How did navigating in the 'mind’s eye', a meditative visualisation practice rooted in Bugis seafaring traditions inform the conceptual underpinnings of Drawing it as if it has already been seen (2024)—a striking floor-to-ceiling speculative map at the Central Library BookBridge? Produced by Wong Zi Hao and Liu Diancong from Superlative Futures, their artwork intervention takes us on a visual journey to uncover the answers.

In this talk and dialogue between an artist-researcher and the Head of Special Collections at NUS Libraries, we examine the motivations behind the artwork and the library’s BookBridge as a knowledge repository.

Drawing it as if it has already been seen is the first such creative engagement with the BookBridge. Drawing extensively on a research archive of textual sources and drawings, the artwork explores the notion of lettu' mémengi nappa lao ("arrival assured, then depart"), as recounted in anthropologist Gene Ammarell’s Bugis Navigation which is available in the library’s collection.

Also in the library’s holdings are rare and invaluable materials that shed light on Bugis and regional maritime history. Gandhimathy Durairaj, Head of Special Collections at the library, will share about recent acquisitions of manuscripts as well as a Bugis ship captain’s diary, believed to be the only surviving copy dating back to the 1800s. A selection of rare books will also be brought out for viewing to provide material context to the sharing.

Drawing it as if it has already been seen ‒ Intersections of Art, Text and Space at the BookBridge is jointly organised by NUS Libraries and NUS Museum in conjunction with the Encounters exhibition featuring the library and the museum’s respective collections.

This event is organised by our librarian Tan Li-Jen, in collaboration with Ahmad Osman from NUS Museum’s Collections Development.

➡️  Remember to visit the other exhibits at Encounters at Central Library, before it ends!