Homegrown Solo Exhibition & Lepaq Cafe.

31st October, Saturday, 3:00pm. Wisma Bentley Studios.

14th November, Saturday. Lepaq Cafe, Kelana Mall, KJ.

Come along kids

The little things i do, that remind me of little things back then.

Every time i’m spreading peanut butter or jam on a slice of bread, it reminds me of my Mother and an episode of Sesame Street. – There was a scene where a bunch of kids went on a picnic at some wide open green grass space. A young African-American little girl sat down and spread jam on her bread and made more sandwiches for her friends. My mother was watching this episode with me. She then said, “See Rina, look at that little girl. She’s younger than you and she can put jam on her bread all by herself. You’re already 12 years old and you can’t do it yourself.” – Ever since then i learnt to do it myself and am reminded of that moment every time i make myself a sandwich.

Every time i hold a paint brush in my hand, it reminds me of how cruel my brother was when we were kids. – When i was really young around 7 or 8 years old, i used to love brushing my face with water color paint brushes that you get for free in those Luna pencil color boxes.  I would brush it on my eyelids, around my mouth and cheeks. One day, my brother decided to tell me a lie that i thought was true until i was 13 years old. He saw me playing with the paint brush and said, “Eeee Rina, those hairs on the paint brush are actually from Pig hair! And you brush it on your face! Ew your face is no longer Halal!”. I cried as he ran around the house yelling “Rina’s face is not Halal! Rina’s face is not Halal!!!”. – So everytime i’m putting on my make up using my blusher…I tend to smile and at myself, while that memory echoes in my mind.

Every time I eat fish, i tell myself i’ve gain IQ points. – Again, like all little kids, you used to hate eating greens. I hated it. prolly still do. But, i also hated eating fish. There was one time when my mother said there was nothing else to cook for dinner aside vegeies and fried fish. I stuck my tounge out looking at the meal. My fother loves eating fish, he then told me…“Eat fish Rina. It makes you smart. Look at Abang, he has good grades, that’s why he’s eating fish. And look at me, I’m very very smart. That’s why i told your mother to cook fish. So you can eat, and you’ll be smart like me.” He looked at me while biting the head of a fried fish and gave me a cheeky smile. So i did. I ate fish. – So every time i eat it, I always feel as if i’ve gain my IQ points for the day. I love fried fish ever since then.

Ever time a friend would ask me out at the very last minute/hour while waking me from a nap, reminds me of the Twins. - The Twins, Sae and Farah and I used to live together every now and then. There was a time when i had to crash at their apartment for a month. and every other weekend, like every one else, i wake up late at noon. The girls tend to always wake me up and thoughtfully ask me out for a movie “Hi Ryn, sorry to wake you. Wanted to ask if you wanna come to KLCC with us and catch a movie?” I open my groggy eyes and sit up, looking at the both of them, already All dressed up with their shoes on and handbangs hung. “er..What time are you guys planning to go?” i ask confusingly at this picture. “Now, by 1pm.” They smiled. I look at the clock, and its 12:58pm. – We laugh at these memories everytime we go out now. They tell me their sorry and their excuse was “We didnt wanna disturb your nice sleep while we were getting ready.” Funny.

Every time i fry something it reminds me of Iin, and the Fire Department. – I know i’ve told this story before, but it never gets old. When Iin and I live in the same apartment during our college days, i normally fry myself nice deep fried nuggets and a bowl of rice. One unfortunate evening, i wake up from a late evening nap. Feeling groggy, i also felt hungry. So i decided to fry some nuggets. Being half awake, i simply poured the cooking oil into the pan and heated it up with the stove. The next thing i new, as i opend up the lid getting ready to pour the nuggets, Fire was blooming out from the frying pan. I stared at it for a good 5 seconds bangged on the door for my other housemate to get out of the shower. “Reena! get out!! I need to use the bathroom! we’ve got fire!!!” Iin who was in the living room said…“Ryn something is burning.” As she walked to the kitchen she said “Oh SHIT! Ryn what the hell???” I just shouted at her and said “IIn! Water water!!” She panicly did a few skipping of left and right, and ran to the other toilet and filled in a bucket of water. But by the time i she struggled to carry it to the kitchen i had already crashed into the other bathroom and threw the firery heaty dragons breath frying pan under the running shower. The three of us, Me holding a burnt cloth in one hand, Reena in a towel and shampoo in her hair, and Iin crouching with a bucket of water all stared at the pan from the door. – Honestly, i cant remember the last time i fried nuggets. That was probably it. Plus, some one called the fire department. Cause black smoke was coming out of our window.

Every time i brush my tongue after my teeth, reminds me of my primary school teacher who gave a speech bout brushing your tongue. - During the morning assembly, one time, my primary school teacher got up to the mic and started lecturing us about the importance of brushing your teeth. It had nothing do with and school news or event. It was such a random topic. She then started talking like a deaf person using her finger to point into her mouth showing us her wisdome tooth with one hand holding the mic struggling and saying “ya sthee tha par aht tha bagh ow yow tangh??? yah neeth tha bwar ith  ehwiday!!!” It was such a gross sight. She then stick her tongue out and said “Sthee tho whait staaph!! Ith germs!! Braath ith ehwiday!!!” then continued to talk like a normal person “OK kids??”. – I laugh at myself every time i do that looking myself at the mirror. I tend to talk to myself and see how weird i sound and look like.

There lots more stuff i do that reminds me of many of my life memories…but so far these are the common ones.

I need to find an aparment.