Cover Before it was an art enclave, Gillman Barracks once housed Borne Grammar School (Photo: Facebook)
Before it was an art enclave, Gillman Barracks once housed Borne Grammar School (Photo: Facebook)
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The independent arts organisation’s unique gala concept goes beyond transforming the iconic Gillman Barracks into a school
Do you still think of simpler days, back when you were still in school? The toughest decision we had to make back then was what to eat during recess with our classmates and friends. To take us down memory lane this year, independent arts organisation Oh! Open House will hold its latest fundraising gala, Back to School, on September 9.
Instead of holding the gala at a fancy restaurant this year, executive director Alan Oei explains that they wanted to find a more “Open House” way of doing it, one that is unique and filled with nostalgic surprises.
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The latest gala takes Gillman Barracks back to its roots—before it was an art enclave, the compound once housed Bourne Grammar School. A secondary comprehensive school for those aged 11 to 14, Bourne Grammar School boasted over 25 spacious classrooms, laboratories, a library and more. According to Roots.sg, the school closed in 1971 following the withdrawal of British forces from Singapore.
Oei shares: “Very few people know that Gillman Barracks once housed Bourne Grammar School in 1964. We decided we could bring back some of that history [along with its weird colonial stories] while dousing it with some nostalgia from our primary and secondary school days.”
Inspired by the history of the school and nostalgic memories, Oh! Open House’s gala pairs local artists with up-and-coming chefs to design four experiential art installations and hors d-oeuvres.
But before jumping straight into the meals, the experiential evening will begin by taking us straight back to our childhood school days with a ‘streaming activity’, where guests will first attain PSLE scores through a spin-the-wheel. Then, guests will be led into the Assembly room to enjoy school drinks, with a kick, of course—think 100-plus and milo cocktails.
After which, you can explore multiple different rooms, each with its own unique concept and art. “It’s a lot more fun than being served seven courses while you’re sitting down,” Oei says. Guests will be invited to “eat their way” through this multi-sensory experience.
He adds that these concept rooms are not created by random. For example, in the third room titled The Owl in Daylight, interdisciplinary artist Robert Zhao puts the spotlight on his practice of collecting relics, roadkill and curios. Guests will get to explore a cabinet of curiosities comprising various photography and found objects.
Working together with Zhao is chef Law Jia Jun founder of the restaurant, Province. His hors d-oeuvres build on the idea of nature and wood, looking at natural ingredients (such as fungi) and what happens when nature and decay take over. Oei explains: “Law is excited about how he can lay out his own creations, so guests can tell [what’s edible and what’s not].”
Above Nithiya Laila
Nithiya Laila
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Oei wants guests to feel different nostalgic emotions as they enter each room. The last room titled Soul Stain features a guzheng performance by artist Marla Bendini that hopes to “ignite the memories and feelings of one’s first crust”. In secondary school, Bendini learnt that the guzheng was the “embodiment of unconditional love” and a source of comfort and solace. Her autobiographical performance navigates complex emotions and experiences of one’s first love.
The experience is accompanied by a paan-inspired canape by local culinary anthropologist Nithiya Laila. Her canape features masala chai bon bon, bandung pearls and fennel gold dust in a betel leaf tart shell.
The unique experience doesn’t end in the last room as guests will be guided to the “hangout place”, a canteen-inspired space for the art auction. The auction will also be complemented by the main and dessert courses—which are currently kept a surprise. These will be curated by Eclipse’s Samuel Quan.
With its unique gala concept, the organisers behind Oh! Open House are clear about how they want to redefine the definition of a fundraising gala in Singapore.
Amanda Goh was the former senior writer for Tatler Singapore.
