Escapade

Last week under a cloud of mounting deadlines, I chose to go for a bicycle ride instead of sitting down to work. Working from home has become an endless trail from Monday to Sunday, from morning to evening and through lunch as well.

The swimming pool announced that it was re-opening. This fits neatly into a morning’s escapade; a bicycle ride to sketch outdoors (and even add water colours if the weather allows) followed by a swim before lunch. One of the luxuries of living in a small town (that calls itself a city).

Habit caused me to gravitate to the landmarks of my childhood, so I ended up at the St. Thomas Cathedral. It was quiet and on higher ground (I had originally intended to sketch the buildings around the ‘padang’).  Habit also caused me to draw the church building once more, and appreciate its well thought out details - climatic control devices, choice of material for the bell tower, the serrated walls of its aisles. Humble and practical details which work, for the most part - the glass louvre celestory must have let in misting raindrops for there was a later addition of some steel framed glass vents. Again this additional feature was humble and respectful, taking care to still allow light and air to enter and percolate.

I often tell my students  not to simply sketch a building like how one takes a photo. Instead they should draw plans and imagine sections through the space - and in this way, they record more than what it seen on the surface. I also tell them that the church is part of a collection of buildings which typically frame the village green (our ‘padang’); the Police Station, the Clinic, the Bank, the Courthouse, the Treasury, the Post Office, the Museum and of course the Church.

End of escapade - total time 120 minutes.