Eye-to-I: A self-guided audio tour
Commissioned and presented by:
Esplanade Theatres on the Bay (Singapore)/ Voices Festival 2021
Creative Director: Christel Hon
Concept, poetry, music, narration: Lin Xiangning
Studio recording engineer: Eugene Soh
About the tour
This self-guided audio tour was the first of its kind at Esplanade—Theatres on the Bay, Singapore’s national performing arts centre. Titled “Eye-to-I”, this audio tour aimed to “give voice” to different sites around Esplanade through poetry and musical miniatures. Five locations that struck particular resonance were chosen— “Concrete Brook”*, Eucalyptus trees, Rooftop Garden, Tribute Corner, and “Fever Dream”*.
During my repeated visits to these locations as part of the writing process—people-watching, observing, drafting—previously unnoticed details started speaking to me, and in details lie the magic. This sense of magic that I felt was then crystallised into the writing, and I hope it inspired more imaginings, stories, and feelings as the audiences wandered and listened through the sites.
The audio tour was available on Esplanade’s Off-Stage and on location during the month of December 2021. It was accompanied by a playlist made in collaboration with the Choral Directors Association, Singapore.
Concrete Brook
It is much like fate
the hour, the day,
the route you take
It’ll take awhile before you see
pebbles like fallen claddings,
pebbles like fossilised spikes
upon a brook that laughs just as she weeps
Effervescent and gushing when it rains,
astral waters weave and flow—
crissing lefts and crossing rights,
licking deadened leaves in search for life,
babbling on to those pebbles bright
On a sunbeat day, you’ll find her
quiet, still
concrete without a brook
you may walk beside her, wishing
stroke tingling fingers, coaxing
or you may actually be thinking:
“why don’t the esplanade people just pump
some water ah?”
Well, isn’t it more interesting that a concrete brook could run dry?
Isn’t it funny that a concrete brook is too,
at mercy of rain and shine?
It is much like fate
the hour, the day,
the route you take
2. Eucalyptus Trees
Look up! See the marks on my body— orange and green
the zest, the groove of these new tattoos
the same colours that leap raw from your feet to cheek
each streak bold, unique!
They must have taken time, just like mine
the shedding and letting go—
each a souvenir of time and growth,
each a bittersweet knowing of the self you own
Let those colours run wild in the sun
and burn bright in the night
in rapture, in song,
chase the skies!
3. Tribute Corner
In this wooden alcove
porous and bright,
listen to whispers from yesteryears
hopes turned winged visions in flight
Watch as memories bare beams,
upon crosscut metals find light
in this wooden alcove
porous and bright
Lift the veil between the shores,
breathe as time from less grow more
shining faces, sliding doors,
kindred spirits
“we’ve met before”
In this wooden alcove
porous and bright,
touch the walls where souls return
dancing, dancing, evermore
ever tracing a soundless glide,
footprints glimpsing shadows
bright
4. Rooftop
Into this skybound green and glass,
come children running,
“Look mummy! Look daddy!”
With words, they turn moments into songs,
such is a universe of their own
Come friends and lovers to bask and laugh,
joyful gurgling and sparkling dreams of ‘morrow,
each an orbit of their own, with only time to borrow
Come dreamers musing,
upon the grassy humps gazing—
the flyer, the river, the sun, the skyscrapers!
Into this skybound green and glass,
I often come wandering—
the Full Circle bench is where I’d sit,
thinking of spinning aways and merry returns,
the finite cycles of our small days
Once I noticed a girl
squint her eyes
and then with outstretched hands
over those spikey domes
graze the air,
giggling at an imagined prickling
5. Fever Dream
100 degrees. Check. Stop. Check. Stop. Check. Stop. Check.
fireborne creatures blue as knife walking arms choke greedy red
BULGE
biting face yolk eyeless smiles
“Play with me for just a while!”
Stop. Check. Stop. Check. Stop. Check.
Check.
100 degrees.
once upon some time ago
Simon Says, “touch your nose”
but into a fish you flipped and flopped
marshmallow butt and bon bon snout
“What’s a fish? What’s a snout?”
100 degrees.
Check. Stop. Check. Stop. Check. Stop.
“Are the rules simple? Will I know?
Who will tell me where to go?”
Thermostat Honeywell he’ll blow
lies and flies high up your nose!
“But how will I know who I am?
Will the fish tell me a plan? Will my eyes walk to my nose?”
bon bon fish with boiling smiles
they will play with you… for now
“But please tell me where I’m to go!
Will my eyes walk to my nose?
Are the rules simple? Will I know?
Play with me for just a while!
I’m just hungry for your smile!”
Stop. Check. Stop.
Stop. Check.
Check.
100 degrees.
At Eugene’s recording studio. Image captured by Christel.
Acknowledgements
This work would not have been possible without Christel’s belief, patience and unwavering support. A big thank you to Esplanade staff who set up each venue’s listening corner so beautifully. During recording sessions, Eugene’s sharp instincts and directions made the initially intimidating process filled with wonderment.
All images above are credited to the 2021 Voices Festival Team.