Dooms Day is here!!!???!!!

Dooms Day is here!!!???!!!


The Court Baliff was there in the morning at 10 am on the 17th - Thursday.


i told the Baliff that i ceased to be a human being and am part of the artworks - The Goh Chok Tong collection. This was because i was being treated insensitively and inhumanly.


i told the Baliff i will not stop him and told him to proceed with his order.


He wanting to pull me aside, but i told him there is nothing to hide and insist to remain near the doorway with the CNA camera was rolling (unlike Tuesday, the media was not locked outside the gate). He told me he cannot do so as i am in the premise. But i repeatedly told him that i am no long a human being!


The lawyer was summoned. He tried very hard to persuade me to leave telling me that i am a scholar and should not violate the court order as it is criminal. i told him i wished to remain together with work as i am concerned with the reprossessed of my studio, i will have no say on them. He went out to check with his client and returned soon to assured me that my artworks will be carefully moved and i can remain around to supervise the moving. And it will be move by the professional art movers.


By then, the police have been summoned. While i was talking to the lawyer, the client have asked the police to move in! It was the lawyer who stop the police at the door!


The lawyer was nice and keep persuading me to leave while asuring me that my artworks would be treated with care. i was also assured that i can gain access to the storage in the next 4 days and i will have to clear everything by monday noon.



i relented.


The Baliff proceed to seal the premise with a huge lock!


The movers were called.


CNA reporter wanted to interview me. i asked what different are they from News 5. She said 'we are at the same roof.' i then protested to her that i had said many key issues in regards to the cultural policys in Singapore on Tuesday nite - at least 1 hour of the recorded film, speaking at 4 to 5 segments. But i was only given barely 5 seconds of inaudible air time! i asked her repeatedly that is this fair? She asked: 'no!' i then told her i am happy to coorperate with her but she/the editor should air my views. She said she will check with her editor. but she left later without coming back to me. So they will carry the official view only.

The movers arrived in an hour - about 10 men. The frenzy began!

They were professional art mover - Rhema! In beginning, they appeared to be professional. But as the time weared on, especially nearing the end, they were many lapses. They finished at about 21.00pm.

The 2 security guards were 'professional' in executing their job. They stop me deligently in entering into my studio to supervise the movers - as if i am a criminal! All i can do was calling out near the door!

During the moving from my studio - 4th floor - to the containers on the ground floor in the backyard within the premise, i repeatedly told them on the security of this process because i witnessed the boxes of my belongs and the paintings lying around unattended in the different floors of the stairsway! They remained, one constantly guarding the door and the other, most of the time on the 4th floor.

At about 14.00pm, i spoke to 1 of the NAC official, equiring on the handling over and how i will get access to the storage and who is holding the keys. He said he will come back to me. Nothing heard of, i never get to see him again. By 15.00pm, none of the NAC staff were present!

I suppose they have kick me out and careless!

This was a comical episode:

1] the 2 security guards guarding my studio [against my access] when my belongings are being moved out.

2] there were at least half a dozen of NAC officials present on Tuesday nite and Thursday morning. But there were none around to witness the moving process.

3] there is a photographer hired by NAC to 'document' the process from the locking of my studio to the moving to the locking of the storage. but locking without a seal mean nothing.

4] the keys to the storage - 2 containers, were handled over to the administrator of TKS, not a third party, not a security officer.

5]the security even have to escort me out of TKS as though i am a criminal and the photographer taking picture to confirm it.

6] more of things later......................................................

Drama over this artist's studio

Drama??

This is the title of the headline in the front page of the Today Newspaper.

What drama?

Ooh! Perhaps! The LOUD THUNDER that shock the Newsman and woman! But regretably, it was not reported!

Threat!

What threat??

i do not give threat! If i said it, i will do it! And it is Done!

The THUNDER PROTEST on my behalf !!!

According to ZaoBao today, i arrived on 18.30 pm at TKS in the rain. Though the rain wasn't heavy, there was thunders and lighting. One particular LOUD one stroke while i was speaking to the reporters about a dozens of them with photograghers, visibly shocked afew of them!

The Straits Times and Today Newspaper also carried this news. But regretfully, none have put the Thunder strike down!

Accept Reuters, the local media were invited by the NAC as i understood, an official press statement were issued about noon time yesterday. However, they were being locked out the premise - TKS!

???

Regretfully, none of the reports carried this info! It seems like they - the reporters were happily being lock out by their host in the rain and under lighting and thunders!

!!??!!!???!!?

Thank God! The Lighting and THunder protested on my behalf !!!

Security Guards 4 -6 of them, were hire to guard the premise - TKS!

When i stepped into the premise, th lawyer of NAC was the first, th eone and only person to greet me. He than served the Court Injunction to me.

When i moved on into the building, i see more than a dozens of people. When i looked into their faces, everyone turn their head down ar away from me!!!

The curse of Competency ???

The Black curtain is looming ever larger and larger!!!

i was was extremely puzzled and saddened over the last week on the bureaucracy. The lack of empathy and apathy.

i thought i must be alone in this phenomenon. Then...

Today in Today Newspaper carries an article: The Curse of Competency
by CHITRA RAJARAM, Deputy Editorial Director.

http://www.todayonline.com/articles/247807.asp

It touch on the blind Mexican ambassador to Singapore in a recent interview.

"Mr Juan Jose Gomez-Camacho could not have analysed us better. The problem is that we do not want to or know how to deal with the exceptional or unknown. We tend to view everything as black and white while other mature societies can acknowledge and deal with various shades of grey."

It again touch on some of the rigidities of the system.

"the problems arise at the implementation level, where educationists and administrators take on a hard-and-fast stance on following the rules. It translates to a lack of flexibility, non-shifting boundaries and, sometimes, a lack of empathy."

In my present series dealing with the NAC, i have discovered that it may not be just be at the implementation level but further up on the leadership. Refer: http://tankwankliang.blogspot.com/2008/04/singapore-has-good-reasons-in-promoting_2406.html

"These are highly competent people who form the social network of the system, but they are so "rigidised" and caught up with the competency of the system that they cannot see beyond that.
So, while we take great pride in our systems, I am afraid we do not have the same world-class mindsets to resonate with our world-class status."

"Renowned author Jim Collins calls this "the curse of competency".

In his book, Good to Great, he explained that companies need to transcend this curse to go from good to great. He said: "The good-to-great companies understood that doing what you are good at will only make you good; focusing solely on what you can potentially do better than any other organisation is the only path to greatness."

He was talking about companies making the leap. I don't see why our society cannot take a leaf from his book, "transcend the curse of competency" and make that leap."

Can we??

Some years back, i heard a Veteran Cultural Medallion lamenting over his contemplation of going outstation abroad [for 1-2-3 years]. He feared losing his many possessions, including his car. he worried that when he return he may not have a place/studio to work and he may not afford the new COE for his car!

There must be many more of such thoughts.

i have taken the leap to go beyond this shore. It is uneasy. Many times more arduous and burdensome than i have imagined. i am willing to endure.

However, while i am battling abroad, back home, my base camp is been demolished - by the very institution that propagate to support the arts!!!

"Perhaps I am wrong to come to China to build a 'second wing' advocate by your Government in the late 80's/ early 90's." Refer:http://tankwankliang.blogspot.com/2008/04/singapore-has-good-reasons-in-promoting_5868.html

COMPLACENT ?!? Perhaps? Perhaps not !?

What is Complacency?

What is the MM Lee trying to reach at in the interview in the ST last weekend?

Can my encounter with the few 'insignificant' incidents in the last week offer some lights?

1] i flew in on evening on the 2nd of March, Wed. The plane touch down at 20.50pm. By the time it taxied, it was 21.05pm. i called my sister from the free telephone in the main hall of the Airport, who was at the MPS in Marine Parade. She was trying to get a queue number for me. In the mist of registering, she told rush down quickly. When i arrived on the taxi, the minders/volanteers told that she has left! i look for her ouside the MP's office. She said the minders had turn her away!

For details:
http://tankwankliang.blogspot.com/2008/04/my-mp-dont-know-what-he-can-do.html

a) Have i not been persistance, i would not have met my MP. 1 case less, 1 problem less?

b) i protested : Is this how you turn away constituents who want to meet their MP? 2 of the minders were visual angry.

c) i asked 1 of the minders what is the profession of this MP - Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim.
'Medical Doctor' came the answer. Later did the MP correct me that he is no MD but a PhD (Management Sciences)!

d) He was candidly honest and said he don't know what he can do and asked me to call the lawyers. Well, i can't blame him. He is on the first term as a MP.

2] My 'weirdest' telephone conversation ever! with anybody lest to said an official!
http://tankwankliang.blogspot.com/2008/04/weirdest-telephone-conversation-with.html
i am still very puzzled as how this has had occured with a mid/senior level official, a Deputy Director! 3 long silences - the last being timed: 3 mins 19 secs !!! of absolute silence!

3] The Tai Chi-ing of the Lawyer and the Client(NAC).
http://tankwankliang.blogspot.com/2008/04/dooms-day-is-here.html
Who should i believe? Or is it that the Sub - Court officer is not telling the truth?

4] Last nite at MPS, the minders were trying to turn me away too althought i must say, this time is the fault of mine. i was without my IC(misplaced), i showed my driver's licence, it carries no address. i showed the letters addressed to me, but they are not good enough. i said i can go back home to get my passport and return in 10 mins. the minders said i maybe late if the MP finishes early as it was 20.50pm and there is no more people on the queue. i rushed back on my bicycle and returned in 10 mins and there was no more excuses which resulted: http://tankwankliang.blogspot.com/2008/04/dooms-day-is-here_09.html

Am i Complacent? NO!
Can i be Complacent? NO!!
Will i be Complacent?? NO!!!
i CANNOT AFFORD TO !!!

Dooms Day is here!!!???

Today - well, is was yeseterday as this is past midnite - was Meet the People Session by the MP.

The MP on duty was Dr Ong Seh Hong, very personable and pro-active. He was awared of my present plight as i have previously cc my email to him when i wrote to SM Goh.

He was quick to offer to write to the Minister of MICA. i was surely please to hear but at the same time doubtful of any out come as the Honorable Minister have previously intervened fruitlessly.

However, there is no harm trying again.

i requested him to put in 2 key points in his letter of appeal on my behalf.

1] Internationalisation/Globalisation.
In this age of Globalisation, irregardless of whatever trade/profession one is in, there is a constant need to travel. This the universal law at work and the world is getting smaller and smaller, and more closely connected and knited. For artists to have some international exposures and reputes, artists cannot but have to move and have studios and spend time beyond his shore. To deny this is myopic! Not supporting this is mismanagement!

So how can one balance/justify the use?

2] i will spend at least half of my time in Singapore.
NAC claims that this is a 'heavily subsidised' premise with tax payers money. Hence, it has to justify its uses as the premises is 'underused'. It is not my duty to reveal how underused the TKS by other artists. But i can declare that while i was not travelling previously, i was 24 hours at the studio. May i dare say humbly and reservedly, the time i spent/will spend in TKS are far more than many if not most of the other 30 odd artists.

i had even argued for a CCTV to be installed to monitor the traffic in the premise, but NAC is not interested in the whole truth. Refer item 4 - http://tankwankliang.blogspot.com/2008/04/my-reply-to-director-13-nov-07-re-telok.html

If this fail, i am afraid i have to put my Collection - The Goh Chok Tong Collection [for detail, pls refer - http://tankwankliang.blogspot.com/2008/04/my-third-letter-to-my-mp-07-oct-07-re.html] into a bonfire.

i will set is date for the BONFIRE to be tentatively on the 15th April as the execution date of the Writ of Possession is on the 17th!

It is 2am and this lump on top of my ballooned head is getting heavier and larger!

Will this be another sleepless nite?!?

Dooms Day is here!!!

The Director of Resourse Development, NAC returned call in the late afternoon.

A clear cut and straight talk of no return! No way of reversing the decision as the book is dead clear on the usage of a 'heavily susidised' premises! And this incident is in the court hand and there is nothing they can do. He was unhappy with me memtioning 'border on hypocrisy?' (Pls refer - http://tankwankliang.blogspot.com/2008/04/singapore-has-good-reasons-in-promoting_3538.html)

Even though i hinted what he last wrote to me (and the Deputy must had told him earlier-as i read the letter to him in the morning), No offer of seeing me or meeting up?!? If this is not hypocrisy? What is?

Earlier on 2 separate occassions(Friday and Monday[?]), while i spoke with the lawyer representing NAC, she stated catogorically that it is now up to the court to deal/issue the proceeding. There is nothing she or the NAC can do to stop this. When i asked her who she spoke/deal with in NAC/the Client? She said she can't tell me, it is confidential!

While i checked out with the Sub Court Bailiff Section, they told me that they are issuing another 'Writ of Possession' to be executed in 10 days time (17th March) on the advise from the lawyer of their Client(NAC)!!!

SO WHICH IS WHICH? Whose words should i belief ?!?

Pardon me for my broken and fractured English. Is this hypocrisy? If not what is this?!?

Returning home, the 'Writ of Possession in slip under the doorway!!!

DOOMS DAY IS HERE!!! THE BLACK CURTAIN IS LOOMING SO LARGELY OVER!!!