The Gift

About the Project

The “last gift” is not really an object in a gift box. It is the journeys that each participant undertook over the 9 months. For some of them, it has opened up another dimension to their existing relationships. For example, participant art-maker, Alicia and her granddaughter, before this, have never gone on an outing to exercise or cook together before. When we met again for the audio recording, Alicia mentioned that she had already given the “gift”.

For the purpose of the installation, these gifts by different participant art-makers were placed in wooden gift boxes. Visitors were asked to go through the following ritual to open the gift:

Sound the wind chime in the centre of the pavilion.
Put on the gloves provided before opening the gift boxes and touching the contents.
When visitors are done with the contents, return them to the gift boxes, and remove the gloves. Put on the headphones to listen to the voices of the gift owners. Once visitors have seen enough, they can choose to sit on the empty bench to contemplate their own last gift, then sound the wind chime in the centre of the pavilion before they leave; OR sound the wind chime in the centre of the pavilion before they leave.

Creation Process

Working with seniors of Chong Pang for 9 months, this art-making project created a space for participants to reflect on their views about living and dying as they embarked on a gift-making journey. Through facilitated conversations and activities, participants re-lived precious memories of people who have had a profound impact on them in various ways and made choices about which part of themselves they wish to leave behind.

Phase I (10 sessions): Activities and conversations to reflect on the following:
Views about living and dying;
Who do they want to leave their last gifts for;
What will the last gifts be

Phase II (Additional 2-6 Sessions, depending on individual’s progress)
** Not every participant required these sessions
Facilitated work on gift-making

Phase III (1 Session)
Audio Recording: Participants reflected on their gift-making journey

Phase IV (Installation Period)
Participants have the choice to share their gifts and journeys with the community

Credits

Artist

Han Xuemei is an arts practitioner who is curious about the possibilities of participation in artistic processes. She is keen on creating conditions and frameworks within which people can exercise agency and make choices that deliberately intervene in their lives and/or disrupt their routines. She was a full-time Resident Artist with theatre company Drama Box during this project.

Participant Art-Makers

Ng Ah Yam

Ong Mui Khoon

Louis Tan

Alicia Chong

Goh Ning

Susie Ng Chai Ha

Go Ah Moi

Lim Sok Noi Nancy

Artworks

Go Ah Moi

About Artwork

Reminiscing Childhood 回顾儿时

Theme:
Gratitude

Focus:
Her intention to reciprocate the care she had received during her childhood; and her will to defy the limiting conditions of her Parkinson’s disease to materialise her last gift.

In Her Words:
“I’ve never given her any gifts. It has always been her giving me, never the other way round. Especially not something I’ve made. It’s been 50 years since I last held a needle. This shows that she is important to me, and I need to give back to her.”

Ng Ah Yam

About Artwork

Warmth 温暖

Theme:
A Mother’s Love

Focus:
The choice of the blanket as a symbol of warmth and her reflection of her role as a mother.

In Her Words:
“I’ve always doted on her, but I’ve also hit her when she misbehaved. Now that she is all grown up, sometimes I’ll look back and wonder, ‘why did I hit her?’ …… And my heart will ache …… With the blanket, she will always remember me when she uses it at night. As her mother, I hope that she will be blissful and happy, free from worries, and live well everyday. I want this blanket to give her warmth.”

Alicia Chong

About Artwork

Our Happy Times

Theme:
Imparting Wisdom

Focus:
Her journey towards connecting with her grand-daughter through her gift-making: She has had several conversations with her grand-daughter about this gift, and also shared an exercise routine as well as a family recipe with her during a 1-day outing.

In Her Words:
“I decided at the last minute on my grand-daughter because I felt Singapore children are very spoiled now. So I hope this would give me a chance to really interact with her more, and talk to her, which I seldom have a chance…… When I see her growing up, healthy and sort of a person that is not going the wrong way, I want her to also share my experiences and be happy like me.”

Goh Ning

About Artwork

Ai Yu 爱玉

Theme:
Memory

Focus:
Her intention for her last gift to serve as a memento for her daughter.

In Her Words:
“If she thinks of me, she can look at the blanket, and it will be like seeing me. When I’m no longer around, if someone asks her who made this blanket, she can say, ‘my mother made it.’ That will be enough for me.”

Ong Mui Khoon

About Artwork

Deepest Blessings 深深的祝福

Theme:
Care

Focus:
The intention of sewing a compartment within the bag for her sister to keep her private savings.

In Her Words:
“I hope to give this present to my sister, for her to always remember that I care for her deeply. I fear that she will not look out for herself.”

Louis Tan

About Artwork

Inheritance

Theme:
Passing On

Focus:
The origins of the gift (inherited from his parents), his struggles and hopes for the gift to be passed down.

Note:
He wants to use the name “LENA” to give the gift. Lena is his mother’s name. In his gift, he wishes to leave his contact information for people who might be interested to buy over his collection.

In His Words:
“I didn’t expect this inheritance, but it just came into my hands, so I just treasure it because it belongs to my mother and father …… to make my life happier and meaningful, this batch of stamps which is valuable to me, I better hand it to one of my grandsons and let them see if they are keen on it. I’m thinking that I should write a letter or a will and hand it to my grandson. At least, it’s a continuation of my collection …… It’s an inheritance, to the next person who gets it, I hope it will continue to go down.”

Lim Sok Noi Nancy

About Artwork

Missing 怀念

Theme:
Companionship

Focus:
Her concern about leaving her close friend behind (should she pass on before her); and the intention behind the choice of plastic as a material – everlasting beauty.

In Her Words:
“To give, or not to give her this gift. Neither seems right. If she sees my last gift, she will definitely cry. So it’s very difficult …… You are my most cherished friend. Of all the people I know, no one takes care of me like you do. This flower will never wilt …… When you see this flower, you will think of me. I am beautiful, just like the flower. If you think this way, you won’t be sad.”

Susie Ng Chai Ha

About Artwork

Inheritance 传承

Theme:
Passing On

Focus:
Food and cooking as a shared interest between her and her grandsons; ongoing efforts to teach them her recipes while she is still alive and healthy; and the life lessons she learnt from cooking.

In Her Words:
“…… since I realised that they had an interest, I decided to gift them recipes I have collected over my lifetime. While I am still alive, I want to teach them what I know, or they will never learn …… Cooking is like living, you cannot skip steps, you have to put your heart to the task. It’s the same in living and working. You have to be conscientious, be serious in everything that you do.”