Hands

Lee (Photographer) Sean

Description

Hands: Gift of a Generation is a book born from the multi-sensory exhibition of the same name by the Singapore Memory project (SMP) held between August and October 2013 at the National Library in Singapore. Comprising 45 individual profiles, each accompanied by a striking photograph, this book is a valuable collection of stories that reflects the transformation of Singapore through the years. These anecdotes encapsulate a diverse cross-section of everyday Singaporeans, each connected through their unique experiences and perspectives of Singapore. Reflecting this diversity, the book contains 10 translated profiles in each of Singapore's mother-tongue languages of Chinese, Malay and Tamil.

Informations

• Publié par: Marshall Cavendish International
• Date de parution: 10 mars 2014
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• EAN13: 9789814561754
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 21 Mo

Extrait

HANDS

Published by: National Library Board, Singapore Printed by: Craft Print International Ltd Photography by: Sean Lee Designed by: Marshall Cavendish International (Asia)

All rights reserved. © National Library Board, Singapore, 2014.

The views of writers and contributors do not reect the views of the Publisher. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the Publisher and copyright owner(s).

Whilst reasonable care is taken by the Publisher to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication, the Publisher accepts no legal liabilities whatsoever for the contents of this publication.

eISBN: 978 981 4561 75 4

National Library Board, Singapore 100 Victoria Street #14-01 National Library Building Singapore 188064 Tel: [phone] email: [e-mail] www.nlb.gov.sg

HANDS : gift of a generation / [compiled by] National Library Board, Singapore – Singapore : Published for National Library Board Singapore by Marshall Cavendish Editions, 2014.

pages cm ISBN : 978-981-45-1656-3

HANDS

CONTENTS

Preface •6

Introduction •9

Profiles •11

Abdul Rahman bin Osman •12 Agnes Chow •15 Alex Tan Tiong Hee •16 Ang Mui Choo •19 Captain Baldev Singh •20 Chan May Lee •23 Chin Sit Yeong •24 Chua King Yap •27 Eddie Tessensohn •28 Francis Tan •30 Goh Heo Kee •33 Han Jok Kwang •34 Hasan Kutus s/o Meerasahib •37 Hedwig Anuar nee Aroozoo •38 Ho Hwee Long •41

James Tan Peng Huat •42 Jasmine Lim •45 Jita Singh •46 Jumiah Yunus •49 Khoo Kah Chin •50 Koh Keow Chai •53 Kok Kham Seng •54 Kok Ying Oi •57 Leaena Tambyah •58 Lim Beak •61 Lim Koon Meng •62 Low Kim Heng •65 Mohamed Hanapi bin Mohamed •66 Mrs Mohamed Siraj •69 Ng Weng Sang •70

Oer See Kiang •73 Othman bin Tubah •74 Ramachandra Murugaia •77 Roland Vivian Simon •78 Roslina Baba •81 Rufino Soliano •82 Santha Bhaskar •85 Dr Shanta Christina Emmanuel •86 Sew Hung Kun •89 Sua Yap Teng •90 Syed Abdul Kadir •93 Tan Mian Kiau •94 Tan Yeow Tiong •97 Thomas Thomas •98 Wong Chin Choo •101

简介 •103

陈美娣 •104 吴厚基 •106 Hedwig Anuar nee Aroozoo •108 林默 •110 林昆明 •112 Roslina Baba •114 萧汉权 •116 陈有忠 •118 Thomas Thomas •120 黄珍珠 •122

Profil-profil •125

Abdul Rahman bin Osman •126 Chua King Yap •128 Jita Singh •130 Jumiah Yunus •132 Lim Beak •134 Mohamed Hanapi bin Mohamed •136 Puan Mohamed Siraj •138 Othman bin Tubah •140 Roslina Baba •142 Syed Abdul Kadir •144

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PREFACE

At the launch of the exhibition “Hands: Gift of a Generation”, I met the photographer Sean Lee who had shot the hands of all the subjects featured. He told me it was one of the most meaningful assignments he had ever undertaken as each of the subjects had such fascinating stories to recount. Sean had a particularly deep impression of Mrs Hedwig Anuar as he was struck by how gracious and patient she was during the entire photo shoot.

The day after the launch, I stared at the picture of the hands of Mrs Anuar, the former Director of the National Library – in fact, the /rst Singaporean director of the National Library back in 1960. Under her charge, the library system was substantially developed; from a meagre membership base, the tireless Mrs Anuar promoted the reading habit to a young and growing nation.

I was struck by the picture of her hands poised over an open book. I could imagine those hands running through the pages during an animated storytelling session as she rallied to get kids interested in the magical world of stories and reading. It’s hard to believe that only about 50 years ago, many Singaporeans were illiterate and it would have been very dif/cult to convince them of the value of letting their children go to school and the library. Nowadays, with the variety of media clamouring for our attention, we take the written word for granted.

HANDS

Regrettably, I never hap the Pleasure of working with Mrs Anuar as I joinep the National Library after she hap retirep. But my colleagues constantly regale me with stories of how strong anp committep she was to the library, the most insPiring of which was how she marshallep a human chain in orper to Physically move the books from its olper Premises at the National Museum to the new facility at Stamforp Roap in 1960.

Each Pair of hanps featurep in this Project is an exPression of the strength anp petermination of its owner in shaPing a better future for their generation anp the generations to come. Anp it’s no surPrise that none of the Pioneers Pro*lep in the exhibition anp in this book askep for anything in return for the time they sPent at the interview anp PhotograPhy sessions.

I am Proup the SingaPore Memory roject has Playep a Part in retelling their stories – Poignant, canpip, bittersweet anp joyful by turns, but always memorable – of what those hanps went through. This book is both a gift to the owners of those hanps anp their struggles, as well as a gift to the future generation in aPPreciation of the giants that have come before us.

Gene Tan Director, National Library

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