Typography Around Me

These are some of the pictures I clicked time across in Singapore. Few on the streets, few in the stores, from many corners. I just found these when I was browsing through my photographs. Makes me wanna click more of these as it is quite interesting to see how typography is used around me. For now these are a few of them, hope you enjoy....

Retrospection

It has truly been a retrospective day for me and I feel so happy after seeing the original works of Andywarhol. Being a great fan of him, was disappointed when the collector dint allow me to take pictures ....... was even more disappointed by hearing the price of one of the works I admire the most (volkswagen screen print on lenox museum board). I am sure sometime down the line I can afford to buy one of them.

Well rainy day, after a lot of walking, I came across this really awesome lane of stores and cafes that dint make me feel like I was in Singapore for a second. I was all set to get inspired again.

"Books actually" a book store that has a good range of books in the discipline of philosophy, art, photography, history, psychology, science etc. Interesting part was the hand stitched books, they were adorable, books apart ;) I was zapped by their awesome range of vintage products. The old typewriters, polaroids, campbell soup bowls, old radios, oh god I went crazy looking at each corner, lovely makes me feel that I should start collecting them too. Here is a sneak peak of what I saw

Pottery Jungle

On my way back from the 100th scout celebration we happened to see pots lined up by the road and a board that said "way to pottery jungle", which obviously made me curious to visit and we followed the directions. Well it was along walk outskirts but was totally worth it. The entrance had lines and lines of colorful ceramic pots stacked up on both the sides which gave us a warm welcome. There were pots of every size and color this was what I could see outside but there was a building with tons andtons of them which drew myattention quickly.

There was a huge maze of pottery and ceramics. Traditional blue and white constrasts with modern swirls of vibrant reds and yellow; ginger jars and rice pots drew my attention. Modern vases and abstract decorative pieces. Figurines, platters, bowls, fountains, foot stools, animals, wall panels, vases, urns and even complete outdoor picnic table and chair sets...all made from pottery in a thousand different hues. As we wandered from one open-sided barn to the next we start to wonder if the collection will ever end. No wonder this place is 45 years old. They have a incredible collection.

Piled up ceramic pots at the entrance.

In the middle of all this place there is a huge kiln The "Dragon Kiln". he dragon kiln in Jalan Bahar Clay Studios (JBCS) known as Guan Huat Dragon Kiln was built by Mr. Lee Yong Lee and his friends in 1958. Although it is considered the longest dragon kiln in Singapore today, measuring 43 metres long, 2.2 metres high and 2.5 metres wide. This is the biggest kiln I have ever come across. The friendly staff there said the the next firing would happen is Jan and I would surely take an other trip there. We bought few pretty ceramic containers and got back home. loved the adventure.

Entrance of the kiln.

The huge kiln, a view inside.

There were few artists working on their wheel and making beautiful pots. The artist's studio was by the river and had a beautiful view which is connected to the nature. There was a small classroom with heaps of pots in every corner and made the place look even more interesting.

Artist at work.The studio by the river.

A beautiful lamp.

Ancient Angkor - Cambodia

I was eagerly waiting to take a trip to Angkor wat tour since the day I landed in Siem Reap, this was planned for one whole day. We hired a tuk tuk and started early during the day and it was a wonderful drive into the history. It was monsoons and luckily the sky was clear and the weather was pleasant. It was long drive where we saw lots and lots of temples. The more we saw the more they were. I had a feeling that I was in a total different world. In the middle of the forest, ruins hidden amidst the forest, beautiful faces carved in stone, unique architecture, water bodies here and there, It was just so different. Memorable experience as a whole.

A little bit of history:

Angkor is visible today largely because of the efforts of the archeologists (from the Ecole Francaise d'Extreme Orient). Khmer civilization centered on Angkor was one of the most remarkable to flourish in southeast asia. These temples were built by a number of hindu and Buddhist kings who were succeeded one after the other during 8th and 13th century.

Parasat Kravan was built in the 10th century during the short reigns of Harshavarman I by a group of high officials. This temple was dedicated to lord Vishnu.

Angkor wat, the city pagoda was not only the grandest and the most sublime of all the Khmer temples but was a city of its own right. This is the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation — first Hindu, dedicated to the god Vishnu, then Buddhist. It is the world's largest religious building. The temple is at the top of the high classical style of Khmer architecture. It has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag.

Angkor Thom was one of the largest of the khmer cities and was the capital until the 17th century. The tower has 4 faces in each of the cardinal directions.

Bayon, the state temple of Jayavarma VII and his immediate successor, is one of the most enigmatic and powerful religious constructions in the world. The temple is extremely complex both in terms of its structure and meaning. It is uniquely a mass of towers with 4 faces in each direction. Out of the total 54 towers, today only 37 are standing and still looks magnificent.