Video: Samantha Lo – vandal or artist?

Singapore is notorious for its cleanliness, order and draconian laws. This is the city where selling chewing gum is illegal and jay walking can land you prison time. Because of their strict government, Singaporeans are well-known for their law-abiding nature. You won’t find many rebels here.  And that’s what makes Samantha Lo so interesting,

In 2012, when she was just 25 years old, visual artist Samantha Lo was arrested on charges of vandalism. Her crime was stenciling street signs and pasting witty, black-and-white stickers on traffic light crossings.

Lo’s arrest sparked a fervent debate in Singapore. Did her crime really warrant a potential three year prison sentence? Could Singapore ever be a creative, cultured society if its people couldn’t express themselves publicly? In a nutshell, was Samantha Lo a vandal or an artist?  



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