A sense of place depends on where you’re from. For example, Fantasy Island, a group of Indonesian islands that are being designed as a draw for ecotourism, are seen as a place for vacations, rest, and relaxation for a majority of Singaporeans. However, for Indonesians, the region is seen as a place for work.
An artist and curator are excited to explore the meaning of Fantasy Island with a new exhibition that will be on display during the Singapore Art Week. The exhibit itself will examine the meaning of borders in terms of cultural exchange and barriers, as well as an exploration of people’s perceptions and interpretations of islands. Work from a handful of artists will be on display at the show, which will also feature discussions, books, and stills from Singaporean television series and films recorded in Batam. The exhibit itself stemmed from a failed trip to explore Fantasy Island via boat. Because they were not authorized to be there, the artist and curator were turned away by guards, explaining that they didn’t have the clearance to set foot on the island. The experience itself, though unfruitful, didn’t disappoint completely. Instead, the imaginations of the artist and curator were set alight at the possibilities of what could be on the island, and they gave themselves over to the various interpretations of that idea.
If a person stands on Batam and looks in a certain direction, they can see the skyscrapers towering in Singapore. However, knowledge of each place is limited, and interpretations can vary depending on where a person is standing and what kind of culture they come from. One photographer whose work will be a part of the exhibit photographed abandoned retail and housing ventures on Batam, showcasing the whims of planners and the pitfalls of a capricious economy.
Another artist will display an installation that explores language and cultural identity. The artist’s great-uncle spoke a language different from the official language of Batam, and influenced the artist by saying that all the people — whether from Batam, other parts of Indonesia, or Southeast Asia — are just different leaves from the same tree.
Art benefits us in many ways. It can give voice to feelings and stories that would otherwise exist only in our minds. It can also help relieve stress and develop creative problem solving skills that can be applied everywhere from schoolwork to your career to social interactions. Explore those emotions and experiences by signing up for an art class via SGArtClass.com. There are a number of different classes you can take depending on your preferences, from charcoal drawing to pointillism painting, mural painting to chalk pastel drawing. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have any artistic experience. Expert teachers are on hand to help shape your lessons into personalized experiences that will make sure your love for art will last an entire lifetime.
To read more about the exhibit, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/singapore-batam-and-the-ties-that-bind-in-fantasy-islands.