First Things First

Before we begin to sing the praises of modernisation, exalt the advancements (economic, primarily) that come with urbanisation and use these developments as an excuse to propel burgeoning contemporary art, perhaps we should first take a breath to address, if not solve, the issues of poverty, discrimination and environmental degradation.

The 7^th Shanghai Biennale 2008 aimed to use art (of course) to talk about the effects of urbanisation. It was to have addressed issues of global warming and the perishing of mankind (Chong par. 5). However, one cannot help but wonder how these paintings or elaborate installation pieces will alleviate the discrimination faced by residents of rural districts who have moved to the city centre in search of better life chances.

Also, they failed to question why the rural areas are not given the same amount of resources, if not more, in order to close the disparity. Why do you continue to remove and deprive in order to ensure that only one area, the area that is shown to the world is nice and aesthetically-pleasing? Arriving in Batam, Indonesia, one is greeted by rows upon rows of uniformed shophouse-like structures. You are impressed, thinking that the island you thought was backward has progressed or is on its way to urbanisation. But you venture deeper into the huge island and you see shanty-communities; you look for a toilet and they tell you to hold it till we reach the spa we were meant to go to. Why are these areas different from the “centre”? More importantly, why do the two areas have to be separated?

The recent hubbub surrounding the hostels for foreign workers at Serangoon Gardens is an example. A city-state like Singapore hardly has any rural areas bar the half-past-six farmlands in Kranji, Choa Chu Kang and whatnot, so residents of rural countries invading wealthy urbanites’ turf will have to do.

In September, it was proposed that a hostel for foreign workers be ready in Serangoon Gardens, a better-off neighbourhood in Singapore. Foreign workers are the metaphor for residents from the rural areas who have migrated to a city-centre – in this case, overseas – in hopes of jobs. Typically, they should be feeling dislocated and lost but in Singapore’s situation, they are unwelcomed even before their arrival.

Such is the fear that someone or a group of someones from a lesser-advantaged country might taint the urban culture that these citizens enjoy. What could have been an excellent model of assimilating less with more or gentrification Singapore-style which would have led to accommodation and cooperation has given way to small-minded, territorial discrimination.

Every protest from the residents boils down to the fact that they want to keep those from a lesser-advantaged area separate from the districts that have already sown the seeds of urbanisation.

If this separation is to continue and spread as the rate of urbanisation increases and the number of urbanised cities grows, then the disparity will only get bigger and the desperation more pronounced. As we celebrate economic progress and artistic architectural enclaves, should we not bear in mind those that we have left behind who want the same opportunities? Instead of blaming or writing off the rural areas for not having enjoyed the same success because of some inherent deficiency, should we not consider if, in the first place, the source of your prosperity is not the very root of their poverty and the reason is not the removal of resources from a poorer area to support the tourism boom, property boom, economic boom, health care boom, educational boom that comes with industrialisation, modernisation and urbanisation?

______________

Works Cited

Chong, Glenda. “7^th Shanghai Biennale focuses on China’s urbanization.” Channel NewsAsia. 9 Sep 2008. MediaCorp Pte Ltd. 10 Sep 2008. < http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/eastasia/view/374600/1/.html>

Sernau, Scott. Global Problems: The Search for Equity, Peace, and Sustainability. Boston: Pearson, 2006

“Responses to reports on Serangoon Gardens.” Transient Workers Count Too. 2008. Transient Workers Count Too. 10 Sep 2008. < http://www.twc2.org.sg/site/letters-to-the-press/response-to-reports-on-serangoon-gardens.html>