Singapore Biennale 2006
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Friday, April 29, 2005
'Now & Then' A collaboration project executed by Yeo Shih Yun and Tay Bee Aye, exhibited through a series silk-screen prints and photo transfer installation as well as a video installation.
‘Now & Then' – An exhibition of silk-screen prints and photo-transfer & video installation by local artists Tay Bee Aye and Yeo Shih Yun will open at the new art space instinc, located at 271C New Bridge Road, from 29 April 2005 to 25 May 2005.
It was through an old bus ticket that the concept of this exhibition was conceived. The progress of change, like the old bus ticket and ezlink card, is significant to our nation building. This transformation has fascinated us. Our nation building has indicated the progress of our changing landscape, like the increasing road signs and new street names in new estates. On the other hand, some old street names are removed completely.
Singapore’s landscape has undergone massive transformation over the past four decades. The transition of renewal, disappearance and addition of street names demonstrated how our identity is being built from the colonial era (Queenstown, Victoria Street) to a city of racial harmony consciousness, by using neutral street names rather than Malay or hanyu pinyin names.
Changes are inevitable. Many of our childhood memories of things, places, and scenes no longer exist today. They are permanently gone and unrecoverable. What are left are fragmented memories. With this goal of recapitulating the past memories and new, the two artists transform this space into a journey shared by them and others who lived here in this exhibition, 'Now & Then.'
There will be an installation of 20 prints on paper (silk-screen, photo transfer) together with prototype of street names and signs. There is also an interactive map for the audience to participate. Markers, oil pastel, sticker, photo etc, will be provided to allow viewer to add and delete information to transform it to the current landscape, or the imaginative future landscape. Thus, the piece is a piece that is always in state of work-in-progress till the last day of the exhibition. In addition, a video installation of journey traveled while on the MRT, a type of transportation commuted by Bee Aye and Shih Yun frequently will also be exhibited.
'Now & Then' will be exhibited at instinc at 271C New Bridge Road (Chinatown) from 29 April 2005 to 25 May 2005. For gallery information, please call 6536 1739. Free Admission.
Viewing hours: Tuesdays to Fridays, 12pm to 7pm, 7pm-9pm (by appointment) Saturdays, 12-5pm (By appointment); Closed on Sundays & Mondays.
Directions: (include map)
By MRT - Chinatown (NEL) or Outram Park
By Bus - SBS 2, 12, 33, 54, 61, 62, 63, 80, 81, 124, 143, 147, 174, 197
TIBS 190, 520, 851, 961, 961C, 970
About instinc(www.instinc.com)
instinc is located at the attic of a conservation townhouse that has been carefully restored, originally built in the 1800s. Creating an inspirational environment to work in, instinc has a pointed roof with high ceiling and a large patio natural lighting, adding to the character of the space.
Started in November 2004, instinc is an artist-run space that aims to foster friendships and collaborations with other artists. instinc is a dynamic space in continuous process of creation and is committed in exhibiting all forms of contemporary art.
The objectives of instinct are:
To provide an exhibition space managed by an artist in order to establish a vibrant environment for creative practice and dialogue.
To provide a space to exchange ideas and interaction for artists in the community.
About the artists
Biography of Artist, Yeo Shih Yun
Shih Yun's fascination for the abstract medium surfaced during her time at Lasalle, when she first experimented with the fusion of fine arts and contemporary design. One of her early experimental works received acclaim as a highly commended entry for the UOB Painting of the Year competition in 1999, which spurred her to further explore fine arts and the abstract form. After graduating from Lasalle, Shih Yun attended the one-year Post Baccalaureate Program (Painting) at the San Francisco Art Institute.
Shih Yun has collaborated with artists from America and UK for the past three years and has held numerous exhibitions in Singapore and Australia. Some of her recent exhibitions include “exit” in Melbourne, Australia and “NewFinds 2003" at MITA ARTrium. In addition, she was awarded the Emerging Artist Grant from the National Arts Council to hold her first solo exhibition titled, “log:one03” at Block 43 Studio Gallery in 2003.
Biography of Artist, Tay Bee Aye
Tay Bee Aye graduated with Fine Art Diploma (Painting) from LaSalle-SIA College of the Arts in 1999. She was awarded the recipient of 1998/1999 Georgette Chen Art Scholarship. During her artistic practice, her works won two Honorable Mentions at Philip Morris Singapore Art Award and a Commendation Award at the Singapore Power Ltd Art Competition. Bee Aye’s signature soft sculptures and site-specific installation works has been well received by the public and have been exhibited in various locations in Singapore, namely, Suntec City, Esplanade, M Hotel, Chinese Garden and Tanjong Pagar Community Center.
Bee Aye is very active in the arts scene and has participated in many arts activities and competitions. In 1999 & 2001, she took part in the Nokia Singapore Art, and in 2000 & 2004 Art Festival projects at Clifford Pier for "Tracking Time" and ST James Power House for the exhibition "Reconstruction of a City". Her recent 2nd solo exhibition "Her World" was held at Utterly Art Exhibition Space in Jan 2005. She also participated in number of group show. Her professional experience includes working as an arts educator. Bee Aye is currently a full-time practicing artist.
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Colors of Macau
ZULKIFLI YUSOFF's HOT TEMPER
Seventh solo exhibition of paintings, ceramics and monoscreenprints
Guest of Honour: Dato' N. Parameswaran
The Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore
Thursday 28th April 2005 7pm
Utterly Art Exhibition Space
208 South Bridge Road 2nd Level, Singapore 058757
Tel: 6226 2605 E-mail: utterlyart@pacific.net.sg
Mon-Sat 11.30 am - 8 pm Sun 12 noon - 5.30 pm
The gallery will be closed on Monday 2 May 2005.
The exhibition runs till Sunday 15th May 2005.
“Most of my artwork is about studies of human behaviour such as 'anger'. My artwork talks about emotional qualities and the goodness of honest self _expression.” - Zulkifli Yusoff
Zulkifli Yusoff’s first solo show in five years will feature a body of works in process since 2004. This time Zulkifli will recapitulate themes from his previous series of installations such as 'Early Morning series', 'Breathing series' and 'Pelayaran Abdullah' but in different form - on canvas.
The angry young man of Malaysian art has never shied from controversy, and is infamous for voicing his caustic criticisms of Malay society in its abuse of Power, the social ills of Ahmad and the injustices of Reformasi. Yet as he matures, he observes reflexively the thread of temper running through his previous series, either in his wild gestural execution, or as subject matter for commentary. A hot temper need not necessarily bode ill: the new large painting 'Pembukaan Negeri Baru' (The Founding of a New Nation) above depicts how the prince Parameswara was persuaded to found the settlement of Malacca by witnessing the fiery temperament of a local mousedeer who bravely fought off his hunting dogs.
Besides other large canvases, an important highlight will be the exploration of media such as clay (painting on slabs with glazes) and silkscreen technique. Strong lines become an important element in most of his artwork, reflecting the energy and strength in his expressive but increasingly controlled drawing.
We are pleased to invite you to:
Now & Then: A collaboration project by Tay Bee Aye and Yeo Shih Yun of photo-transfer and silk-screen prints. (29 April-25 May 2005)
Opening Reception @ 7pm on 28 April 2005, Thursday
Guest of Honour : Ms. Chng Seok Tin, President of Printmaking Society (Singapore)
This old ticket, an ezlink to childhood fragments, the road winding slowly up the hill, the kampong standing lazily on stilts, the bus shouting for business in Chinatown. The signs and symbols or the memories, which is more real? Which can show me the way home?
This series of photo-transfer and silk screen prints, a collaboration between two artists with distinctly different styles. Tay and Yeo interpret their impressions of the city from past to present, juxtaposing the old and the new. Tay Bee Aye and Yeo Shih Yun proudly present, now & then.
'Now & Then' will be exhibited at instinc at 271C New Bridge Road (Chinatown) from 29 April 2005 to 25 May 2005. For more information, please call 6536 1739.
Viewing hours: Tuesdays to Fridays, 12pm to 7pm Saturdays, 12-5pm (By appointment); Closed on Sundays & Mondays.
Directions: (include map)
By MRT - Chinatown (NEL) or Outram Park
By Bus - SBS 2, 12, 33, 54, 61, 62, 63, 80, 81, 124, 143, 147, 174, 197
TIBS 190, 520, 851, 961, 961C, 970
About instinc (www.instinc.com)
instinc is located at the attic of a conservation townhouse that has been carefully restored, originally built in the 1800s. Creating an inspirational environment to work in, instinc has a pointed roof with high ceiling and a large patio natural lighting, adding to the character of the space.
Started in November 2004, instinc is an artist-run space that aims to foster friendships and collaborations with other artists. instinc is a dynamic space in continuous process of creation and is committed in exhibiting all forms of contemporary art.
The objectives of instinct are:
To provide an exhibition space managed by an artist in order to establish a vibrant environment for creative practice and dialogue.
To provide a space to exchange ideas and interaction for artists in the community.
About the artists
Biography of Artist, Tay Bee Aye
Tay Bee Aye graduated with Fine Art Diploma (Painting) from LaSalle-SIA College of the Arts in 1999. She was awarded the recipient of 1998/1999 Georgette Chen Art Scholarship. During her artistic practice, her works won two Honorable Mentions at Philip Morris Singapore Art Award and a Commendation Award at the Singapore Power Ltd Art Competition. Bee Aye’s signature soft sculptures and site-specific installation works has been well received by the public and have been exhibited in various locations in Singapore, namely, Suntec City, Esplanade, M Hotel, Chinese Garden and Tanjong Pagar Community Center.
Bee Aye is very active in the arts scene and has participated in many arts activities and competitions. In 1999 & 2001, she took part in the Nokia Singapore Art, and in 2000 & 2004 Art Festival projects at Clifford Pier for "Tracking Time" and ST James Power House for the exhibition "Reconstruction of a City". Her recent 2nd solo exhibition "Her World" was held at Utterly Art Exhibition Space in Jan 2005. She also participated in number of group show. Her professional experience includes working as an arts educator. Bee Aye is currently a full-time practicing artist.
Biography of Artist, Yeo Shih Yun
Shih Yun's fascination for the abstract medium surfaced during her time at Lasalle, when she first experimented with the fusion of fine arts and contemporary design. One of her early experimental works received acclaim as a highly commended entry for the UOB Painting of the Year competition in 1999, which spurred her to further explore fine arts and the abstract form. After graduating from Lasalle, Shih Yun attended the one-year Post Baccalaureate Program (Painting) at the San Francisco Art Institute.
Shih Yun has collaborated with artists from America, UK & Singapore past four years and has held numerous exhibitions in Singapore and Australia. Some of her recent exhibitions include “exit” in Melbourne, Australia and “NewFinds 2003" at MITA ARTrium. In addition, she was awarded the Emerging Artist Grant from the National Arts Council to hold her first solo exhibition titled, “log:one03” at Block 43 Studio Gallery in 2003.
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Plastique Kinetic Worms - “ Access” - An Anniversary Exhibition. Wednesday 27th April 6:30pm.
Artists exhibiting in this years PKW anniversary exhibition;
Milenko Prvacki
Ian Woo
Vincent Leow
Gilles Massot
Laura Soon
Colin Reaney
Khiew Huey Chian
Miguel Chew
Karee Dahl
Juliana Yasin
The show continues until 21st May 2005.
Gallery Hours Open: Tuesday – Saturday 11am –6pm Closed Monday, Sunday & Public Holidays.
61 Kerbau Road, Little India [MRT Little India Station Exit E]
For more information; please contact PKW 6292 7783
“a work that pays homage to an artist...”
Lim Shing Ee was one of the first artists I met on arrival in Singapore. We met through PKW then situated at Pagoda Street, Chinatown. Shing was at that time off to Japan on a Japan Foundation Scholarship to study for her Masters Degree. I can remember vividly, a specific artwork in the PKW Gallery space; a brightly colored large floor piece, made up of numerous smaller pieces that commanded the space with energy... They were soft constructions acting solid with all the attributes and presence of stainless steel, bronze and granite... making the hard soft and the soft hard, challenging the notion that sculpture is hard, solid, permanent, monumental and full of testosterone... So I felt an empathy with this work. In those first couple of months after landing in this foreign space – I took comfort in this discovery making a connection with Shing’s works and my own art making... responding intuitively to another of those carriers of the double X chromosomes.
The challenge of placing oneself in a foreign location while studying overseas, forces one to tackle and respond to your new surroundings and at the same time understand it all through a new language as well as deal with the historical and contemporary settings of that culture. I wanted to be supportive of the artist, knowing it would also be one of the most difficult times ahead, and was curious as to how her Masters degree in Japan and that experience would repay her through opportunities back home. I have felt sometimes that although her practice consistently went from strength to strength, the support in the professional Arts sector in Singapore was not always there. This after all I believe to be, an art maker of repute.
While I feel that, many artists [both emerging and peer alike] in Singapore, acknowledge Shing Ee’s contribution, the preferred support/encouragement approach to new artist makers is based in a developmental relationship between teacher – student, or the teacher – apprentice scenario, as opposed to support, that is a response to the immediate work or art practice’s possibilities and potential.
Shing Ee’s Peranakan tile installation at PKW in 2002 impressed me no end. It is a stunning work, thoughtful and considerate to the artist practice, and the site - a reflection on the culturally diverse nature of contemporary art making in Singapore. A simple, yet complex example of installation practice, held together by the space it was made for – PKW, 31 Kerbau Road. Interestingly when re-hung in the ‘Mesh’ exhibition NIE, it worked as a piece within itself... but with out necessarily forgetting or loosing it's original claim to the PKW location and in turn Little India and its wider historical references.
So what is this to do with my work and this exhibition apart from wanting to pay homage to another artist?
This years PKW anniversary members exhibition extended invitations to past members of which I am one. The title ‘Access’ reflects on the “synergy” created during Pagoda and South Bridge Road times. “It was great and not to mention its been a long time since we had a group show together...” and “having been awarded the space next door (63 Kerbau Road) …talk and ideas of how to link the 2 spaces together... there is life on one side and not the other and we want to bring more life to the other end. The idea is to challenge and use artworks as a means of connection between the 2 spaces, even though physically, the space is separated by the wall.” [Yvonne Lee]
Asking myself as an artist, what did PKW mean to me, and what part has it played over the last seven years for me, it seemed that PKW’s being, is best reflected in the role it plays in contributing to the broader spectrum of the Arts in Singapore.
Homage to Lim Shing Ee, essentially highlights the research & developmental nature of art practice and its contribution to the profession and business of art making in the context of the established social, cultural, political and economic systems. It is an attempt to visually communicate the ever present and consistent framework that exists and is essential to this professional sector. PKW has played its part, and continues to act out its part in this professions framework, and regardless of its expansion plans, it has successfully to date, and will continue to encourage development of, and reinforce the essential frameworks for art. In an world fast becoming concerned with and focused on overnight, short term, quick fix measures and goals, that allude more, to economic and consumerist habits and questionable humanitarian ethics, it will continue to play a central role in the arts community.
Lim Shing Ee as an artist, is just one fine example of how support and infrastructure in the Arts is essential to this profession, and beneficial to this society and its economy particularly with its goal to be the Arts Hub of this region. This artist was a founding member of PKW, she was its Director for over a year and is currently President of this artist-run-space... all the way from Japan – now that is global strategy.
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