Culture, by its arbitrary nature, seems almost intangible. I use the word almost with much caution here. Yet, beyond its superfluous perspective of our not-so-mundane living, there is so much more to see and touch. Physicality is such an unreal concept when partaking in an art-centric discourse. Nonetheless, we remain blind to the things that we can feel. So. Real.

Culture. First thoughts? Race perhaps--Chinese, Malay, Indian. Practices, exotic cuisines and exquisite practices, distinguishing the likes. The belief and traditions professed by individuals in a cultural group. So there you go, intangible and untouchable.

unREAL? Really? Let's backtrack a little.

Singapore, as a melting pot of a diverse culture and ethnicity, is home to a myriad of cultures and characters. The latter is tangible; as individuals we represent the entire community (Chinese, Malays, Indians, whatever) and as long as this tangible element ceases to be, so will the culture. Surely, food is as tangible as it can get? You might say that practices such as visiting relatives during Chinese New Year or parading lanterns in the Mid-Autumn festival are all intangible. Yes, the ideals of the culture are a conceptualized notion but the act of executing these practices are as real as your disbelief.

So what's the point of arguing that culture is closer to being that we always imagined? Not much point really, and that in itself is intangible. But the fact that I'm translating that thought into action is tangible. And it is this tangibility that drives us.

What we cannot see may not necessarily be non-existent. Even if it is, we all have the potential and capacity to make something intangible, tangible. Just as our faith and culture guides us in our practices, so long as we believe, we can.

Teamwork cannot be grasped on to. I can only hold on to its members.

Hold on. This ride is tough but it's our ride, together.