Former sailor Charles Lim has always been in love with life on the water. He even competed for Singapore during the 1996 Olympics in sailing. But now he is celebrating his passion for watercraft with art and a new documentary film on sailing in a traditional craft called the kolek. The film can be seen at the National University of Singapore Museum as a facet in the facility’s latest exhibition.
Screen grabs from the film highlight Lim’s love for sailing, and the kolek specifically. He recognizes that he believed that kolek racing — once a pastime that defined part of the Southeast Asian region — was on its way out. It was only after returning to his country from competing in the Olympics that Lim witnessed a kolek race, which piqued his curiosity about hte history and culture of the sport.
His film is breathtaking, including overhead shots of crews in an active kolek race, leaning on one side of the watercraft or the other, directing its course across the water to win the competition. Lim himself tried out kolek racing, saying that it’s not for the faint of heart. Those on the boat must be in excellent shape in order to be able to direct the craft to respond to their directions, including wrestling with the sails. Also, the kolek is always in danger of capsizing and spilling its crew into the water, a scene that plays out with much suspense in the documentary itself.
Kolek racing is something that defines the history of the region, and something Lim admits that he fears is dying out. This sport was most prevalent prior to land reclamation, and it fell out of popularity in the seaside communities. However, pockets of kolek racers persisted, giving Lim the sense that it was something he wanted to preserve for posterity.
Another artist was inspired by Lim’s work on kolek racing and introduced himself to a small community with two old koleks lining a village path. Those two crafts had won competitions, and were honored now on dry land, in the community’s way. This other artist soaked in the community’s stories on kolek racing, and the eventually gave the two koleks to him for use in his artwork. In combination with Lim’s kolek documentary, the other artist is building his own kolek by hand. His progress can be seen at the same exhibition as Lim’s film.
Art can be made on the things we’re most passionate about, whether they’re kolek racing or some other hobby. Sign up for an art class via SGArtClass.com to explore your various passions through art. SGArtClass.com can lead you on an artistic journey specific to your interests. Whether you’d like to delve into pointillism painting or if you’re more interested in 3-D sculpture, expert teachers will be on hand to help you create projects you’re most interested in.
To read more about Charles Lim’s new art project, go to http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/from-national-sailor-to-filming-sailboats-for-art/3254990.html.