Wah, so Chapalang

• Main Author: Lim, En Qi
• Other Authors: Ina Conradi
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2022
• Subjects: Visual arts and music::Drawing, design and illustration; Visual arts and music::Art criticism::Aesthetics
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/158310
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Wah, so Chapalang is a project on Singaporean's refined kitsch design interventions. The terminology Chapalang design stems from a frequently used phrase ‘Chapalang’ across Singapore, which signifies the use of eclecticism in a haphazard manner. The so-called Chapalang philosophy can be observed in objects, individuals, situations, and mannerism in Singaporean culture. More significantly, it carries an anti-aesthetic approach in the design of functional purposes in urban regions. In the Singaporean lifestyle, the devices are innovated during living situations to stimulate and embrace the Chapalang way. Through the lens of the Singaporeans' narrative, this research work will explore and document the lifestyle of people and convey the poetic panache of Chapalang designs that emerge through spontaneity and ingenuity. Furthermore, in this research project, the nature of Singaporean Chapalang will be documented, deconstructed, and promoted by highlighting the common ideas of upcycling and creating resourceful designs. In addition, various post-modernist philosophies, such as Object-Oriented Ontology (OOO), Existentialism and Avant-Garde art movements, will be studied thoroughly, as their corresponding design approaches are reflected in the Chapalang designs in Singapore.