July 19, 2007

“Without this film, did all these happen?” 38 years old Tan Pin Pin posed this question to a full house at the world premiere of her documentary, Invisible City.

Centre for The Arts (CFA) of the National University of Singapore was the venue of world premiere, and tickets were given out free-of-charge to public who made reservation via email.

Contrary to popular beliefs, Invisible City is not a documentary that revolves just around Singapore history. The recurring theme of “searching and remembering” became the criteria of footage selection when Tan was editing a film.

Tan had a 50 hours long footage, but only one hour was selected. From an archeologist to a documentary maker, from an ex-Chinese school student to a Japanese journalist, Invisible City reflects how these people attempt to immortalize history.

There were also moments in the documentary that seemed like “technical glitches”. The usage of black-and-whites and deafening silences were intended by Tan, to give audience “a sense of time passing.”

“What makes a life a lived life?” she asked.

A member of the public asked during the question and answer session, that whether Tan feels that “things are changing, young people are reclaiming history?”

She was “optimistic but not that optimistic.”

She is glad that there is community of people out there who is willing to search and interpret the past. However, she hopes that the audience can go home and start to “interview your grandmother.”

“Imagine what it has been like, and that is enough,” Tan said. “It is a city that is ours, and yet so invisible to us.”

July 11, 2007

Students can expect to see new food outlets like  Burger King, Lerk Thai and Olio Dome at the renovated “The Deck” located at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Opening on August 13, 2007, the highlight of the new canteen is the air-conditioned “atas” dining area where the three new food outlets are.

After eight months of renovation, the (new) Deck will provide about 1,250 seats, up from the 966 seats previously. Ventilation is enhanced with the design of high ceilings. According to the Office of Estate and Development (OED), all 13 previous vendors will be back in full force.

The new canteen is also “more than just a place to dine.”

Gary Png, deputy director of OED, told The Ridge that the new canteen is designed for “students to do project discussion and chit-chat.”

Movable seats are installed at the al-fresco dining, and sofa sets will also be placed on the second floor dining area. The designs will increase flexibility of students’ movement within the canteen.

Dining, Retail and Housing Manager, Ong Sock Hwee said that the designs and planning are the result of working with the canteen vendors, NUS Students’ Union and the feedback from students.

“We do take into account students’ point of view,” she said.

 Atas in Singlish means high-class. The term is derived from its meaning in Malay – upstairs.