Singapore Art Week 2018: A crossroads for global art

SINGAPORE – Singapore’s image has mostly bordered on a more corporate and business lifestyle. Unbeknownst to many, the country has constantly created and supported more avenues to spice up its tourism activities. With Asia’s economic growth in recent years, art interest flourished with new activities and galleries sprouting left and right.

Singapore Art Week 2018 was recently celebrated in different parts of the city, connecting the ideas and creativity of diverse regions, while highlighting a multi-faceted look on Southeast Asian art. The country became a fitting crossroad to merge the art interests of the west to the east. Strengthening an annual occasion, these events will surely pique the interests of many who are planning trips during the first quarter of the year.

Essence of appreciating and collecting art

Established in 2011, the vision of Art Stage Singapore is to unify and bridge Southeast Asian art to the global arena. It became a converging point for a number of galleries that brought forth their best or upcoming artists to lookout for. The country on spotlight this year was Thailand where a number of art galleries have opened, as well as private museums established by private collectors 

One of the more important exhibitions was that of world-renowned Fernando Botero. Famous for his plump and rounded depictions of figures, the Colombian artist had a dedicated exhibition to celebrate more than five decades of his craft. His son, Fernando Botero, Jr., was present to provide personal insights on the prolific life and career of his father. 

Filipino artists were also on the spotlight. Respective pieces by Geraldine Javier, Rodel Tapaya, Leslie de Chavez, and Winner Jumalon among others were on display. An area dedicated to Ronald Ventura’s painting and sculptures was a highlight at the exhibit. Art gallery Artinformal by Tina Fernandez was the only Philippine gallery this year. Their booth presented JC Jacinto’s works on abstract landscapes. Glass art by Gabby Lichauco and Lilianna Manahan were part of The Artling Collectible Design Showcase for emerging designers.

 

At the IMPART Collector’s Show, exhibited at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, the private collection of two prominent collectors were brought together in a single space.

It features the magnificent portraits of Singapore artists by Tang Da Wu, the western style of painting Asian scenes by the famous Nan Yang artist Cheong Soo Pieng, the Balinese inspired works of I Made Djirna, and scenes of Borobudur by Srihadi Soedarsono among others.

In collecting these major works, the collector chronicles the ascent of the thoughts and movements, along with the ideas and messages of the artists through the years.

Glorifying Art on the Streets

ARTWALK Little India offered a stroll around the area to understand the architecture and various outdoor murals that depict the history and traditions of the famous spot. Fortunately, street artist Zero was in the actual process of painting one of the elephant installations during the tour. Emphasizing on the balance of tradition and modernization, a must see piece is the gigantic mural by artist Jaba entitled, “Daily Delivery”.

At the ArtScience Museum, “Art From the Streets” chronicles the timeline of graffiti art from its origins in the U.S., its evolution as an art form, to its widespread socio-political influences. The images drawn by Shepard Fairey (also known as Obey Giant) portray strong images of activism through Middle Eastern women. A piece by Portuguese graffiti artist Vhils (real name Alexandre Farto) shows that this style is not limited only to blanks walls, but also on other mediums like pieces of mix carved wood.

A social commentary, the Aliwal Arts Centre came up with the exhibition entitled M.A.T.A.S. (Make A Terrific Artwork Someday). With strict Singapore laws on graffiti, the exhibition depicts the tensions to create and sustain street art through the use of the city’s public spaces. Installations of black boxes with small openings lets one see miniature street art inside the boxes. A tiny camera was installed in each box. These cameras were linked to a viewing area with stacked televisions, conveying the idea that everything done was closely being watched.

Art After Hours 

The “Light to Night Festival 2018: Colour Sensations” happened at the grounds of National Gallery Singapore. The façade of the establishment was transformed into a beautiful, interactive, and colorful backdrop of patterns and prints. From the Padang Deck of the National Gallery Singapore, the view of a wonderfully lit Marina Bay Sands complemented the bright atmosphere. The Festival Food Street completed the urban art event.

What once was a military barracks is now an arts cluster sprawling with galleries. Launched last 2012, Gillman Barracks is positioned as a central hub for discussion and presentation of global art. “Art After Dark” focused on a younger crowd with a roster of contemporary art, food tents, and live bands.

DISINI was the visual arts festival that gathered a number of people to explore the barracks grounds and the many activities in the evening. One of the notable exhibitions was the “Street Mining: Contemporart Art from the Philippines” by Sundaram Tagore Singapore. The exhibit showcases eight Filipino artists whose works are inspired by the daily chaos on the streets of Manila.

Fashion and Lifestyle as Art

PearlLam Galleries had an exclusive exhibition on famed lifestyle and fashion photographer David LaChapelle. Known for iconic fashion shoots and music videos, “SCAPEs” brings together LaChapelle’s latest photography series. Also included are other images or concepts that the artist has dwelled on all throughout his career. The showcase gathers his earlier editorial works, up until his triumphant return to fine art.

For more details on Singapore Art Week, visit www.artweek.sg. – Rappler.com