“I think a lot of people, including expats, have been complaining now about the mandatory quarantine that we need to do coming back to Singapore. But I wanted to actually explain the fact that there are two ways to think about quarantine.
You can take it very negatively and say that it’s two weeks of being locked in a hotel room – there’s no fresh air and get frustrated thinking about what you can do. You may think the experience would be boring especially if you perceive that time isn’t moving.
But there’s actually a positive way to view the experience. It’s a similar philosophy we practise in yoga; it’s actually a very good opportunity to take a step back. My SHN video was a kind of social detox which I think is crucial when you’re locked in a room for two weeks. It’s better to not watch Instagram stories or whatever is happening outside as it’ll feel a little frustrating.
I also found the stay as an experience of self-discovery – it’s incredible to discover how many resources you can find inside you. Of course, the first days would be a little challenging because it’s tough to completely change your mindset. But after that, I basically told myself that in order to survive the next two weeks, I’d need to have a project.
Since I’ve always enjoyed expressing my creativity through styling photoshoots, dance and music, I decided to tap on my passions and turn my room into a kind of cabaret, performing as a different character each day. Depending on my mood, I’d let the ideas flow. But of course, up the fun by incorporating items from my wardrobe.
Through this experience what I realised that when you have less, you become more creative – from how I wear my bodysuit in different ways to how I managed to turn a hat into Venetian hat to a Michael Jackson-esque fedora.”
