Singapore - The Unfeasible Order of Things
2021-ongoing
"One cannot make architecture without studying the conditions of life in the city"
Architecture of the City, Aldo Rossi.
"No se sabe apenas nada de él, salvo que ya ha salido pero todavía no ha llegado, que antes o después de su tránsito era o será padre de familia, ama de casa, oficinista, obrero sindicado, funcionario, amante o panadero..., pero que ahora, en tránsito, es pura potencia, un enigma que desasosiega."
El Animal Público, Manuel Delgado
"Hardly anything is known about him, except that he has already left but has not yet arrived, that before or after his transit he was or will be a father of a family, a housewife, a clerk, a unionised worker, a civil servant, a lover or a baker. .., but now, in transit, it is pure potential, a disquieting enigma."
The Public Animal, Manuel Delgado
This project is a follow-up to Jakarta - Modest Interventions and Minor Improvisations, 2015-16.
The Unfeasible Order of Things is a photographic project focused on Singapore, exploring the pursuit of excellence and its unpredictability. The photographs showcase the unpredictable nature of cities and the people who live in them. They depict scenes of everyday life in Singapore, highlighting the city's contrasting traditional values and modernity. Singapore is a city that places a premium on excellence, and its citizens are expected to strive for perfection in all aspects of their lives. The pursuit of excellence can lead to stress, anxiety, and burnout.
The project also highlights the role of human mediations in upsetting plans for complete order and safety. Singapore is known for its efficiency and orderliness, but even the best-laid plans can be upset by human error and intervention. The photographs showcase scenes of accidents, breakdowns, and disruptions, emphasising the unpredictable nature of the city and the role that humans play in creating and mitigating this unpredictability.
As we contemplate the images in The Unfeasible Order of Things, we are reminded of the beauty found in imperfection and unpredictability. These images offer a refreshing and candid look at the complex nature of Singapore, a city that is ever-changing, shaped by the people who inhabit it. They prompt us to consider the unpredictable nature of life.
In a world that values perfection and order, The Unfeasible Order of Things offers a glimpse into the beauty that can be found in embracing imperfection and unpredictability. The project invites us to contemplate the limits of our pursuit of excellence, and to always expect the unpredictable.
