Tropical Sidewalk

The shores of the Singapore River are where people gather at lunch, by evening and on weekends. The sidewalks they frequent are actually bridges crossing the river. Here, they find time to unwind, loiter and generally indulge in people watching. Reinforcing the idea of leisure is the very European looking Riverside Point building which dominates the backdrop. Further behind, in layers, are office high-rises. I wanted the viewer to focus on the people rather than the built environment and what they do in a particular setting. To give clarity to context and the actors, I did not diffuse objects and people much. For me, the challenge was to ensure detail came out but without succumbing to either realism or decorativeness. By dipping into my reservoir of illustrations, I created a story-like atmosphere. At the same time, I used light to add body to the storyline. There is a context here and a hint of relationships between the different individuals. The questions are for the viewers to ask and think about the answers. Then, each viewer has his or her own special story. If you live in the tropics or have visited often enough, it can be your tale.