'My Grandfather Road'
vandal is National Art Gallery content
curator
Samantha Lo, who goes by the online moniker of SKL0, is
a content curator for the National Art Gallery's Canvas project and
the founder of online magazine RCGNTN. She is also allegedly the
street vandal who spray-painted 'My Grandfather Road' and pasted
round stickers on pedestrian crossings.
The 25-year-old was arrested on Sunday, but there are
calls to reduce her vandalism charge to that of public nuisance.
This means the maximum sentence of a $2,000 fine or three years'
imprisonment she faces could be reduced to a $1,000 fine. A group
is also distributing stickers with the slogan 'Free the Sticker
Lady'.
STOMPer Gary shared his view:
"On one hand she is working to ignite the arts scene in
Singapore, then on the other hand she vandalises roads.
"What kind of impression is she trying to give us, and
what is she trying to prove?
"She's also giving the National Art Gallery a bad
name...I wonder what will happen to her job?"
Ms Lo's uncle, Mr Kelvin Tan, 47, a musician and
teacher at the Lasalle College of the Arts, described his niece as
a 'nice, humble, independent and sincere person'.
A friend, Ms Tan, said of Ms Lo's work: "It is an
artistic way to promote local culture to her. Her inspiration was
Banksy, an artist known worldwide. He was anonymous, and promoted
issues through art. I think in a certain context, Samantha was
trying to be like him."
Mr Olivier Henry, also a friend of Ms Lo's, said, "She
is someone with a big heart. She has always wanted to create and
express her love of life in different ways." He also mentioned his
friend did not mean any harm by her street art.
A spokesman for the police said on June 5 that they had
to divert 'substantial resources' to identify who was behind the
vandalism, and had to spend 'considerable time, effort and cost to
clean up the roads and affected areas', adding that 'vandalising
public property is a very irresponsible act.'
http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sgseen/caught_in_the_act/1147614/my_grandfather_road_street_vandal_is_national_art_gallery.html
