Giant ‘5 Stones' sculptures transform NIE campus into a space for play

Straits Times

2 days ago

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Five giant inflatable stones have been scattered across the National Institute of Education (NIE) campus, reimagining the traditional childhood game of five stones.
Titled 5 Stones, the artwork was created by artist, curator and NIE senior lecturer Twardzik Ching Chor Leng. It invites young people to learn about the traditional game and spark conversations with the older generation who grew up playing it.
Five stones is a game where children (or adults who are young at heart) toss and catch five pyramid-shaped beanbags, sewn from scrap fabric and filled with beans, sand or rice.
The inflatable stones – ranging from 3m to 5m high, suggesting they are a giant's forgotten toys – are placed around the campus, transforming the institutional landscape into a space for play.
The motifs on the inflatable stones include window grilles common in early public housing; the common rose butterfly, voted as Singapore's national butterfly in 2015; the mega mendung cloud patterns in traditional batik; and Singapore's national flower, the Vanda Miss Joaquim orchid.
(From left) NIE students Benjamin Lian, 45, Samantha Ng, 24, Chua Jin Xuan, 24, Esther Chin, 25, and Khoo Ding Yuan, 29, with one of the inflatable stones on Aug 13.
ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY
'We were initially scared to touch the display,' said NIE student Samantha Ng, 24, of the artwork before finding out she could interact with it.
'It's quite entertaining, it's very bouncy and the music adds a multidimensional sensorial experience.'
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Over 100 people being investigated for vape offences, say MOH and HSA
Singapore Bukit Merah fire: Residents relocated as town council carries out restoration works
Singapore askST: What to do in the event of a fire at home
Singapore Jalan Bukit Merah fire: PMD battery could have started fatal blaze, says SCDF
Singapore askST: What are the fire safety rules for PMDs?
Asia AirAsia flight from KL to Incheon lands at wrong airport in South Korea
Asia India and China work to improve ties amid Trump's unpredictability
Singapore From quiet introvert to self-confident student: How this vulnerable, shy teen gets help to develop and discover her strength
NIE student Esther Chin, 25, said: 'It's more fun than I thought. At first, I thought it would be quite flimsy, but it's quite bouncy.'
Her friend Chua Jin Xuan, 24, added: 'It brings back memories of bouncy castles in my childhood and playing five stones.'
The inflatable stones range from 3m to 5m high.
ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY
The artwork is part of Ripple Effect: The Art Of Teachers Of Art, an exhibition commemorating NIE's 75th anniversary.
The artwork is part of Ripple Effect: The Art Of Teachers Of Art, an exhibition commemorating NIE's 75th anniversary.
ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY
The show features works by 15 artists, most of whom are educators, like Ahmad Abu Bakar, Baet Yeok Kuan and David Chan, as well as documentary film-maker Tan Pin Pin.
The works explore the evolving nature of art education and its future, and draws on personal memories of campus life and spaces where learning unfolds.
Dr Twardzik Ching's work was commissioned by the Public Art Trust and displayed at various places in Singapore during the Singapore Bicentennial celebrations.
The show features works by 15 artists, most of whom are educators.
ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY
Mr Paul Lincoln, head of NIE's visual and performing arts department, said: 'Art is more than a subject – it is a way of thinking, seeing and connecting.
'It nurtures empathy, creativity and the courage to explore and experiment, qualities that will shape the next generation of educators and ripple to the learners they encounter.'
Ripple Effect: The Art Of Teachers Of Art runs until Oct 10 at The Art Gallery, NIE Block 3C, Nanyang Technological University, from 10am to 5pm. Admission is free.