New Art Book - Digerati II

Digerarti II by Roger Smith

Delighted to complete this new book project.  My recent art and photography is now published live on this site.

Click on the book and flick through the pages. Enjoy! and let me know what you think by leaving a comment on this post.

Keeping the Family Secrets Alive - Hawker Masters

I think it is an excellent initiative to acknowledge and reward the food heroes of Singapore.  The hawkers are the culinary backbone of the country and many of the dishes featured in this video were (and remain) personal favourites of mine.


As the list of winners proves, you really need to get out of Orchard Road to sample the true and authentic taste of Singaporean food.
It makes my mouth water just to think about it; it must be Makan Time!
There is now a Hawker Master Trainer pilot programme as well so aspiring hawkers can get up to speed on recipes under the guidance of the masters.

Get this Makan Time Button by clicking here.

Related articles

• Will Hawker Survive the Digital Age?
• Anthony Bourdain's Hawker Centre Sanctuary - Tiong Bahru in Singapore

Today's Art Work - Composition #5

Composition #5
Roger Smith, 2013
Copies of this art print are available here

The combination of colour and texture combined in an abstract composition.  Perhaps because it is at last summer weather, the colours selected reflect the season!

A much larger version of the work (unframed) can be seen here.

New Art - Queentown Bird Fanciers

Queenstown Bird Fanciers
Drawing
Roger Smith  2013

This small sketch is based on a photo I took with my mobile phone's camera as I was walking under an HDB block; en route from Queens condo to the Queenstown Public Library, Singapore .

It is a scene that was quite common with groups of retired men hanging their bird in wicker and metal cages above, sitting on plastic chairs and passing the time before the sun got too fierce.

Copies are available for $US 8.25 from  this online site.

Two Original Las Vegas Compositions

Vegas 1
Roger Smith, 2013
Copies available here.

Vegas 2
Roger Smith, 2013
Copies available here.

A Singaporean Superhero?

Ever wondered about the possibilities of a superhero dying of heatstroke?

That was my first thought when I saw the video of this guy masquerading as caped crusader.  One can hardly term the "Mean Streets of Singapore" as such, because they simply aren't.  On a scale of one to ten with say Rio being a perfect ten of meanness, Singapore would come in at -1!


And while I am all in favour of people being courteous at all times, I am not convinced that prancing around in a tight-fitting costume that resembles a knock-off of the Singapore flag is the way to do it?

Mr "Justice" as he titles himself, is apparently 21 years old and hails from Choa Chu Kang.  Shouldn't he be in gainful employment at this age, or perhaps he is engaged by the government to conduct an official courtesy campaign?

His message is in reality a cosplay updating of the old song "Don't Worry Be Happy".  No harm in that I suppose.  The 'worry' is that he will one day soon expire on Orchard Road for heat asphyxia, brought on by tight clothing and the noon day sun.

Not A Bridge Too Far

...at least not when it comes to local Singaporean knowledge about some of their historic bridges.  Several of these are being documented as part of the ongoing cultural and heritage push to document structures and customs before they disappear or are torn down.

Cavenagh Bridge, Anderson Bridge, Elgin Bridge, Read Bridge and Ord Bridge are all featured in the video below.