la ville lumiere

Light is often seen as representing progress and civilisation. Yet, it is also an outward projection of our fears of darkness, a creation of a false sense of security. We need to see what we are up against, who our enemies are. Darkness breeds ambiguity, which humans detest.
Singaporeans have become so used to brightness. Evenly placed lights lining every street shine through the night. It is unnatural, yet we have no qualms about it. The urban environment is our natural habitat. The road outside my workplace is admittedly slightly dim. They are now installing streetlights there as well. Additional unnecessary expenditures that perhaps cultivate the weakness of spirit.
150 years ago, our ancestors lived by a single kerosene lamp in each household, and France tried to illuminate the region with the light of civilisation. Now, there are still countries in need of electrical lighting.