Layers Upon Layers

Layers upon layers of shops at the new Ion Orchard mall. Even the American guy behind exclaimed – ‘Look at this shi*t!’ Quite an overwhelming sight indeed, though this is not the only mega mall I’ve seen. Maybe it’s particularly mind-blowing precisely because it’s yet another one – of many! The sight of this many shoppers and shops almost sent a shiver down my spine. Insatiable consumerism is hereby further institutionalised in our age of over-consumption – at the cost of more planetary resources expended.

Here’s the irony – am here to see the Muji exhibition at the lowest basement’s atrium. True to its spirit, the exhibition was a Zenny affair. It’s a showcase of the rationale of simple living. But here’s yet another irony – the exhibition is there because Muji opened their largest and thus flagship store there. Will it promote more consumption or will it promote simplified consumption based on mere functional needs? It’s hard to tell – dependent on the individual consumer’s buying habits. Was pleasantly surprised to learn, at the exhibition, that Muji’s paper products are recycled and that its cotton goods are organic. But I still wonder why their stuff is costly.

A real ion is tiny, but this Ion is huge. Layers upon layers, floors upon floors, of excess material stuff out to tempt, that blur the lines between greed and need. It’s perhaps poetically apt that Muji is right at the bottom, reminding me that our bare minimal needs are basic, while fancy layers of embellishments ‘built’ upon them are not needed. We left the mall without buying anything.

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