PIYH: Finishing Touches
Community Co-Creation Program
by LearnX Arts
In this special session, our participants proceed to Singapore’s oldest surviving Dragon Kiln to fire their clay sculptures! At last, their weeks of hard work were about to take their final form. The kiln’s historical significance in Singapore also added to the magic of the experience, and it was certainly an invigorating and eye-opening field trip.
We began with a guided tour of the history of the kiln, which is the oldest surviving Dragon Kiln in Singapore. Owned by the Tan family, there are regular workshops and activities at the kiln which seek to promote a better awareness of the art of pottery, educating the public on the process of wood-firing. The area in which the kiln was situated reminded many of the seniors of the landscape of their childhood, and some had fascinating anecdotes to tell - one of them explained that a particular type of fern growing nearby could be used as a nail polish by staining the nail beds.
Next, it was time for our participants to paint their clay sculptures with glaze, bringing them to life with vibrant colors and intricate details. The process served as creative expression for many of them, allowing them to add personal touches that would truly reflect their memories of "home." Our artist, anGie seah, also wanted to add some glass bits to the sculptures so it would create a glazed effect when melted in the kiln.
For instance, two of our participants - Susan and Mike - chose lively, warm, striking tones to reflect the beachside and desert environment that their respective sculptures are situated in. The tranquil blues of Susan’s flowing river in her sculpture contrasted well with the rich bronze and copper tones chosen by Mike for his Western-themed hut. With color being such an important aspect of artistic expression, we were heartened to see our participants eagerly selecting the palette of their dream homes.
Throughout the day, our volunteers and seniors bonded over their shared experience from the entire programme, taking the time to reflect on their journey together. One of the youth volunteers shared, “The most memorable moment of the PiYH project was our field trip to the Dragon Kiln. Experiencing the kiln and sharing that time with the seniors was truly special. It was a unique opportunity to bond, share stories, and see their excitement in a different setting. It made the entire experience unforgettable."
At the end of the field trip, the participants carried with them a sense of fulfillment and anticipation, as well as excitement from getting to see the interior of the legendary Dragon Kiln, where other members of the public were also firing their own personal projects. These lasting memories served to deepen their emotional connection to each other and to their sculptures - the pieces, now colored, fired and hardened, stood as lasting representations of their shared creativity, community, and the concept of "home." With their sculptures finally being completed, everyone was ready to participate in the next session’s show-and-tell presentation.