October 11, 2022
Last September, some of our students had an opportunity to work with NUS alumna and local artist Jennifer Anne Champion in a unique poetry-embroidery project titled Loose Threads as part of the ExxonMobil Campus Concerts (EMCC) series. Following this season’s EMCC theme, these embroidered works showcase the poetic leanings of our NUS students as well as Jennifer’s own rumination of being “comfortable in one’s skin”.
We spoke to these student poets to find out more about their original words of art and their EMCC experience – read on to learn more and why they think you should visit the Loose Threads exhibition!
The Loose Threads exhibition is now on display at the Stephen Riady Centre, Level 2 (outside anteroom) until 3 Dec 2022.
Q: Where did you draw inspiration for your poem?
A: I crafted my poem around this season’s EMCC theme, Unbound and Unbridled. There were many possible interpretations, however I felt like the theme was about having the freedom of expression, of one’s feelings bursting at the seams. My poem centers around the angry culmination of years of silently shouldering responsibilities, being considerate for the sake of others, and recognising the loss of self.
My favorite line is, “I scream at the sun, for all the people in my life I cannot blame.” I feel it captures the release of emotion prevalent to the theme, and it displays a fatigued form of anger that is looking to rest, not maim. The poem does end on a happy note, where the self sheds away all the “costumes” they have worn for others, in a reclamation of the individual self.
Q: What was the experience like to be part of the EMCC programme, and given the chance to work with Jennifer?
A: It was definitely an enjoyable and memorable experience to be part of the Loose Threads embroidery exhibition. The EMCC programme hosts many arts-related opportunities for the arts lovers on campus, and the process to participate is always easy and free. I’ve attended one or two shows and participated in this embroidery activity thus far, and it’s all been fantastic. (Shoutout to Elizabeth and Constance for the fun & eccentric programme lineup!)
Jennifer was a lovely person to work with on this project. She guided all of us on how we could style our poetry on the canvas: putting intention behind orientation, size, and its position. She then allowed us access to her expansive collection of embroidery threads. We could pick as many colors as we wanted for our lines, with most of us picking around two to three. She suggested that the colours chosen could represent the feeling that we attached to the specific words. She had also made a few jokes about how daunting the task seemed to be, but stated that she would “get sewing as soon as possible”.
Q: Last but not least, why should we visit this exhibition?!
A: I believe this exhibition really is a unique amalgamation of many students’ heartfelt words, and Jennifer Anne Champion’s dedication to bringing our poetry to life. Everyone’s lines are rather striking and profound, and the messy arrangement ties in with the Unbound and Unbridled-ness of it all. The exhibition also features some of Jennifer’s own artwork, along with a solo poetry piece done by a student.
Embroidery may not be as flashy an art form as compared to others, however I feel its merit lies in its humble essence: that it is painstakingly handmade. It ties back to the humanistic quality of art, where behind a completed artwork lies people who have tried their best to weave their creative ideas and sincere efforts into an aesthetic piece for everyone’s enjoyment.
If you’re in UTown, do consider dropping by the exhibition! Maybe you will find a line of poetry you like, or simply admire the detailed embroidery.
Q: Where did you draw inspiration for your poem?
A: As the name “Unspoken Desires” suggests, it is about the wishes of the heart that remain in the heart, unsaid but felt with depth and intensity, nonetheless. The poetic style has some inspiration in Sufi love poetry, a Persian genre, and in romantic Sangam poetry which is an integral part of Tamil culture and my personal heritage. The poem is essentially about love’s nuances. The parts of love which people do not see but very much exist. It is about loving and then losing love, loving but not being loved in turn, loving incompletely, loving with unrealistic expectations and loving in the midst of pure chaos and confusion. My poem aims to depict love at its finest, and that means to depict love at its most flawed and imperfect.
Q: What was the experience like to be part of the EMCC programme, and given the chance to work with Jennifer?
A: It was truly a very interesting and I would say surreal experience. As a writer of poetry for a few years now, I never really had the avenue to display my art or never really knew how. This programme gives me a chance to let the world judge my art and to allow my words to be given a new form and meaning through the reinterpretation and artistic talent of Jennifer who was a pleasure to work with. It was interesting to witness tapestry and poetry come together so beautifully. I never knew it was a possibility till now.
Q: Last but not least, why would we visit this exhibition?!
A: The exhibition is one that is relatable to all of us. We live our lives feeling put together or thinking we understand ourselves when that is rarely ever the case. We don’t allow ourselves to accept our own chaotic natures and we try to hide this truth. This exhibition allows us to be more accepting of these tempestuous parts of ourselves and displays what it truly means to be human. The artwork is portrayed one way by the artist. However, the audience may perceive something completely different. So come and after having seen our interpretations, leave with your own.
Q: Where did you draw inspiration for your poem?
A: The poem was inspired by a close friend of mine – at the time, we were going through a really busy period of school. I told her I was going to write a poem and needed three words to base it on; she gave me ‘sunflower’, ‘confidence’, and ‘rain’. What came out of it was a poem about struggle, stars, and strength.
Q: What was the experience like to be part of the EMCC programme, and given the chance to work with Jennifer?
A: It was fun! It was definitely something new that I enjoyed seeing come to fruition in the manner that it did. I only contributed a small part of the overall work but even so, I’m happy that I did – and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of the imagination and talent of Jennifer!
Q: Last but not least, why would we visit this exhibition?!
A: It’s pretty cool 🙂 Slow down and read about love and loss and life!