Singapore Biennale 2006
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Sunday, September 26, 2004
Young Artists at International Biennales
Sang Nila Utama – a descendent of Alexander the Great?
Singapore’s history re-examined at São Paolo
28 year old Ho Tzu Nyen will present the story of the lesser-known founder of our island, Sang Nila Utama, at the most prestigious visual arts event in South America, the São Paolo Bienal.
Called Utama – Every Name in History is I, the art and film installation draws from historical records of our pre-colonial history to piece together the various identities of the man who named our island Singapore. It also parallels various episodes of Utama’s encounters with those of historic figures such as Julius Caesar or Admiral Cheng Ho. Utama reflects on the ability of history to give prominence to important figures and its role as the source in our search of our identity.
Ho’s presentation at São Paolo Bienal from 25 September – 19 December, is co-presented by the National Arts Council (NAC) and the National Heritage Board (NHB). An award-winning artist, film maker and writer who is currently a research scholar researching on post war Singaporean art history, Ho’s work Utama was extensively researched and produced. It was also suited to the curatorial theme of Reimagining History, which aims to re-examine our history through both art and film.
For the next four months, two other acclaimed, award-winning and young multi-media conceptual artists will also be showcasing Singapore art at three important visual art events in North Asia. Heman Chong has just opened his work ClubSilencio at the Busan Biennale 2004 Contemporary Art Exhibition (21 August – 31 October) and will go on to present Sleepless Whistle at the Shanghai Biennale 2004 (29 September – 28 November). Both works are based on a 300-odd collection of old films, which he acquired from underground DVD stores in Beijing. Francis Ng will present his work The Split at one of Asia’s most established and significant contemporary visual arts event, the Gwangju Biennale 2004 (10 September – 13 November). His work is an antique Chinese chair split in half and held together with a large reflective mirror at the centre. It seeks to break down ideas of nobility and functionality and also present different perspectives on the use of a chair or object.
Both Heman and Francis’ participation at the biennales are funded by NAC. Both artists also represented Singapore at the 50th Venice Biennale last year, considered by many as the most important art biennale in the world.
“This is the first time we have such a strong presence of Singapore artists in so many prestigious international art events at one time throughout the world. We are proud that Singapore has not only been able to secure participation at such important events, but more importantly, our visual artists are making their mark at a considerably young age and are increasingly sought-after in the global arts community. We wish all of them success at the biennales,” says Ms Goh Ching Lee, Senior Director (Arts Cluster Development), NAC.
Says Mrs Lim Siok Peng, Chief Executive Officer, NHB, “In the last ten years, the Singapore Art Museum has worked hard to promote contemporary art practices in Singapore. Participation in international biennales has been a key strategy in this pursuit. We secured Singapore's first participation in Johannesburg Biennale in 1995. Tang Da Wu represented Singapore. We then presented Matthew Ngui at the 1996 Sao Paulo Biennale. NHB and NAC continue to work with many international biennale organisers. Together, we will present Singapore's participation in Sao Paulo for the third time this year. Artist Ho Tzu Nyen will represent Singapore.”
We hope that you will help publicise the artists participating in these important international art events. Pictures are available on request. Details of their works for the biennales as well as the artists’ contact information are available in the annexes:
Annex 1 – Heman Chong
Annex 2 – Francis Ng
Annex 3 – Ho Tzu Nyen
Annex 4 – Brief on the Biennales
For media queries, please contact:
Miss Kim May
Corporate Communications Manager
DID: 6837 9574
E-mail: type kim_may and followed by @nac.gov.sg
Mr Ho Hwei An
Assistant Director, Corporate Communications
DID: 6837 9586 / 9571
E-mail: type hwei_an_ho and followed by @nac.gov.sg
You're cordially invited to
Research-in-progress Presentation
by BA (Hons) Fine Art students
Dates: 30 Sep, 7 Oct & 14 Oct 2004 (Thu)
Time: 1.30 - 4.30pm
Venue: #03-04, NAFA1
HQ & SVA Building
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
80 Bencoolen Street
Singapore 189655
Admission: Free
Synopsis:
Candidates of the BA (Hons) Fine Art with Contemporary
Writing and BA(Hons) Fine Art: Painting & Drawing will
present their
research-in-progress for their Introduction to
Contemporary Literary Theory and History of Eastern
and Western Art modules respectively.
These sessions serve a dual purpose: as a formative
assessment and as a platform on which the students
share their research interests and
findings, and gather feedback to refine their papers
for eventual
submission.
30.9.04 (Thu)
Koh Li-lin Sabrina
Queer Theory & Psychoanalysis
Wong Yoke Chin Andrina
Feminism & Psychoanalysis
Pierre See Han Sern
Marxism & Structuralism
7.10.04 (Thu)
Tan Chuinwei Michelle
Nanyang Style: A Search For identity
Wui Kai Ling
Contemporary Malaysian Art
Loh Michelle
Propaganda in Contemporary Asian Art
14.10.04 (Thu)
Yap Kwok Leong Jeffrey
Southeast Asian Art: An Appropriation of Western Art
Practice?
Tay Sin Yu
Colour in Southeast Asian Art
PRESS RELEASE
If you require photos of the art and/or the artist, please contact: type stephen and followed by @compudia.com Images can be emailed or sent on cd.
Huge Perpetual World
An Exhibition of Photography and Video by Stephen Black
The Photographers’ Gallery October 21-November 3
140 Hill St. gallery hours 12-7
#01-02 MITA Building closed Sundays and Tuesdays
Singapore 179369
tel/fax 6837-3886
www.tpgallery.com.sg
contact: Fabian So
Huge Perpetual World is a new exhibition of video and photography by Stephen Black.
Stephen Black has lived and exhibited in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Paris and New York. This is his first solo show in Singapore. He is a graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology (BFA Photographic Illustration). His works feature an individual style with an emphasis on bold use of color and composition. Stephen Black combines conceptual, technical and emotional concerns to create images that are personal, poetic and universal. His works for this show were created and influenced by his time in Singapore.
Stephen Black’s works are in numerous private collections, as well as the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography, The German Embassy in Japan, Za Moca and Columbia University. His creative sense has also been utilized by companies as diverse as Compudia, Fuji TV, Playboy, Hanatsubaki, Kurashi no Techo, Cartoon Network, France 2 television, Kenzo, MTV, Suntory and many other companies.
The exhibition will also feature extracts from his video documentary on orchids in Singapore. This documentary has been two years in the making and takes a unique look at Singapore, using orchids and people who are involved with orchids, as a common thread. One section for, example, is a portrait of the Orchid Pharmacy in Little India. In addition to colorful orchid-related street scenes, the section features music by The Unseen Guest (www.unseenguest.com)
Additionally, the exhibition is the world debut of ‘Sushi Secrets’ a new book by Kazuko and Chihiro Masui, with photos taken by Stephen Black and Richard Haughton. Kazuko Masui’s last book, French Cheeses (Encyclopedia de Fromages), has been translated into 13 languages and has sold over 350,000 copies. Sushi Secrets is published by Hachette-Octopus and will be on display at the Frankfurt Book Fair in October.
Finally, the gallery will feature the premiere of "Virtual Orchid', a scent designed by Phillippe B. (Sillage Aromatique)
The following websites contain work by Stephen Black:
www.akiyoshikumiko.com
SB directed and produced this short video illustrating a poem of this famous Japanese movie actress. He was also Director of Photography for her recent directorial debut, Bubu again.
www.cyrilwong.com/7Polaroids
A photographic collaboration with Singaporean poet Cyril Wong. An experimental video is also in pre-production.
www.therefrigerator.net
The refrigerator is home to earring records, where several ambient music videos created by SB can be found.
www.the2ndrule
Frequently videos and poems by SB have been featured on this Singaporean on-line magazine.
www.danceandsoul/articles/changi_village.html
voice and music explorations of Singapore with Ferreo and soundscapes by Kaye
www.nyonya.com
click on “Black’ for images of a Saturday near Orchard Rd.
www.mojix.org/memo/stephenblack
interview (in Japanese)
Sponsors/Supporters
Canon
Avid
William’s Photography
Bead Hub
Hybrid design (London HK)
Sillage Aromatique
MORE TO BE ADDED
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