Saturday, March 22, 2003
Public forum on the Singapore identity and the Arts
Please come to this forum on Singapore identity(ies) and the arts.
The speakers are: Simon Tay, Catherine Lim, Tan Chong Kee, & Parvathi Nayar.
Chaired by Kirpal Singh.
Date: 22 March (Sat)
Time: 2 - 4pm
Venue: Glass Hall, Singapore Arts Museum
Artist Feature
Marvin Chew, watercolorist
Visit http://marvinchew.tripod.com
Artist Feature
Nicola Choo speaks:
Visit http://gleefullyeclectic.tripod.com
As an artist and especially through the medium of photography I attempt to isolate and make tangible, fleeting phenomena within our world. My pictures aim to create an image that will linger in memory; it is my re-creation of worlds, of universe, of people, of society in which I live and work. My images is an invention to express a mystery that glows on my conscious and sub-conscious mind, to express the realities and beauty of life by which we live-in in an age where people don’t stop to look anymore. Hence, I am also interested in presenting new ways of looking at everyday life – the mundane objects, people, and events we see everyday and have begun taking for granted. It is my aim to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, the commonplace into something visually exciting and mentally refreshing and to hopefully provide people a renewed sense of sight and understanding of what is perceived to be the mundane.
Artist Feature
Tricia Goh speaks:
Visit http://work-in-progress.tripod.com
My development in art making stems from my interest in exploring the self and its identities. The implications of plural identities question our sense of belonging in an increasingly globalized society. To be of Chinese descent, ingrained with Asian values and yet culturally a product of westernized education system has served as a platform for me to further rediscover what underlies my identity.
I’m interested in the reciprocal relationships in one’s identity and heritage – historical, cultural, ethnic, national, and global. I’m building a vocabulary of images to construct my experience in discovering more about my history, culture and ultimately, myself – what it means to be a young Singaporean female artist.
My interest in collage has taken a new level with my acquired edge in technology. Image manipulation and layering in Adobe Photoshop has given the idea of collage new meanings. Translating an image through technology puts forth the metaphorical disparity of the past and present.
I would like to further explore this avenue and methodologies in digital printing and possibly, transfer. My works should seek balance, without over relying on pixel perfect images churned out by computers; it should encompass the aspect of mark making that is achieved and made distinctive by human touch.
Biennial Sculpture Symposium
Culminating Exhibition
(works from Symposium)
opens Thursday, 27 March, 6:30pm @ Plastique Kinetic Worms
exhibition continues till Thursday, 17 April 2003
The Biennial Sculpture Symposium is the first of its kind in Singapore. Since the opening of the Sculpture Symposium on 3 March 2003, the eight artists involved in the Symposium (local & international) have been working on their sculptures fervently and diligently around the NIE campus grounds and other locations in Singapore. It is really exciting to witness these marvellous works coming to form and we are proud to present an exhibition of all these sculptures at Plastique Kinetic Worms.
The works that have been created are based on themes that revolve around our environment (in Singapore) and are evident of how each artist perceived and engage with their immediate surroundings; some of which are social issues, environmental issues, political situations, religious influences etc. etc.
Some of the best sculptors in Singapore and around the region have gathered for this Symposium. Through a series of artist talks organised during the Symposium, we were given the opportunity to have a glimpse of each artist’s past works and impressive portfolios. Come next week, we will be able to feast our eyes on the works of all eight artists and see for ourselves the remarkable skills and techniques that are unique to each and everyone of them.
ARTISTS
Ahmad Abu Bakar (Singapore)
Baet Yeok Kuan (Singapore)
Chong Fah Cheong (Singapore)
Lim Soo Ngee (Singapore)
Zainudin Samsuri (Singapore)
Anusapati (Indonesia)
Maria Taniguchi (The Philippines)
Ruangvit Poomtangon (Thailand)
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Another project by:
PLASTIQUE KINETIC WORMS
61 Kerbau Road. Singapore 219185
Tel: 6 292 7783
Fax: 6 292 2936
Email: admin@pkworms.org.sg
URL: www.pkworms.org.sg
Open: Tuesdays – Saturdays 11:00am – 6:00pm
Closed on Sundays, Mondays & Public Holidays
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With support:
NATIONAL ARTS COUNCIL, SINGAPORE
LEE FOUNDATION
NIE-NTU, department of visual & performing arts, SINGAPORE
Sculpture Society (Singapore)
16 March 2003
SSS Annual Meeting
SSS would like to remind all members to come for the annual meeting on Saturday, 5 April 2003, 6pm, at 5 Maida Vale, Singapore 798680 (Seletar Camp). ( Bus Services: 103, 86, 858, 168 )
Meeting agenda:
A. Annual reports: (May 2002 – March 2003)
1. Financial reports
2. SSS activities
B. Year 2003 planning
1. Annual Exhibitions for all members
2. Educational Projects for school and community
3. Activities for SSS members
C. Matter Arises
• 2nd Teams (Year 2003) Committee Members Election
Rhythm of Colors
Tang Hong Lee at Momentous Arts
Saturday 22nd March 3 pm opening
#3-32B Marina Square
6 Raffles Boulevard
Singapore 039594
Exhibition until 6th April 2003
Tang Hong Lee is a Malaysian artist who has been trained in Australia.
Sunday, March 16, 2003
Singapore Society of Ophthalmologists Charity Gala Art Auction Results
On the 7th March 2003 close-door fund-raising auction, paintings by Singapore eye doctors and artists Professor Arthur Lim and Dr Chng Nai Wee, prominent visually challenged artists Victor Tan Tar Tee and Chng Seok Tin, and compassionate artists Olga Polunin and Zhang Dong, Crystal, have raised between forty and fifty thousand Singapore dollars in aid of the Singapore Society of the Visually Handicapped, a laudable feat given the current recessionary environment in Singapore. This fund-raising was organized by the Singapore Society of Ophthalmologists and headed by Dr Steve Seah, a practicising ophthalmologist.
Solo Show
Wee Kong Chai is a respected member of the Singapore Sculpture Society and a pioneer sculptor . He has been worked on the woodcarving sculptures for the past 40 years. The opening of the exhibition is on Thursday 20 March 2003 at 7pm at Tanjion Pagar Community Club Art Gallery.
Address: 101 Cantonment Rd
Bus Services:75,196,167,605,80,607,145
Foreign Artist Feature
In 1996, Toko Shinoda became the first living Japanese artist to be honored with a solo exhibition in the Singapore Art Museum. The Honorable Earl Lu, chairman emeritus of the Singapore museum, says, "Shinoda's paintings and her calligraphic strokes are magical." At 90, Japan's premier contemporary artist, Toko Shinoda, is a tiny woman but her massive paintings pack a powerful presence. Shinoda's works are included in notable permanent collections of museums internationally.
$6.7 million spent on artwork for all 16 North-East MRT stations
Among the artworks commuters can see in train stations along the North-East line are works of art by artists Tan Swie Hian, Teo Eng Seng, Chua Ek Kay, and Eng Tow.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has spent $6.7 million to commission and to install a diversity of art, from Chinese brush paintings to abstract acrylics, for all the 16 stations along the North-East MRT line, scheduled to open in April 2003.
Conscious that the $6.7 million bill may spark an uproar, the line's project director, Mr Rajan Krishnan, has said that the amount allocated is only a fraction of the total cost of building the stations and that maintenance of the artworks is inexpensive.
Mr Rajan Krishnan, said the artwork increase the total station building cost by only 0.6 per cent. Each station costs about $60 million to $70 million.
The cost of maintaining the works will be negligible, as the works have been constructed with hardy materials such as granite and concrete, and have been incorporated into the station's wall and floor infrastructure.
The art pieces are expected to last for at least 50 years and will reflect each station's surroundings.
There have been some minor reservations on this project.
Dr Chong Weng Chiew, a member of the Government Parliamentary Committee on Transport, believes that funds for such projects should come from the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts instead of the Land Transport Authority.
Ms Constance Sheares, a former Singapore Museum curator and a descendent of the late President Sheares, co-ordinated the project.
An independent panel, comprising four experts from the art community, helped choose the artists and oversee each station's concept.
In 1987, art works were purchased for five stops, inclusive of Orchard and City Hall, at a cost of $1.6 million Singapore dollars.
All 19 artists whose works will be in the stations are Singaporeans or permanent residents, have been renumerated $100,000 Singapore dollars each for their contributions.
Singapore artists particiapte in Venice Biennale festival in June 2003
60-year-old artist Tan Swie Hian will demonstrate his calligraphy skill at the festival. His calligraphy will be at 4 storeys high and he intends to complete it within 10 minutes.
"Calligraphy is a very ancient art form but the venue for this one will be outdoor. We can't use paper and ink as it's traditionally done. Then I've to replace rice paper and ink with canvas," expressed Tan Swie Hian.
Francis Ng and Heman Chong will also be participating.
Francis Ng said: "It's the scale and the size of the Venice Biennale and also the kind of the expectation people will have when you are participating in the biennale. I think this kind of positive challenges that I'm receiving will help me to push my boundaries and artistic talent to greater height."
The 3 artists represent the conceptual, physical and the philosophical aspects of Singapore art.
CABINET
an exhibition of works by
Baet Yeok Kuan
AYALA MUSEUM
Philippines
Rear Gallery @MSE
5 to 15 March
Bartlett Hall
UPCFA Diliman
3 March
This exhibition will feature works of Baet Yeok Kuan, this year’s first
reipient of the Artist-in-Residence Program between the Sculpture Square
in Singapore, University of the Philippines and Ayala Museum.
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