A facility revamped to house art groups and museum space is pointing out the importance of history — even as Singapore makes great leaps toward the future. The space in question, 222+51, is committed to honoring the past, even if it presents itself in imperfections.
222+51 is a name derived from the street numbers of the addresses of the two buildings the art space now occupies. It is the former Catholic High School, a site that has recently celebrated its 80th birthday. In keeping with the commemoration of history, the directors of the privately managed site — one of the first private partnerships of art and history in the same place — have declined to do anything significant to alter the look of the building. To them, the small imperfections like cracked floors and chipped paint adds to the historical patina of the facility. To completely revamp everything into a state-of-the-art facility might have been aesthetically pleasing, but for the directors, it’s what’s on the inside that counts. It was much more important to the directors to preserve those little touches, keeping the sense of the past intact, than to beautify an already historically beautiful location.
As a part of the celebrations for the 80th birthday of the physical buildings, the art space unveiled murals marking residents’ important memories of the neighborhood and its way of life. For example, one participant included a giant ball of ice that was reminiscent of the way his father shaved ice to sell for flavored treats. The mural was created by both the artists who use the space at 222+51 as well as community members drawing from banks of collective memories to honor the past of both the buildings and the surrounding area.
222+51 is expanding its services to the art community, adding different creative groups to the premises all the time. The newest tenants in the buildings will be a fashion wing, improv troupe, and dancing lessons. The facility is looking to reach out to the younger generations to get them excited and involved in all forms of creative expression. The directors at 222+51 are committed to embracing art in all of the many forms it takes.
One of the best ways to explore the different forms of art is to sign up for an art class yourself. If you’ve always wanted to take an art class but haven’t known what resources are available, SGArtClass.com is one of the simplest and most reliable ways to connect with professional art teachers eager to help you get started on your creative journey. Whether you’re just picking up a paint brush for the first time or if you need help taking your existing creative skills to the next level, art classes through SGArtClass.com are there to help.
To read more about the historical art space 222+51, go to http://www.themalaymailonline.com/features/article/singapores-heritage-space-22251-is-all-about-making-art-history.