Exhibited in the National Library of Singapore during the Singapore Art Week 2024, “A Tapestry Of Kindness” is a small-scale, interactive exhibition comprising a print exchange organized by a community of film photographers. What distinguished the third iteration of this dynamic exhibition was the ongoing interchange between the images and the audience. As this exhibition’s title suggests an expression of kindness, it allows the viewer to write and place a small letter of kindness to the photographer in exchange for a maximum of two film photographs of their liking. This activity created a wholesome experience for the spectators, allowing them to communicate with the photographer indirectly.
This project was birthed by a local community of photographers who collectively came to trade their photograph prints yearly. One year later, they even intended to create a zine based on their Instagram stories, capturing words of thankfulness, gratitude, and delight. Two years later, they decided to publicize this photographic print exchange.
Visually, this exhibition was set up minimally with multiple rows of strings hung from the top of a rod. Each string consisted of a maximum of 5 photographs or notes, sized at 6×4 inches. The arrangement of the rows was intended to represent an open-stage structure. The evenly spaced strings, suspended from the rods, displayed a unified manner to the entire space. The exhibition's location in a little nook of a library produced a serene atmosphere, allowing the observer to relax and focus on the photographers completely. The library’s atmosphere was well-balanced, in terms of lighting, as it provided the space with cool white lights that did not disturb the viewer’s attention.
This exhibition could have benefited from a few adjustments. For starters, the viewers would find it convenient if the exhibition had brochures or leaflets with information about the photographers who presented their work. Furthermore, once the hanging strings were filled with hand-written notes, the curator would remove and replace the notes with another series of photographs. It would be pleasant to have a distinct corner for the notes to be preserved rather than eliminating them. Lastly, this exhibition had a single curator installing the works himself. Conversing with him about the exhibition created a slight disconnect between him and the viewer because he knew little about the images. This might be improved if the photographers or digital screens were present there to converse with the viewer and make the exhibition more connective as well as instructive.
From my stance, I believe “The Tapestry Of Kindness” was a petty yet meaningful display, that gave the visitors a reason to engage in the exhibition rather than simply standing and looking at the photographs. The thought of giving back to the photographers made the exhibition feel fulfilling and pure, and the space and handwritten remarks exuded positivism. The entire time spent at the show was brief, yet it was plenty for the viewer to engage with the images and express gratitude to the photographers. Overall, “A Tapestry Of Kindness” offered more than just a display of film photographs. By fostering a dialogue between photographers and viewers through the exchange of handwritten notes and film photographs, this exhibition transcended traditional barriers and developed a sense of community within the gallery space. While there were minor areas for improvement, the overall atmosphere and concept of the exhibition left a lasting impression of warmth and connection. Ultimately, "A Tapestry Of Kindness" served as a beautiful reminder of the power of human connection and generosity in the realm of art.
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