Art is often controversial, but the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival is known for showcasing some of the year’s most debate-worthy exhibits, shows, and events. The upcoming festival, slated for January, is no exception, particularly with its theme of Art & Skin.
A Facebook group has targeted several showings for the fringe festival, saying that they went against moral values. The shows have since been excluded for the lineup due to these same concerns. One of the shows featured the performer and a random audience member undressing in front of each other, but in private, exploring the idea of clothing as a protective skin layer over people’s actual skin, which protects the vital organs that keep us all alive. The other event that will not take place as a part of the festival any longer was a lecture whose speaker would give points on considerations of the female body while completely naked.
Supporters of the art have decried the exclusion, saying that the moral policing has no place in the art world. The entity that excluded the shows defended its decision, saying that art for art’s sake without regard for widely held beliefs and morals isn’t worth the controversy of it being seen.
This isn’t the first time that acts at the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival have been targeted for their controversy. Five years ago, an act that featured a tribute to a 1990s performance of an artist cutting his pubic hair in front of an artist gave rise to much outrage. Acts at this particular festival have continued to push the artistic envelope ever since, tackling a wide range of subjects and controversies.
This year’s theme is no different, with many artists interpreting the theme of Art & Skin as a subject of racial, political, or other forms of identity. Gender, nationality, and modes of fashion all come into play with this theme, with artists and performers looking for their own answers during performances and exhibits. One particularly promising area of the festival is a portion where new and emerging artists present works of art in promise, which gives audiences a chance to voice their opinions on the work and possibly even influence the final masterpiece. Feedback is a critically important part of the artistic process, and this special event will highlight that even more.
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To read more about the shows on display as a part of the event, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/taking-on-tough-issues.