An Intimate Raw Look At The 'Lockdown Diary' Of One Singapore Art Curator

Singapore during the circuit-breaker and Phase One – a historic time that ought to be documented, but how? Our inspiration: the posthumously recognised street photographer Vivian Maier whose emotive images of everyday life and creatively shot self-portraits were taken quickly, quietly and covertly as she went about professionally as a nanny in ’50s America. Our collaborator: Anmari Van Nieuwenhove – art curator, friend of Female and hobbyist photographer with the knack for capturing romantic vignettes of her surroundings. The wardrobe to match: Pre-Fall’s feminine yet practical separates that uncannily echo both women’s smart, understated style. This is Van Nieuwenhove’s “lockdown diary”, lensed while she stayed in and ran errands, and always with her mask on when she went outside.

By Female, 26 Jul 2020

This article first appeared in the July 2020 Perennial Edition of FEMALE.

“A once never-desolate street; a city that never sleeps is resting.”

1/14

Cady wool-silk vest with matching belt and pants, Gucci. All shoes and accessories throughout, Van Niewenhove’s own unless otherwise stated

“A once never-desolate street; a city that never sleeps is resting.”

2/14

Cady wool-silk vest with matching belt and pants, Gucci

“Finding beauty in the everyday: The few windows in one’s house become precious lookout points. Meanwhile a bus ride becomes a joy ride and even the cosy neighbourhood mall feels like a proper ‘scene’.”

3/14

Poplin shirt and technical fabric skirt, Prada

“Finding beauty in the everyday: The few windows in one’s house become precious lookout points. Meanwhile a bus ride becomes a joy ride and even the cosy neighbourhood mall feels like a proper ‘scene’.”

4/14

Poplin shirt and technical fabric skirt, Prada

“During a time like this, what else is there to do but play ‘house’? Looking at these photos, I realise that I had changed the layout of my home several times during the circuit breaker: moving tables here and there; shifting the orientation of the sofa; taking down and putting up paintings – all small devotions of time that turn a house into a home.”

5/14

Crepe de chine blouse, Chloe

“During a time like this, what else is there to do but play ‘house’? Looking at these photos, I realise that I had changed the layout of my home several times during the circuit breaker: moving tables here and there; shifting the orientation of the sofa; taking down and putting up paintings – all small devotions of time that turn a house into a home.”

6/14

Silk crepe shirt, Chloe. Jeans, Van Niewenhove’s own

“Today – the day I said I’d get out of my PJs.”

7/14

Viscose satin dress, Balenciaga

“Today – the day I said I’d get out of my PJs.”

8/14

Viscose satin dress and nappa leather slides, Balenciaga

“An ‘expedition’ to the park downstairs for a walk and breath of air – the rebel in me puts on a ‘non-essential’ dress for the occasion. Everywhere the grass is overgrown and the trees look happy. The grass cutters are gone and I wonder when they will be returning.”

9/14

California Sky denim dress, Fendi

“An ‘expedition’ to the park downstairs for a walk and breath of air – the rebel in me puts on a ‘non-essential’ dress for the occasion. Everywhere the grass is overgrown and the trees look happy. The grass cutters are gone and I wonder when they will be returning.”

10/14

Coach 1941 Signature Chambray Hutton canvas and leather shoulder bag, Coach

“I pass these buildings and am awakened by the smell of spices and wet hanging sarongs. At home, when we absolutely don’t know what else to do with ourselves at times, lying down on the bed becomes a choice activity.”

11/14

“I pass these buildings and am awakened by the smell of spices and wet hanging sarongs. At home, when we absolutely don’t know what else to do with ourselves at times, lying down on the bed becomes a choice activity.”

12/14

Loewe Paula’s Ibiza 2020 featuring Smiley® cotton shirt, Loewe

“The daily sunset: a sight that’s free of charge, full of joy and different each time – capturing it becomes a new way to mark time. Silk shirts with tiny floral prints conjure memories of my fashion-obsessed grandmother that make me feel like a young girl again. Selfie.”

13/14

Celine By Hedi Slimane lambskin jacket and silk blouse, Celine

“The daily sunset: a sight that’s free of charge, full of joy and different each time – capturing it becomes a new way to mark time. Silk shirts with tiny floral prints conjure memories of my fashion-obsessed grandmother that make me feel like a young girl again. Selfie.”

14/14

Celine By Hedi Slimane lambskin jacket and silk blouse, Celine

An Intimate Raw Look At The 'Lockdown Diary' Of One Singapore Art Curator

By Female, 26 Jul 2020

“A once never-desolate street; a city that never sleeps is resting.”

“A once never-desolate street; a city that never sleeps is resting.”

“Finding beauty in the everyday: The few windows in one’s house become precious lookout points. Meanwhile a bus ride becomes a joy ride and even the cosy neighbourhood mall feels like a proper ‘scene’.”

“Finding beauty in the everyday: The few windows in one’s house become precious lookout points. Meanwhile a bus ride becomes a joy ride and even the cosy neighbourhood mall feels like a proper ‘scene’.”

“Today – the day I said I’d get out of my PJs.”

“Today – the day I said I’d get out of my PJs.”

“An ‘expedition’ to the park downstairs for a walk and breath of air – the rebel in me puts on a ‘non-essential’ dress for the occasion. Everywhere the grass is overgrown and the trees look happy. The grass cutters are gone and I wonder when they will be returning.”

“An ‘expedition’ to the park downstairs for a walk and breath of air – the rebel in me puts on a ‘non-essential’ dress for the occasion. Everywhere the grass is overgrown and the trees look happy. The grass cutters are gone and I wonder when they will be returning.”

“I pass these buildings and am awakened by the smell of spices and wet hanging sarongs. At home, when we absolutely don’t know what else to do with ourselves at times, lying down on the bed becomes a choice activity.”

“I pass these buildings and am awakened by the smell of spices and wet hanging sarongs. At home, when we absolutely don’t know what else to do with ourselves at times, lying down on the bed becomes a choice activity.”

“The daily sunset: a sight that’s free of charge, full of joy and different each time – capturing it becomes a new way to mark time. Silk shirts with tiny floral prints conjure memories of my fashion-obsessed grandmother that make me feel like a young girl again. Selfie.”

“The daily sunset: a sight that’s free of charge, full of joy and different each time – capturing it becomes a new way to mark time. Silk shirts with tiny floral prints conjure memories of my fashion-obsessed grandmother that make me feel like a young girl again. Selfie.”

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