It wasn't her grandfather's road but that didn't stop 25-year-old Samantha Lo from attempting to inject a little humour to Singapore's streets. Yesterday (5 June), Ms Lo was arrested for allegedly engaging in street graffiti.
Samantha Lo arrest has riled up many in the online community, especially those in the arts scene.
Samantha Lo is also the founder of online magazine RCGNTN - which highlights Singaporean art - is believed to be suspected of painting the words “My Grandfather Road” along Robinson Road and Maxwell Road and putting humourous stickers on road traffic signs.
Ms Samantha Lo, dubbed by netizens as ‘Sticker Lady,’ may face a jail term of up to three years or be fined up to $2,000 if found guilty of vandalism.
Nominated Member of Parliament Janice Koh who represents the interests of the arts scene, said Samantha Lo hopes the authorities will deal with the matter using a light touch.
“I don’t see street art as being the same as graffiti or vandalism…it is almost impossible to talk about developing a culturally vibrant, creative or loveable city, without some tolerance for those slightly messy activities that sometimes challenge the rules,” Samantha Lo wrote on her official Facebook page.”
Pointing to Melbourne, Samantha Lo said one of the main tourist attractions in the city is street art which has been featured in Tourism Victoria’s campaigns despite the State Government’s strict anti-graffiti laws.
Some cities, Samantha Lo says, choose to turn a blind eye to such cases because good street art brings colour and character to a city’s street and cultural life.
“For Singapore, it would be useful to make a distinction between this kind of art and outright graffiti or vandalism that seeks to deliberately destroy public property for its own sake,” Samantha Lo added.
Prominent street artists remain underground and do not reveal their identities, Samantha Lo said, pointing to UK artist Banksy as an example.
“Unlike Sticker Lady of course, Banksy has never been caught,” Samantha Lo wrote.
Banksy used to be under constant threat from the UK police as he went about creating his street art fused with political messages. Today, local authorities protect his graffiti as they’re usually a must-see for tourists who are inclined towards the art form.
Supporters of Ms Samantha Lo have started forwarding an online petition seeking for authorities to convert Ms Lo’s case from a vandalism charge to “miscellaneous offences (Public Order and Nuisance)” which would involve a fine of up to $1,000 – and no jail time.
There’s also a campaign in support of Ms Samantha Lo.
An arts lecturer, who did not want to be identified, said the artist’s series of work pokes fun at a segment of Singaporean society “which is so self-absorbed and oblivious that they think everything is their grandfathers’.
“This is positive as it reminds us that there are others around us that need access to the resources that we are hording (such as) space and time.
Tongue in cheek? Yes. Is it off limits or a crime? Definitely not,” he said.
While there has been much support from the arts community for Ms Samantha Lo who was also a content curator for a project at The National Art Gallery, there are also many who don’t think Samantha Lo should get a lighter sentence.
A 59-year-old entrepreneur, who did not want to be named, said no matter how clever the messages were, the woman still defaced public property.
“If the relevant authorities are lenient, it'll encourage others to do likewise - perhaps even more sinister messages? The lady might have thought that she’s bringing an edgy cuteness to a rather dull Singapore, but that's not the way to do it,” he said.
An NUS political-science honours student,Ben Ho said the issue is not whether the artist’s work should be considered as art or not.
He believes if the authorities do recognise the work as art and the sentencing is lenient, it might encourage other street artists to do the same.
“The line between real art and true vandalism is blurred. We will have a very colourful city, loved by everyone, and no one, at the same time,” he mulled.
Samantha Lo is also the founder of online magazine RCGNTN - which highlights Singaporean art - is believed to be suspected of painting the words “My Grandfather Road” along Robinson Road and Maxwell Road and putting humourous stickers on road traffic signs.
Ms Samantha Lo, dubbed by netizens as ‘Sticker Lady,’ may face a jail term of up to three years or be fined up to $2,000 if found guilty of vandalism.
Nominated Member of Parliament Janice Koh who represents the interests of the arts scene, said Samantha Lo hopes the authorities will deal with the matter using a light touch.
Pointing to Melbourne, Samantha Lo said one of the main tourist attractions in the city is street art which has been featured in Tourism Victoria’s campaigns despite the State Government’s strict anti-graffiti laws.
Some cities, Samantha Lo says, choose to turn a blind eye to such cases because good street art brings colour and character to a city’s street and cultural life.
“For Singapore, it would be useful to make a distinction between this kind of art and outright graffiti or vandalism that seeks to deliberately destroy public property for its own sake,” Samantha Lo added.
Prominent street artists remain underground and do not reveal their identities, Samantha Lo said, pointing to UK artist Banksy as an example.
Banksy used to be under constant threat from the UK police as he went about creating his street art fused with political messages. Today, local authorities protect his graffiti as they’re usually a must-see for tourists who are inclined towards the art form.
Supporters of Ms Samantha Lo have started forwarding an online petition seeking for authorities to convert Ms Lo’s case from a vandalism charge to “miscellaneous offences (Public Order and Nuisance)” which would involve a fine of up to $1,000 – and no jail time.
There’s also a campaign in support of Ms Samantha Lo.
An arts lecturer, who did not want to be identified, said the artist’s series of work pokes fun at a segment of Singaporean society “which is so self-absorbed and oblivious that they think everything is their grandfathers’.
“This is positive as it reminds us that there are others around us that need access to the resources that we are hording (such as) space and time.
Tongue in cheek? Yes. Is it off limits or a crime? Definitely not,” he said.
While there has been much support from the arts community for Ms Samantha Lo who was also a content curator for a project at The National Art Gallery, there are also many who don’t think Samantha Lo should get a lighter sentence.
A 59-year-old entrepreneur, who did not want to be named, said no matter how clever the messages were, the woman still defaced public property.
“If the relevant authorities are lenient, it'll encourage others to do likewise - perhaps even more sinister messages? The lady might have thought that she’s bringing an edgy cuteness to a rather dull Singapore, but that's not the way to do it,” he said.
An NUS political-science honours student,Ben Ho said the issue is not whether the artist’s work should be considered as art or not.
He believes if the authorities do recognise the work as art and the sentencing is lenient, it might encourage other street artists to do the same.
“The line between real art and true vandalism is blurred. We will have a very colourful city, loved by everyone, and no one, at the same time,” he mulled.
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