Clare Chng 2D06

These neat rows of Vanda Miss Joaquims epitomize the organization and rationality of a typical urban space. The homogeneous, tall rows of flowers somewhat resemble the unvaried profiles of HDB flats. The tall columns, of similar colour and size, form the man made garden. Man has managed to impose its logical way thinking on nature, in this small way. Instead of having wild orchids in abundance in nature, they are clustered together, arranged in an orderly grid and pruned so that they remain tidy. This is a prime example of man’s constant attempts to bend nature to his will and perceive nature through his systematic, rigid and narrow fashion of processing his surroundings and the world at large. Additionally, the garden is labeled to make for easier organization and categorization. Again, according to our system of classification which we think will delineate and encompass the whole of nature, in all its vastness. This photo, which
is basically composed of neat ranks of flowers, expresses this conjecture in a nutshell.

Gleneagles Hospital overlooks the Botanical Gardens as can be seen from this photograph that has aforesaid hospital in the background with the crowns of various trees found in the Botanical Gardens in the foreground. Through a gap in the foliage, the hospital can be seen. This could be a representation of how nature and modernity can coexist in relative harmony. They are seemingly connected in this photograph as the road separating the two cannot be seen. As for the patients warded in the hospital, the Botanical Gardens is probably a welcome sight from the monotony of the fluorescent lights and squeaky clean linoleum floors that would generally characterize a hospital. The sight of the Botanical Gardens would probably serve as a source of inspiration that would lift their spirits. Additionally, this photograph serves to juxtapose the aesthetic quality of all things contemporary and nature. In this case, the beauty of nature is emphasized when placed next to a dull, symmetrical structure created virtually entirely out of concrete and glass.

Our connection with nature is often strongest when we are children and hence, more innocent. This is evident in the picture where the focus is on these two siblings who are seemingly fascinated by their natural surroundings. Atop a flight of stairs that descend to the lake, they are surrounded by nature, probably something different from their everyday lives where they would be surrounded by the monotony of a typical urban space. This picture aims to underline the strength of the bond between children and nature as compared to that between adults and nature. It seems that we slowly lose our connection with nature as we grow up, perhaps because we are distracted or preoccupied with other more worldly things such as material wealth. Yet, all is not lost because this photograph reminds us that this bond is actually inherently part of human nature and can be rediscovered through out the course of our lives. I say that this bond is an inherent quality and not developed because children can be said to represent humanity in its purest form because they are still innocent and untainted by prejudice and other societal influences. This photo aims to elucidate this theory by showing how easily children can connect with nature.

Clare Chng
2D06