Singapore Biennale 2006
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Friday, January 21, 2005
Cultural Medallion Recipient Han Sai Por Wins Award at the XI Triennale – India
14 Jan – 10 Feb 2005
Sculptor Han Sai Por, a 1995 Cultural Medallion recipient, was selected as one of the Award winners at the XI Triennale-India for her outstanding sculpture series entitled “Bud, Leaf & Seed” in brass, bronze, marble and granite as well as for her charcoal paintings. Prize awards of Rs.1 lakh (approximately S$4000) and a plaque will be presented to Han and nine other winning artists at the Triennale’s closing ceremony on 10 February.
The Triennale is one of the most prestigious visual arts events in Asia and is organised by the Lalit Kala Akademi, attracting the participation of artists from over 40 countries. An international jury consisting of reputed artists, art critics and curators from India, Italy and Indonesia judged this competition which is an important showcase for established artists in the modernist paradigm.
Han’s art is a testimony of beauty with meditative quietness belying a resilience and strength that stone and metal encompass. In her Bud, Leaf & Seed Series, Han has created thin-walled forms with concave and convex lines that play with the positive and negative spaces that evolve when intertwined with light. What impressed the judges was the fact that her sculptures are crafted by hand from start to finish; painstakingly carved, sanded and polished. Han’s sculptures exude smooth, sensual lines that are quietly engaging and tactile.
Han expressed her continuing desire to redefine the boundaries of modernist art and said, “My art works are inspired by the density, the dynamic and mystical qualities of the tropical forest. I am very thrilled to have won this award. This whole experience has been very rewarding as I’ve been immersed in the historical and cultural richness of India.”
The National Arts Council is keen to further develop and showcase established Singapore artists as well as to present a more diversified image of Singapore art to the international art community. Singapore’s presence at the Triennale also plays a vital role in underlining its commitment to building and maintaining cultural links with India. For more information, visit www.triennaleindia.org
Thursday, January 20, 2005
72-year-old Botero, known for oversized sculptures and paintings of ample-bodied figures, visited Singapore to launch the massive show of over 70 paintings and drawings and 36 sculptures spanning three decades.
Botero's paintings, includes "Our Lady of Colombia" and the diptych "The President" and "The First Lady". 14 smaller sculptures, are currently housed at the Singapore Art Museum.
22 of the monumental bronze sculptures are on display at Changi Airport and outdoors at Esplanade arts center.
To commemorate Singapore's President SR Nathan visiting Thailand officially for the first time, the Singapore Art Museum launched an exhibition showcasing Thai artworks featuring 20 key works by 13 renowned Thai artists. The exhibition, titled Faith & Being, explores expressions of spirituality, life and identity by Thai artists.
SAM has also printed limited edition postcards using iconic pieces from the collection. Proceeds from the sale of these postcards will be donated to the Singapore Red Cross Society to support the Asian Tsunami Relief efforts.
You are cordially invited to the opening reception of
Backyards and Botanics
solo oil painting show by TAN AI NGIN
Wednesday 19th January 2005 7 pm
Utterly Art Exhibition Space
208 South Bridge Road 2nd Level, Singapore 058757
Tel: 6226 2605
Mon-Sat 11.30 am - 8 pm Sun 12 noon - 5.30 pm
The exhibition runs till Sunday 30th Jan 2005
“…by the blue purple yellow red water
On the green purple yellow red grass
Let us pass through our perfect park.”
- From Sunday in
Sunday in the Park with George
by Stephen Sondheim
A firm proponent of plein-air painting, artist Tan Ai Ngin takes to the Singaporean outdoors with gusto, quickly capturing her verdant vistas with dexterous economy. Like the Impressionists before her, Ai Ngin builds up her sceneries with short strokes of a mix of bright colours, giving us her impression of the subtly-changing heat, light, colour and shadows that play before her eyes. In the past three years of building this collection, Ai Ngin has gravitated naturally to the lush botanical environments of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, the nurseries of Mandai Orchid Gardens and Orchidville, and the sunny backyards of her adopted home in Tiong Bahru. In Ai Ngin’s hidden green oases, one discovers not just rich tropical colour, but a certain static serenity arising from lazy afternoons where the scorching sun has driven almost everyone else indoors.
Sunday, January 16, 2005
"Basic Photo-Based Printmaking Workshop"
Conducted by Senior Printmaker Eitaro Ogawa
$200 per person (For Adults - max 12 participants)
Date: 22 January 2005 Saturday
Time: 10am - 4pm (Lunch not included)
Venue: STPI Workshop
Conducted in our renowned workshop, this one day class will teach you the basics of silkscreening and transfer printing through an exclusive session with STPI's Senior printmaker. This is also an opportunity to come and see just one of the many things happening behind the scenes at STPI.
You will get the opportunity to work hands-on with our equipment and materials. Using your own photographs from home you will create transfer print reproductions to be printed on patterned silkscreen based sheets also created by yourself. The final piece of work will be a combination of both techniques learned during the course of the day. Below is a brief on what screenprinting and transfer printing is all about to give you a head start.
Please bring along a few photographs you wish to work with, preferably close ups of faces (size:4R or bigger). All materials are included. Please come dressed in comfortable clothing which can be dirtied.
SCREENPRINTING
Screenprinting (or 'silkscreening') creates an image by controlling the flow of ink through open and blocked areas on a screen. One of the simplest techniques to use, bold areas of uniform colour or delicate details are easily created.
Basic steps:
A wooden or aluminium frame ('screen') is tightly stretched with a synthetic, fine mesh fabric ('silk') through which the ink is pushed. It is important to clean and check the screen for any damage, as dirt will stop the ink from penetrating the mesh while holes or tears will leave unsightly marks on the print. Likewise, ensure the 'squeegee' (a rubber blade set in a handle, used to push ink through the screen) is straight and intact - any irregularities will result in an uneven distribution of ink in the image.
The image to be printed may be composed of several 'stencils' (usually one stencil per colour and per screen). A stencil creates 'blocked-out areas' (i.e. ink cannot go through the mesh) and 'open areas' (i.e. ink can go through the mesh) on the screen. Among others, a stencil can be made from cut or torn paper or tape (placed either on the screen or on the sheet of paper = temporary), cut adhesive film, photographic exposure or drawn with masking liquid (placed on the screen = permanent).
Once the to-be-printed sheet of paper and screen are aligned, ink is placed along the top of the screen (a line of ink a little longer than the width of the stencil image) and evenly pulled down the mesh with the squeegee, squeezing ink through the 'open areas' of the screen onto the paper below.
Step 3 is repeated until all colours or stencils have been printed. When completed, the last screen is removed revealing the transfer of the final image to the paper.
Transfer Printing is a very simple way of reproducing an image. 1st the image/photo is photocopied, with this photocopied piece transfer is made onto a separate piece of paper by the use of basic solvents and a rubbing motion.
I have created a newsfeed weblog of Design (Industrial, Fashion, Furniture and Interior). You can view it at http://designgrid.blogspot.com. It's basically features updates on the local and international design scene.
Cha
Ministry of Information, Communications and The Arts
Addendum to the President's Address
Dr Lee Boon Yang
Minister for Information, Communications and The Arts
MICA's mission is to bring about a Creative People, a Gracious Community and a Connected Singapore. We will take Singapore into a new and exciting phase of social, cultural and economic development. Through our programmes in the arts, heritage, information, creative industries, and infocommunication sectors we will enhance Singapore's competitive advantage and build a more cohesive society. We aim to transform Singapore into "The Place To Be" - where all Singaporeans have the opportunity to fulfil their unique potential.
UNLEASHING PASSION
To unleash creativity and passion at the community level, we shall adopt a 3P (public, private and people sectors) approach to implement the Creative Town Initiative. The Creative Town Partnership comprising MICA, Community Development Councils, individuals and private organizations will provide seed funding to pilot creative projects that will benefit the community, promote community bonding and facilitate employment creation in the creative industries. This will also provide the community with a stronger sense of identity.
Our libraries are creative spaces where knowledge and imagination can be fused to create new possibilities for Singaporeans. With its extensive network of libraries, the National Library Board will continue to support life-long learning among Singaporeans. The new National Library will open in 2005. It will have a world-class reference and resource centre for Asian materials and incorporate the New Drama Centre.
MICA will build an Independent Arts School by 2008 to provide integrated arts and academic secondary education for artistically inclined students. The school will enable its students to interact and collaborate with artists and the community. The school will also widen the educational choices open to young Singaporeans, encourage them to consider careers in the arts, as well as develop leaders in other fields with a strong foundation in the arts.
MICA will transform Singapore's civic district into a bustling arts and cultural hub. The Supreme Court and City Hall Buildings will be converted into a world-class art gallery to showcase Singapore and regional art. It will also serve as a venue for International Art Exhibitions. Victoria Concert Hall and Victoria Theatre will also be refurbished and the Asian Civilisations Museum at Armenian Street will be converted into a Peranakan museum. In 2006, MICA will organise the first Singapore International Visual Arts Biennale to showcase the works of artists from Singapore, our region and Asia. These developments will broaden, deepen and strengthen our cultural capital to contribute towards realising our vision of Singapore as a Global Arts City.
Our citizenry will become better informed and attuned to global trends. To provide greater choice for Singaporeans, we shall introduce more content classification for media and entertainment choices. However, we will continue to ensure that the public space remains wholesome. Greater choice means that individuals must take greater responsibility for what they and their families choose to watch.
FULFILLING LIVES
MICA will continue to develop the Creative Industries as a key driver of Singapore's economy. This will spark off new employment opportunities in such areas as industrial and web design, film, television, fashion, mobile content, video and on-line games, publishing and music recording. Through the Renaissance City 2.0, Design Singapore and Media 21 Programmes, more resources will be channelled towards the development of creative capabilities in order to build up our talent pool.
The info-communication technology (ICT) sector will also continue to be a key engine of growth and a major creator of jobs. The Infocomm Development Authority will seek strategic partners to deploy new technologies and business models, such as business process outsourcing, grid technology, 3G mobile telephony and digital media. MICA will also seek partners to enhance Singapore's broadband infrastructure. As part of the Connected Singapore Blueprint, all users in Singapore will enjoy pervasive and high-speed broadband access, through both wired and wireless means.
EMBRACING SINGAPORE
We shall continue to make Singapore the BEST home for all Singaporeans, engaging Singaporeans and international talents both at home and abroad to build a better Singapore. We shall reinforce national resilience by strengthening the ties between all our citizens and re-connect with Singaporeans abroad to enhance their sense of belonging. We will encourage Singaporeans to make greater use of our National Flag and National symbols to express our Singaporean identity.
We will strive to raise awareness of developments and opportunities in Singapore amongst our international partners through cultural diplomacy. MICA will leverage on our arts and culture to project Singapore. In 2005, MICA working with public and private sector partners will launch the Inaugural Singapore Season in London. This aims to boost the international profile of Singapore arts and culture, and present Singapore in a holistic manner to complement our strong business and efficiency reputation. Through such national marketing efforts, MICA will celebrate Singapore's unique cosmopolitan and multi-cultural heritage so that Singaporeans and the world will feel Singapore is "The Place To Be".
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