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| The "permanent" exhibition of segments of the Berlin Wall |
The 5m long section of the Berlin wall, comprising slabs 251-254, was supposed to be on indefinite loan from American art lover and oil industry veteran Robert A. Hefner III, 78, and his Singapore-born wife Mei Li. On that understanding, presumably conveyed to the National Parks Board (NParks) by their good friend and former Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo, $2 million was spent to construct a 1400 sq m custom built glass, steel and concrete facility at the eastern bank of Bedok Reservoir Park.
After all the fanfare of the unveiling in January 2010, the Hefners now plan to move the concrete slabs back to the United States by the end of this year, to display at one of their many properties.
George Yeo himself has moved to Hong Kong to work for his new paymasters in Kerry Logistics Network. It is not known if the logistics company has been engaged for the shipment back to its original home in Oklahoma City. Also not known is whether the decision is related to a quid pro quo for the loss in Aljunied.
Then again German graffiti artist Dennis Kaun may have been scared off by the local laws about defacing wall structures. The four panels of the original drab concrete Berlin Wall are spray painted, depicting a colourful, joyful king representing West Germany (good guy) and a pale, blindfolded one who is oblivious to the wishes of his people, signifying East Germany (bad guy). Depending on the flow of politics, some thin skinned party may sue for defamation in the unforeseeable future.
NParks is on the look out for objects of interest to fill the enclosure. Now that Brompton Bikes has opened office in Singapore, they may be interested to exhibit their product range there. But then again, NParks may not wish to be reminded of that object of interest.
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Haha..what an appropriate title!
ReplyDeleteThe panel on the right supposedly depicting the blindfolded king represent East Germany and the government’s blindness to the people’s needs.
Isn't it even more appropriate to retain it in the Aljunied GRC to serve as a reminder of the same neglect, resulting in the loss of his seat which this piece of art is supposed to convey?
You mean after all that S$2m fund-raising and razzmatazz to build and unveil it, they are all going to tear it down for noughts?
According to German embassy, the Berlin Wall is a poignant symbol of the oppressive regime. Now that oppression is back in fashion again, this time led by the trigger-happy AGC office sending out lawyers letters to websites, I guess the brick-n-mortar wall can officially be removed, and replaced by the invisible virtual wall online.
ReplyDeleteKing of Freedom just doesn't apply here in SG. Poignant reminder, indeed.
GY : 'The wall should not only be a dry relic from the past from a faraway place, but a living heritage, an icon which draws people to it, provoking thought and discussion. It represents the spirit of personal freedom and I hope people in this part of the world can come here and think about what it meant to the world,' he said.
DeletePAP leaders, lawmakers, SMRT and MOM civil servants should all come here and contemplate before it's too late. They clearly don't practice what they preach.
... represents the spirit of personal freedom ...
Deletewhich means the removal of the wall will mean that personal freedom will be removed as well.
I consider the piece of "Berlin Wall" to be a typical Foreign Talent.
ReplyDelete- It does not quite fit into our history & culture.
- It's expensive to import and maintain.
- It deprives a local Singaporean (e.g. a memorial to David Marshall) of their rightful place in our society and country
- It does not belong to Singaporeans
- Eventually, it goes back home
- And it's contribution during its stay in Singapore is questionable
Agree. Send it to 38th parallel and let the North & South Koreans go provoke their own thoughts before they press crazy nuke.
DeleteThis has no relevance whatsoever here.
Certainly agree with you
DeleteIf I give you an indefinite loan of $1000, can I ask you to return back my money any time I want? What is the definition of indefinite? It is not the same as arbitrary where I can ask you back any time I want. I hope the government can claim the $2 million goodwill impairment from George Yeo since he is the one who facilitated such a stupid idea.
ReplyDeletethat's how things are done a la Singapore style. the best way....
ReplyDeleteNPark should earmark this object of interest for our grandfather wall artist = SKLO.
ReplyDeleteGeorge Yeo is a good man and his premature departure has been engineered to appear as a lost election. However he was dangerous to the government as he was an honest and upright man. Remember Dhanabalan and Tony Tan did NOT want to be part of the government. These are good men who knew the system was corrupt. LKY announced in Parliament about Tey (even made him stand up) before feeding him to the dogs. he did the same thing by announcing that the people of Aljunid must "repent" if they did not vote for George Yeo. Kep in mind that George Yeo is a very strong Catholic. The word repent only resonates with Christians and they were outraged that they were warned to repent not about their sins but about their vote. The people in power are more devious than people think.
ReplyDeleteThis is fascinating insight. You mean to say that Aljunied GRC was sacrificed just to get rid of George Yeo? Wow, that makes him very powerful indeed, to be able to strike fear into the hearts of the ruling clique. You writing as a confidant of GY, or inmate of IMH?
DeleteBeware of very strong catholics. Remember the spanish king? He was also very strong catholics and going around killing people.
Deleteyes ... so was his calling for those casino
DeleteYes, king of spain, child molestors all within the church who finally forced benedict to "retire"? All good ones them.... Sure they have sects within the ruling papigs, but to claim woffles' protector as a good man? he sells his service to anyone, kerry then Leung (stoodge of the CPC maybe?) I wud love to speak with you about this splendid bridge across the kallang river I have for sale, pse pm
DeleteThis another spin without any evidence whatsoever! So you mean good guy Tony Tan did not want to be part of govt but offers himself to be President and becomes President (by razor thin margin)! And what has "good" man President Tony Tan done so far?
DeleteThe timing is prescient. NParks can now prepare that space for a memorial to the greatest Singaporean who has ever lived or will ever live. Nothing better than to have a statue of him looking over the expanse where people come to drown out their sorrows.
ReplyDeleteSaycheese
Good one.
Deletepatriot
People can also come over here to piss off their frustrations. If the G is smart enough, they can erect a public toilet over it to collect toilet fees. What a brilliant idea!
DeleteI think the G is insane to spend $2m on something to house a piece of painted rock. Just like they are insane to spend so much for a pm that is not good at all.
ReplyDeleteLike the Pandas' $8.6m home, not a single cent from G lah. You think they so stupid?
DeleteAll money raised by the ex-hotelier cum the woman who brings you the Jollibee Fast Food to Singapore - Jennie Chua.
Anyway, those past releases did say they were "permanent" and "long term". I think in SG context, it means if the group of elite/ruling party/politician lasts, you will have your AIM software, sculpture and any permanent donation in your heartlands as long as the votes keep coming. Nothing is sentimental here anymore.
https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=170716073615
Yes, lets put a painted SMRT train instead.. its an original... ( now where is it being kept??? hmmm)
DeleteGood ideaidea
Delete//But then again, NParks may not wish to be reminded of that object of interest.//
ReplyDeleteFor some strange reasons, NParks object of interest is now targeted at those PR/foreigners who will "participate" at the Mayday Hong Lim Park rally. Seriously, can any organizer put a stop to this particular group of PR/Foreigners to not show up?! What kind of vague permit is that? Or are they trying to curb foreign press/media from showing up? Does this group fall under that "participate" ? Or will there be a "planting" of a foreigner and then go after the Organizer? So why don't NParks go on national broadsheet and give a stern warnings to all the PR/Foreigners and tell them to just stay out of the rally so that we netizens can now turn around and call them xenophobes instead!!
This country is hopeless. You need permission for every damn thing!!
Go ask Ban Ki Boon if we need permission to breathe also. Plenty of retards around!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUclCZsT3D4&feature=player_embedded#!
good riddance ....
ReplyDeletehope with the removal of this huge tombstone
bedok reservoir will not be a watery grave anymore.
maybe electing a 666 metres tall merlion will help change the fengshui for pappies
ReplyDeleteand keep east coast GRC suffering the same destiny as aljunied GRC
vote pappies for more goot years ...
So typical of the Traitors' Party.
ReplyDeleteFor Foreign Graffiti artists of the Berlin Wall, they erect a $2 million dollar shrine.
But our Singaporean Graffiti artist, the "Sticker Lady", Samantha Lo, she gets charged in court with mischief.
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/sticker-lady-charged-court
But Lee Hsien Loong says “The PAP is on your side.”
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/pm-lee-says-%E2%80%98pap-is-on-your-side%E2%80%99--rebuts-wp%E2%80%99s-low-150126524.html
What do you think?
Is the PAP on the side of Singaporeans?
If You are rich
ReplyDeletePAP will be on
your side.
PAP will love
You and
care for You.
You are the
First love of
the Rulers.