The 12 best photos

Siang Jin's six-day black-and-white photography exhibition at The Old Frees' Association is over. Yesterday, I was helping to watch over the dismantling of the exhibition panels. Before that, his brother and I had taken down all the exhibits and we waited for them to be packed securely before the transportation back to Siang Jin in Kuala Lumpur.

Twelve pieces were sold and RM9,600 will be collected from the buyers in the days or weeks to come. After that, 25 percent of this collection, that is RM2,400, will be handed over to The Old Frees' Association to add into the OFA Sesquicentenary Education Fund. The remaining RM7,200 will be retained for our annual PFS Student Leadership Workshops and the soon-to-be-launched Free School Guide. Everything goes into our efforts to help the school improve; nothing into our pockets.

And these are the 12 photographs that were sold. The captions are all by Siang Jin.  I shall not be naming the purchasers though and they should remain anonymous and confidential, in my opinion.

WELCOME. Penang Free School remains true to its name – to be “free”, to admit students irrespective of class, race and religion. This has been one of its distinguishing features for over 200 years – since its founding in 1816. All it asks of its wards in return are to be strong and faithful to the school’s ideals of overall excellence and multiculturalism.

AWESTRUCK. Many a freshie, like me in 1966, find these arches of the Pinhorn Hall intimidating and an awesome sight. They never fail to impress — even now. I like to see the hall empty with its main door wide open, like a grand tunnel welcoming activity. From resplendent speech days to the rigours of badminton practice. From timeless Shakespearean plays to captivating fashion shows.

PERPLEXING. For the first few weeks, indeed months, at school, everything looked and sounded different. Our first-year experience was amplified by the school’s Sesquicentenary (or 150th anniversary). We had joined the school with grand misconceptions, like seeing shadows on Plato’s “Cave”. As we moved from year to year, we gradually appreciated its essential worth – as an assiduous mentor to prepare us for our lives ahead.

POTENT. This is Free School in a solid but dynamic posture with clouds pushing right. This was once its hub, housing the headmaster’s office, a grand porch to receive VIPs and all, the school clock, and above all, visually, a commanding tower. This image leaves a bit to be desired; the top right has little texture. To me, it is a metaphor for the unfulfilled, of dreams and potential. One thing’s for sure: The school gave us a potent sense of idealism anchored to its grand design.

NUANCED. The school is not always its perfect unblemished white; nor does it stand alone majestically. It is woven into the surrounds, invaded by shadows, placed in an environment where it stands out but not absolutely. Free School grows on people not by its exterior but by the layers of nuances that one acquires. The school spirit embodies so many ideals: Diversity, student empowerment, excellence in academia and extracurricular activities, and responsibility of action in the service of others.

GRIT. The school made many of us feel towering, that we could reach for the skies in a multitude of areas, even at our tender ages. Indeed, most of those who fared well eventually made something of themselves. There were others who did not fit the mould of an all-rounder but made good in later life in their niches. The group that impresses me the most comprises those who, despite setbacks, some very severe, persevered to become highly successful. I think Free School gave us this can-do attitude, this “grit”.

SPIRAL. Full of surprises, the school offers people pathways to rise in myriad ways. It could be in the field, in class or in the various societies of the school. We just had to seek out our own paths, many of which were hidden. In retrospect, having to deal closely with people and relationships, none of the pathways was straightforward and simple to tread — like this spiral staircase behind trees and bushes at Kutub Khanah Tunku, the school library.

ARTERIAL. The well-trodden corridors of the school are its physical arteries. Making all parts of the school accessible, they help create a sustainable order. More than that, they provide ventilation and natural lighting. Their architectural detailing, on the columns lined on one side and French doors of classrooms on the other, has great aesthetic value — so much so they are a favourite subject for photographers.

STUDENTSPEAK. Two “tricks of the trade” of being a student are to speak well and to speak freely. All part of growing up. Free speech however has to be tempered with responsibility, truthfulness, and the motivation to build trust. Looking back, the school taught us much about free speech. We learnt the proper ways to speak up; we also learnt about censorship, and the consequences of crossing red lines in communication, etc.

MEMORABLE. Each of us probably has a few places of significance in school. This is one of mine. In 1967, behind this opening to the “garden” quadrangle, were the industrial arts workshops. We spent much time in them carving wood, etching metal plates, and tooling copper sheets; preparing for exhibitions. To the right was the room for “mechanics”, where the school installed single-cylinder internal combustion engines for us to take apart and re-assemble.

SANCTUARY. This far end of the enormous school field that fits four football pitches with a lot of space to spare, has been a sanctuary for many – away from the entangled, sometimes mangled, relationships forged to get things done. It was a place for quiet walks and serious conversations; for simple sit-downs to be detached from it all; and to gaze at others engaged in the fun and ferocity of field games.

FORTIS. Our character was not built in strait jackets and learning by rote. We were guided up sturdy steps, albeit in an environment that empowered us, gave life to our creative impulses and made us responsible for our actions. Like the boys, we too had fun and a strong sense of camaraderie. Fortis atque Fidelis.