Art should comfort the disturbed, and disturb the comfortable.

What a blessing it is to enjoy music – on both listening and performing ends – at public pianos.

Let me recount some memorable encounters while I was plonking away at the keys.

“my father is dead”

• Venue: National Library Building, Singapore. Level 1, Lobby
• Song request: “Golden Hour” by JVKE
• Requester: a young lady, age-wise, maybe in her late twenties

“My father is dead. Before he died, he used to play this song for me. Can you play it?”

“sure, I can't play it fluently, as I'm unfamiliar with it, but I can try.”

“Thank you.”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep; 'God is not dead, nor doth he sleep! The Wrong shall fail, the Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men!' – H. W. Longfellow

I have never had a father’s protection from danger, and I have never had a mother’s tender touch.

Every passer-by could see I was lost and abandoned, but no one had the willingness to help; or, even if they had, they lacked the ability. They shook their heads, and said, “it’s sad to see this”, and then went on with their lives.

I present, below, a list of opinions about the millenia-old practice of masturbation and sexual activity.

Can your mind process these opinions and come to a conclusion that makes sense to yourself?

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1. “We are facing a pornography pandemic” by: Josh McDowell. https://saltandlight.sg/faith/we-are-facing-a-pornography-pandemic-josh-mcdowell/
2. “Can I ever be set free from pornography and masturbation?” by: Dawson Ng. https://thirst.sg/can-i-ever-be-set-free-from-pornography-and-masturbation/
3. “Facing up to porn addiction, the hidden third party in our marriage.” by: Sharon Tan (pseudonym). https://saltandlight.sg/relationships/porn-addiction-the-hidden-third-party-in-our-marriage/
4. “Surviving an affair” by Willard F. Harvey Jr.
5. “The real avenger: Christian song about struggles against lust and porn.” By: Gino Borst.
6. “What does God and the Bible say about masturbation?” by: Pastor Mike Novotny.

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a rambling discourse, on opinions, follows hence

The world is a noisy place. Everyone has an opinion. And you know what humorous uncles say about opinions: 'it's like an anus. Everyone has one.'

Yet wars are started on opinions, and friendships are similarly broken through opinions: “I am right and you are wrong.”

I have received gratefully. I am a nobody in the vast complicated tundra that is the marketplace of paintings. And yet I have been blessed. Let me recount some concrete details.

Special thanks to Alyson for your warm hospitality at Cuturi Gallery.

I. 8th of November, 2019

I was at Art Porters Gallery, where a photographer-artist named Lavender Chang was giving a talk. Then, Monsieur Guillaume offered a pair of tickets, free of charge, to a music recital, named “ Voices of Bernard Sabatier”.

(Bernard Sabatier is a luthier, a maker of string instruments, such as the violin and viola. His viola is unconventionally shaped, and hence is met with resistance in music academies. However the luthier believes that his own instruments make performances easier for younger musicians.)

I accepted this splendid offer, inviting a younger friend along.

The venue for this recital was a studio in the magnificent Esplanade Theatres. If I remember correctly, one of the featured compositions was Schubert's.

II. 9th of November, 2023.

Someone from Gnani Arts Gallery sent me an email, inviting me to Affordable Art Fair, for “a private viewing of new and spectacular work curated by us for this season.”

I happily accepted the complimentary ticket. The venue was Formula One Pit Building.

I have benefitted from the labours of poets and poetesses from decades past – and centuries past – and I have no way of expressing my gratitude except to “pay it forward” (as the younger set says) – I have received freely and now I give freely.

In no particular order, I list poems that have helped me at pivotal moments in my life.

What do some people think about?

1. how am I feeling?
2. what is difficult for me right now?
3. what is going well?
4. which direction am I heading in?

*from Patrik Rolf,

I attempt a haiku as a response to each site that I have visited on this tiny island.

1. Aquarium on Sentosa Island

Flitting past humans Helmets glow and dance. No sun. Life beneath the waves

2. Mandai Zoo

Endless screams and shrieks Long arms – furry – swing past trees Orange men with tails

It might be good to go back and visit my friends – some of whom have become family – and see how they are doing.

1. Chr****** (Cathedral) is working with NICS (Network of Christian Schools) to benefit refugees, and youths in Africa.
2. T** (barista) is pulling shots at Kurasu Coffee (the Orchard outlet) and feels sad that he has no choice but to go for two more cycles of serving in the Armed Forces.

Over a time-period of approximately ten months – from 18th September 2023 A.D., to 14th July, 2024 A.D – I experienced an encounter with people from my past. I think of it as a milestone in my journey thus far.

I list those people in no particular order:

1. Crystal, Nan Hua Media And Debating (MAD) Club, 2004
2. Goh Shi Bin, Nan Hua, 2005
3. Yu Ting, NJC Harmonica Band, 2007
4. Hwee Hwee, NJC Harmonica Band, 2008
5. Tay Yi, 35SCE, 2009
6. Yong Rui Xuan, NUS SoC, 2011
7. David Bensadon, entrepreneur (in the field of domestic helpers), 2015

I made some new friends in this period too.