In Search of Happiness is a bilingual book documenting the sights of everyday Singapore and thoughts of Singaporeans. Focusing on the ordinary, the mundane and the simplistic, the book narrates a story of the blinded (people who've been blinded by work and expectations of the society) and attempts to reveal the simple and honest beauty of everyday life in Singapore.

 

The concept of this book is reflected through the braille codes embossed on the front and back of the book, reflecting the words "happiness" and "ordinary", suggesting that the reader is "blinded". The book also features illustrations of day-to-day items hidden throughout the pages, attempting to shine a light on the ordinary and mundane items that we've used and chucked aside.

Rebecca Toh / rebeccatoh.com (Photos)
Shin Lin, Encounters Magazine / encounters.sg (Text)
Lim Mu Yao / muyao.sg (Text)

The simplicity of the book is reflected through the binding, the paper texture and the layout.

Braille codes can be seen embossed over the custom-designed mandarin type logo "Happiness", which is seen with afew missing strokes, suggesting a "happiness that can be imperfect".

A grayed out text to depict the inability to see happiness because of the reader's lack of consciousness that the ordinary life is in fact, a kind of happiness.

An illustration of a wooden peg can be found in a section of the spread.

An illustration of a plastic bag can be found in a section of a spread.

An illustration of a toothbrush found in a section of a spread.

An array of everyday items to end the book with.