Singapore Management University inaugurates Visual Art Initiative
2006 Press Release
[12 January 2006]
Artery showcases works by 11 local and regional
artists
The vibrant and spacious campus of Singapore Management University (SMU) will be
even more abuzz over the next three months with the inaugural exhibition under
SMU's Visual Arts Initiative (VAI) entitled Artery, showcasing works by 11
artists from Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, USA and Australia.
With the aim that art and artistic activities should fill every corner of the
new campus, it is the vision that the SMU campus experience for its students and
for the general public will be enriched and enlivened by artistic aesthetics and
creativity. Through the VAI, SMU will develop and host exhibitions and
enrichment programmes and will also be developing an institutional collection of
contemporary art, with Southeast Asian art as the principal focus.
Artery is the first art exhibition that SMU is organising at the new campus.
While modest in size, its curatorial strategy in inviting contemporary artists
from the region and beyond to exhibit in the Gallery and the Concourse – the
main thoroughfare of campus – signals the programming directions of the VAI for
contemporary artistic ideas and expressions to meet and engage with the habits
and incidents of everyday life. Artery is also timed to celebrate the Official
Opening of our new campus on 20 January 2006.
“Even as we were planning our move into the new 4.5-hectare purpose-built city
campus in the heart of the historically and culturally rich landscape of the
Bras Basah area, SMU recognised that we bear a social responsibility to share
our premises and prime location as much as we can with the community. With
Artery, we welcome everyone to freely come by to experience contemporary art by
some of the most exciting established and emerging artists from Singapore , the
region and beyond,” said Professor Howard Hunter, President, Singapore
Management University. “Through this Visual Arts Initiative, SMU also hopes to
cultivate appreciation for the arts as well as encourage creativity among our
student community.”
Gracing the opening of Artery, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of
Information, Communications and the Arts & Health, Dr Balaji Sadasivan said,
“SMU continues to push the boundaries of traditional tertiary education. With
its inaugural Visual Art Initiative exhibition, Artery is a prime example of how
SMU goes beyond convention to take on yet another leading role in helping
promote the growing arts scene in Singapore . True to their premier university
standing, not only have they launched their Visual Art Initiative but they have
extended beyond our shores to invite international artists as well. Indeed, with
SMU now in its city campus, both students and the public can all look forward to
enlivened times ahead.”
Artery will run from January 12 to March 31, 2006 and is being held at The
Gallery of the School of Economics & Social Sciences and along The Concourse.
The exhibition features three themes:
MURMUR, at the Gallery, School of Economics & Social Sciences
Featuring works by Anthony Poon, Chua Ek Kay, Pinaree Sanpitak, Jane Lee and
Delia Prvacki, the selection explores the eloquence of repetition and rhythmic
gestures, visual silence and material minimalism.
Testimonies, at the Concourse, School of Economics & Social Sciences
Featuring recent portraits in ink by Tang Dawu, photographic works by Francis
Ng, and Dadang Christanto's 2005 Testimonies of the Trees series, the section
explores personal memory and subjectivity.
Looking In Looking Out, at the Concourse, Li Ka Shing Library
Featuring commissioned works by Heman Chong, Tan Kai Syng and Ana Prvacki, the
works are site-specific interventions with architectural histories, pop
psychology, and the trafficking of ideas.
Breast Stuppa Cookery Project
[Thursday, January 12 only]
In this live artistic demonstration, artist Pinaree Sanpitak collaborates with
local executive chef Jimmy Chok, who will create culinary delights using her
pre-sculpted breast stuppas.
The exhibition is open daily at The Gallery from 9am to 6pm and along The
Concourse from 9am to 9pm.