This is a highly collaborative project that involves many current students and old girls. The overall artistic direction is led by two fine arts alumnae, Serene Yang and Lynn Lu.

饮水思源*, a theme that reinforces the St Nicholas ethos to be grateful for what others have done for us, has been chosen to be the focus of the art commission. (*Literal translation: To remember the source of water when we drink it).

The art piece wil l have two components. The first part highlights the school's history by incorporating elements of architectural features from our old school buildings. The second part features installation art within select drinking fountains within the new school building.

See below to learn more about what the two artistic directors have in mind.

Thank you for your support.

By Serene Yang
This artwork will mark the 75th anniversary of St Nicholas Girls' School in 2008. We hope to create a monumental piece that will evoke memories of school days for visiting alumnae. As future St Nicholas girls will be exposed to the artwork every day, it is also our intention to pique their curiosity to learn about our school's history.

The idea is to create a history trial. We will be looking at the old Victoria Street school building (current day CHIJMES) and the existing Ang Mo Kio school building to incorporate the various architectural highlights within the monument.

By Lynn Lu
When we reflect on something we are grateful for (or happy to have), there usually isn't just one single cause of this happiness.

The causes for our happiness can be happy, unhappy, or neutral experiences/factors.

How do we literally connect the act of drinking water to our gratitude for our present happiness?

How about we:
1. Ask every student in school to think of one thing they are grateful for, and write down specific causes for its existence.

2. Transfer the compiled data into audio files.

3. Attach an audio mechanism to select drinking fountains in school. The drinking fountains are wired such that each time the fountain is activated, one 'cause of happiness' will be heard.

4. The audio tracks will be set on random mode so that each time a fountain is activated, a different 'cause of happiness' is heard.

5. The voice (audio output) will speak very quietly so that it will be a private and intimate experience for the drinker herself.

The idea is to embody a sense of gratitude for what we have in the simple act of drinking water. Each time a student drinks from a fountain, she hears of a person, thing, or situation which causes someone's (or perhaps her own) happiness. The bodily posture of bending over in a "bow" is apt for receiving the gift of pure water and feeling gratitude for our blessings.

Over time, the student becomes conditioned to the many 'causes of happiness' while drinking from the fountain. The hope is to have every student carry this association with her throughout her life, so that she will view all events with equanimity as they are likely causes of someone's happiness.

When a sense of gratitude is deeply embedded or internalised in the act of drinking, 饮水思源 becomes a way of life .