the artist. At the launch of the festival, the image that has been formed by the removal of paint would occupy the top half of the wall, leaving the remaining half for the members of the public to complete throughout the course of the festival.
