Art is created every day. Art is created everywhere. Art are things that we sometimes forget because they seem so simple and ordinary.

Art is Things We Forget, a philosophical project that reminds us to remember the precious things of our mundane, daily life. Decorated post-its, all works of art, are "left to their fate in public places". These are all documented on a blog.

Birth of a new idea
The idea took flight on Jan 15 last year. The blogger, who wishes to be known only as Writer, got the idea while was at work. Writer was “getting tired of the pessimism that was weighing everybody down” and since there were stacks of post-it notes lying around, the idea of illustrating words of hope was created. 

Instead of stashing these post-it notes away in a drawer, they were left in public spots, with the hope to inspire those who stumble upon it. Writer leaves them in “random places, hoping that whoever comes across them pauses to think that life is a wonderful gift and that no matter what it looks like, our attitude to life is very much in our control”.


Works of art
Each and every post-it note you see on the site is hand-drawn and thought up by Writer. 

“I write, draw, place and shoot these notes all over Singapore and abroad if I'm travelling. I do one post-it a day, come rain or shine. And it is my intention to do so for as long as I can.”

Writer reflects back on the day and think of the one thought that helped as inspiration or sustenance. This thought becomes the message, mostly as a reminder for Writer. The drawing evolves from the message, but the drawing’s main purpose is “to make people smile”. 

And there’s a reason Writer is so determined to remain anonymous: “I think that I shouldn't let my personality colour the way the messages affect people”. 

Art is inspiration
Writer’s effort has paid off and is evident in the responses that people have towards the Post-it notes. 

“The response I get from people who chance upon the post-it notes, the comments on the blog itself, and on the Facebook and Twitter accounts that I maintain tell me that they have an impact, no matter how small, on peoples’ lives. And I really feel blessed to have an opportunity to do just that. I get at least one message a day from somebody who says that the note was just what they wanted that particular day. Or that they've been sad or depressed but the notes perk them up a bit.”

A bigger platform
What started off as a little initiative is a "labour of love”. Writer was pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming response. “Hand on heart, I had no idea that so many people would come forward to say that they like the notes or that the notes help make their lives better in a small way. I feel very blessed and fortunate.”

Writer has every intention to keep drawing the notes for as long as possible and to inspire and encourage more people, Writer is making plans to publish the notes into a book and greeting cards. 

His personal favourite is “If not now, then when? If not this, then what?”.

If he had to draw on his last post-it, he would say: “Use the gift of life well”.

What will you do with yours today? CE

PHOTOS: THINGS WE FORGET

Visit www.thingsweforget.blogspot.com to get inspired, or check out the Facebook page and Twitter wall

Cassandra is crazy about theatre, mad about modern art, in love with writing and she believes this is possibly the best thing she can be doing—arts journalism in Singapore. Arts FTW!
 
THIS ARTICLE IS PART OF Feb 1-7 :: The RIP Issue