Ways of Seeing is a standing mirror that helps to illustrate how one’s worldview can vary depending on their stance. Red or blue tinted reflections are observed as one moves around the mirror, where these two perspectives are juxtaposed when the sculpture is viewed from the front. Since the mirror’s configuration conceals one’s reflection from the front, the piece encourages one to contemplate the world’s complexity rather than fixate on their own reflection. Serving as an appeal to tolerance towards views contrary to our own, the work probes one to examine all perspectives, even those that may diverge significantly from ours. Rather than being solely informed of a single perspective, it can be valuable to step back and see the collective picture. 

 

Firmly anchored in the ground, this pleated sheet of stainless steel is cut in the shape of a door – a symbol of openness across temples of the world. It also expresses the welcoming nature of Singapore, a nation built on the bedrock of multiculturalism and multireligiousity. 

 

Duality as an underlying theme of this work – suggested through the differently tinted surfaces – can also be abstracted and discussed in relation to other aspects besides religion. Tapping on a similar title to John Berger's acclaimed book titled Ways of Seeing, our work hopes that people can have open harmonious conversations about religion and philosophy, regarding different cultural views as diverse "ways of seeing" the world.

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This piece was designed in mind of Singapore's context, for the competition under DialogueSpaceSG organized by the Catholic Church of Singapore.