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0 Inside Out celebration shows world the emerging artists of Singapore

Government officials in Singapore weren’t sure for a while of what to promote as distinctly Singaporean ahead of the nation’s 50th birthday. While many residents of the country say that dining out and shopping are two of the strongest selling points for Singapore, officials decided to look to the nation’s emerging art scene as a way to promote itself during the celebrations.

For many visitors of Singapore, the country might appear as if it lacks a distinct cultural identity. This is because of the country’s relative young age, having gained independence from Malaysia just 50 years ago. That’s why officials decided to push for increased recognition of a fledgling art scene, promoting native artists, filmmakers, musicians, writers, and more to the forefront with its 50th birthday celebration. While encouraging visitors and citizens alike to seek out art, officials also look to grow Singapore’s artistic footprint and set up a creative legacy for the next 50 years and beyond. The biggest proof of this effort is National Gallery Singapore, which will open at the end of November with the largest collection of art from the Southeast Asian region.

Art circles around the world are taking note of the creative efforts to promote the country’s growing art scene, and an upcoming art show in New York City, Singapore: Inside Out, will showcase some of the nation’s most exciting new artists.

Singapore: Inside Out will feature artists, musicians, dancers, reading of pieces, and public speakers all designed to bring Singaporean art to a broader world audience. In a remarkable dedication to innovation, different artists and performers will be separated within a large scaffolding, exhibiting and creating and educating throughout the event. Tours throughout the day will encourage attendees to engage with the artists, asking questions in an effort to understand the unique approach artists from the region bring to the world’s collective creative table.

One such artist who will take part in Singapore: Inside Out is named Speak Cryptic. Cryptic’s art invites viewers in to take part in his personal artistic experience. He works mostly in black and white because he is part color blind, meaning that attendees who step into his exhibit space will get to try to understand how he sees the world through his art. Viewers will be able to experience his work and artistic philosophy, both stemming from his home of Singapore — the primary aim of the nation’s push for local art in its 50th birthday.

Help communicate your broader life experience by signing up for an art class today through SGArtClass.com. Art is an experience that both transcends language and culture and works to bring a wider understanding and acceptance for communities across the world. Help bring awareness of all that Singapore has to offer by enrolling in a class on drawing, painting, sculpting, fabric arts, murals, nail art, and much more. There are art classes for nearly every interest — you just have to find yours.

To learn more about Singapore’s developing art scene, go to http://skift.com/2015/09/15/singapore-repositions-image-as-a-cultural-hub-with-local-artists/.

0 Singapore art fair features strong showing of Philippine creators

The result was a new appreciation in Singapore for the artwork created by Filipino artists and an excitement from Singaporean gallery owners to explore more of a partnership with artists from the Philippines.

Art Apart, a unique show hosted in the Parkroyal on Pickering, gives an unexpected exhibition space for artists in the fine hotel. Spaces ranged from bright indoor rooms to rooftop gardens and other outdoor spaces, ensuring that artists could choose to show their works in the places that would highlight their strengths the most.

Rosalind Lim, the director and founder for the art fair, said she was excited to have helped fly in Filipino artists in order to open Singaporean art connoisseurs’ eyes to the power and promise of art from the Philippines. Attendees and artists alike at the art fair all expressed a wish for Lim to continue to support masterpieces coming from the Philippines.

One of the most popular Filipino artists who took part in the art fair was Ramon Orlina, whose preferred artistic medium is glass. Orlina brought 13 brand new pieces of glass sculptures to the show. The sculptures received interest and congratulations from many of the fair’s attendees. Each a complicated abstract vision realized in fragile forms, the sculptures were executed expertly in clear glass, drawing viewers to look inward to the fine craftsmanship. Orlina himself complimented the organization and effort of Art Apart, saying that it was exciting to see work from both the Philippines and beyond presented in such an attractive space.

One of the most special parts of this edition of Art Apart was a donation from Stanley Quek. Quek, a doctor and real estate magnate, and his donation encouraged artists to make art in front of visitors during the fair. While artists got time to work on their creative pursuits, attendees got the chance for an intimate education on just what went into the process of each masterpiece. Artwork sold as a part of this special display both benefited the artist who sold it and a charity. Quek said he decided to sponsor this special exhibition as a way to help support new artists while showing people perhaps unfamiliar with the art world all of the work it took to produce a painting, sculpture, or other artwork.

Are you interested in taking the plunge into the art world but aren’t sure where or how to start? Let SGArtClass.com be your guide by helping to connect you to a professional art teacher who is a proven expert in his or her field of study. You can enroll in an art class in one of many concentrations, including portrait drawing, oil painting, watercolor landscapes, and much more. Never picked up a paintbrush before? No problem — a wide range of class levels from beginning to advanced will ensure you get the instruction you need to make a splash in the art world.

For more information about the art fair, go to http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/206482/singapores-unique-boutique-art-fair-features-philippine-artists.

0 New Singapore Art Museum exhibit a revelation

Though the arts in Singapore have only had a couple of decades to start taking root, they have recently begun to blossom. The Singapore Art Museum was one of the places to help fertilize the growing art scene, and the world is only expected to get broader with the opening of the National Gallery of Art later this year.

Contemporary art, by its nature, can often be divisive and address challenging subjects. However, art as a whole is meant to provoke a reaction, to ignite a thought, and to inspire a feeling in all viewers — that’s the goal. “After Utopia” is an exhibition devoted to encouraging a broad range of thoughts and dialogues about many different topics. That’s evident from the wide variety of artists from different Asian countries represented in the show — from Singapore itself to China.

Within “After Utopia,” art collections are categorized into one of four areas. The first deals with the idea of the biblical garden of Eden, as well as artists’ interpretations of what that may look like for other people. The second is devoted to the idealistic views of the perfect urban center, or what the artists might picture as the best possible city. The third category explores politics, those devoted to political causes, and what it might look like in a world where one’s political aims are all met. The fourth and final category explores the pursuit of a utopia within one’s soul, sought through prayer, action, meditation, and other practices.

One of the most expansive and time-consuming parts of the fourth category is a collection of work from the artist Kamin Lertchaiprasert. Working over the course of a year, the artist carved 365 sitting figures — one for every day of the calendar. Each of the figures is different from the next, and the task itself became a meditation for the artist to complete, a daily ritual that allowed him to retreat inside of himself to explore the ideas of art, creativity, and what it means to create masterpieces such as the ones displayed at this exhibit.

A large, impactful art installation of falling bombs covered in mirrored glass ends the exhibit, begging the question of just what happens to end utopia — or achieve it. Viewers will be challenged to search for the answer both in the museum and outside of it once they’ve left after seeing this worthy exhibit.

Inspired by contemporary art and the ability to create meaningful commentary on your daily life? Think about enrolling today on a beginner’s course on contemporary art via SGArtClass.com. Experts leading each lesson will take you on a journey of the history of contemporary art to the present day, exploring how different artists approach analyzing their lives around them through art. Participate in the growing wave in your own way.

For more information about the exhibition, go to http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/review-boundaries-open-up-in-after-utopia-at-singapore-art-museum-20150831-gjbe6k.html.

0 Brothers help support, encourage new artists

The Woon brothers developed a foundation that awards monetary prizes to worth artists in a art school graduation competition. All but one of the brothers are the owners of a well-known group of coffee shops. The fourth is a former lawyer.

The former lawyer, Wee Teng, is a connoisseur of Buddhist artwork and historical pieces, collecting his initial works when he was still young. It was this love of art and history, along with an impressive collection of masterpieces, that led him to create Singapore’s very first museum dedicated to such artifacts.

With the profits they earned from both the chain of coffee shops and the museum, the brothers created the Woon Foundation, an organization aimed at making a difference in the art world and the lives of artists. This includes promoting education in the creative arts as well as developing a collection of work from the very artists the foundation is looking to support. The brother who started the chain of coffee shops, Teck Seng, said he has even been buying artwork from budding artists himself as a way to bolster them on their creative journeys.

In this vein, the Woon brothers have amassed a small fortune in artwork from both the Buddhist world and the art world right here in Singapore. While the bulk of the masterpieces are kept safe in storage spaces around the world, the brothers regularly donate pieces from their collection to museums in both Singapore and other countries.

The Woon brothers credit their monetary support of artists as a way to inspire young creative minds to elevate their artwork. In another charitable gesture for students abroad, winners of the foundation’s award get a large monetary award, as well as complimentary studio space and a mentorship from an established older artist. The brothers say their foundation is a way to push young artists to seize the next step in their careers and achieve a higher level of success. The brothers’ point is that young people don’t have to embrace the “starving artist” persona. They can aspire to actually earning a living through the use of their creative skills.

One of the best ways to enter the art world is to start by learning something about it. There’s no better way to do that than to enroll in a class at SGArtClass.com. SGArtClass.com boasts a plethora of art classes of all levels, led by excellent instructors who are experts in their own rights in the subjects they teach. Think about enrolling in an entry level class today on subjects ranging from drawing to painting to sculpting and more. Not sure what subject would be the best for you? Not a problem. Our lessons are reasonably priced so that you can always try another upon completion of one course.

To read more about the Woon brothers’ artistic mission, go to http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/woon-brothers-do-their-bit-budding-artists.

0 Residents get artistic as festival draws to a close

The same art festival that featured murals as tall as residential buildings drew to a close with projects that were more accessible to residents of all ages.

The family-friendly event featured hands-on activities that included making arts and crafts projects all with the theme of showing love for Singapore as a part of its 50th birthday. These projects ranged from making stamps to decorating carry-all bags and taking fun photos in the photo booth available at the festival.

One of the biggest projects over a hundred participants undertook was the decorating of about ten cardboard houses that were big enough for a small child to duck into. Each house was painted with whatever the artist had in mind for what made a house a home. One house was cheerfully decorated with bright green paint and featured vivid flowers, snails, hearts, and butterflies. Another house had a dark blue background, but with highly contrasting teal vines, a rainbow, and much more. The houses were part of an installation art exhibition showing the differences each resident believed about their own homes. The end result is, of course, that though each home was different, the sense of being home is always the same.

This festival was one of many that had taken place to help celebrate the artistic community right alongside Singapore’s 50th birthday. Throughout the course of the PAssionArts Festival, nearly a quarter million residents have taken part in everything from photo shows to attending live music concerts. One of the organizing officials for the culminating event said that it was a way for participants to show their affection and appreciation for Singapore’s rich history, wonderful present, and exciting future. Sound gardens, carnival fairs, and other exciting events have rounded out the weekends of fun for the festival.

Though the PAssionArts Festival may have drawn to its conclusion, the art will live on through installations, exhibits, museums, and galleries across the nation. It’s likely that event, which stretched over two months in a number of different venues, has only awakened a passion for arts in all of the various residents who took part in the variety of events.

Just because one festival is over doesn’t mean you have to stop being creative and having fun with art. Keep the party going by signing up today for an art class through SGArtClass.com. If you found one type of artistic genre you were particularly interested in while attending the street festival — like arts and crafts, fabric painting, or even murals — you can continue to embrace that passion by enrolling in a similar class with teachers ready on hand to take your interest to the next level. There’s no reason to let your artistic interests fall by the wayside simply because the festival is at its end.

For more information about the activities at the festival, go to http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/residents-dabble-art-festival-draws-close.

0 Center celebrating Chinese culture, arts opens

7th September 2015

The center was built to foster an exchange of creative ideas between China and Singapore, and was designed by a celebrated architect from Singapore.

The first program on the docket for the brand new center will be a talk hosted by five popular Chinese writers, including one whose book was recently made into a movie.

The center will be one of the best places to see and experience the artistic offerings of China in Singapore, boasting a library open to the public with tens of thousands of texts on arts movements, history, culture, and current issues in China. China looks to boost its artistic presence throughout the world, looking to more than double its presence in such centers globally within the next five years.

The China Cultural Center of Singapore looks to bring in artists and performers in a wide range of genres to help showcase all the different types of art the country has to offer. This is in an effort to encourage other cultures around the world to learn about China’s artistic offerings.

An official at the cultural center, Ma Hongying, says that the first exhibit will feature costumes from a Chinese province. Plans are in the works to showcase dozens of paintings by artists from both China and Singapore in a future showing that will highlight both the center’s grand opening and Singapore’s 50th birthday. There will be many future cultural talks, theater performances, exhibitions, and much more in this new space.

The center itself is a vivid and raucous testament to its rich and vibrant cultural offerings within. Strikingly modern, the center boasts multiple floors and a modern, multilayered façade. A portion of the building is bright red, dotted with windows that bulge outward in the middle of a sunburst mural and decorative antennae feature. The inside has a 240-seat theater for performances, exhibit space, the library, and space for classes, gatherings, and other events.

Xiao Jianghua, the Chinese cultural counselor, says that the center will focus on drawing top performers of Chinese culture and art, adding that experts will be on hand to teach history, culture, and art classes to all interested students in Singapore.

Another cultural center for Chinese arts will be opening at the end of 2016. However, its chief executive, Choo Thiam Siew, assures the public that its offerings won’t be the same as the Chinese Cultural Center. The Chinese Cultural Center will focus mainly on art from China, while the other facility will highlight Singapore’s own Chinese heritage.

Interested in the art and cultural history of China? Think about signing up for one of our art classes exploring such topics today. Through SGArtClass.com, you can tailor your artistic experience to suit your interests. Expert teachers will help guide you through lessons on silk painting, Chinese brush painting, and many more subjects.

To learn more about the arts and culture center, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/completed-china-cultural-centre-to-boost-arts-exchange.

0 Singapore art expert to lead New York art institute

31st August 2015

Tan Boon Hui will be transitioning from his role as head of the art museum in Singapore to leading the Asia Society Museum in New York City. In that capacity, Tan will also be the second in command for a worldwide art and culture program, organizing activities and managing collections for the group.

The Asia Society aims to create a deeper understanding between the United States and Asian countries through art and culture. In that vein, Tan is the perfect candidate to bridge the cultural gap between the different regions of the world. His love of and passion for Asian artwork — particularly Buddhist masterpieces — as well as his strong connections in Singapore’s art world, will serve him well in his new leadership role abroad.

Tan says he’s thrilled about landing the job with the Asia Society Museum. The New York location of the company has hosted several thoroughly modern shows celebrating the cutting edge of Asian art. Tan added that he recognized a global interest in and acceptance of Asian artwork, meaning that now is the perfect time to push the genre to the forefront and gain even more worldwide attention.

Tan’s past history in Singapore includes a long period of studying and analyzing art — though he never formally studied art. Never letting that stop him from being interested in creative pursuits, it is probably his other interests that helped Tan approach art so differently and successfully. He is the person to be thanked for one of the most successful Singapore Biennale events in the history of the artistic celebration, drawing hundreds of thousands of attendees and gaining approval for showcasing art with a strong regional flavor. He has also promoted art from Singapore in a traveling show through France.

During Tan’s tenure at the Singapore Art Museum, many people lauded his leadership nature of being a person who wasn’t afraid to take risks. He pushed for the museum to accept and show more contemporary art, helping to modernize Singapore’s approach to creative pursuits. Though he might not have been enormously popular with traditionalists, he did a lot to push contemporary art to the center of creative dialogue in Singapore.

The president of the Asia Society, Josette Sheeran, also complimented Tan’s leadership style, saying that he will bring fresh vision and a creative spirit to help helm the organization and promote its goals throughout the world.

With Singapore’s art scene livelier than ever, now is the time to ride the wave of art and culture by signing up for an art class via SGArtClass.com. Even if you’ve never dabbled in any kind of art before, our different classes are tailored for students of all skill levels — from beginning to advanced. Enroll today to explore a brand new hobby that you could soon become passionate about.

For more about Tan Boon Hui’s move from Singapore to New York, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/singapores-tan-boon-hui-appointed-asia-society-museum-director.

0 Best young artists featured in upcoming show

26th August 2015

One artist whose works rise above the rest will be given an award of $20,000 at a ceremony during a later date. The prize, meant to recognize rising talent, is nearly in its fifteenth year.

Tailored to reflect the newest names in cutting edge art, this exhibition will introduce a new generation of promising young creators to those who view it. All of the works that will be displayed during this special event have been developed under the tutelage of established, expert artists, meaning the work will be cutting edge with the added advantage of a voice of wisdom.

The collection of artists range in talents specializing in sculpture to filmmaking and more. Visiting the exhibition will breathe a breath of fresh air into previously held conceptions of art and challenge viewers to redefine their own notions about just what is art. For example, one of the artists who will be displayed at this show makes sculptures out of his own dead skin, crafting intricate works with materials that many people might never have considered to use for art — and might even find odd or unpleasant. Meanwhile, another artists uses books to make commentary on education, making the art museum’s resources readily available in an interactive display. . The collection of artists will be sure to both challenge and delight the viewer, pushing the boundaries of art while encouraging attendees to think deeply about what different art forms move them the most.

The director of the Singapore Art Museum, Dr. Susie Lingham, says that the broad range of the artists who will be exhibiting their works at the upcoming exhibit is a testament to the growing depth of the Singapore art scene. Amid Singapore’s 50th birthday, fresh faces and new talent are cementing a vibrant future in the art and creative world, she added. Art in the country will continue to reshape itself for as long as there are new and emerging voices embracing all different types of genres.

Starting an education in art as young as possible is important to develop not only a young artist’s mind, but also the way young artists develop their own creative process and approach to artistic genres. Sign your child up for an art class today to get a jump-start on creativity and artistic skills. Before an artist can develop their own unique styles of creating masterpieces, they must first master a range of basic artistic skills. At SGArtClass.com, we organize many different art classes to choose from. Once your young one gets a taste of drawing, use our resources to arrange for private and expert instruction in painting, sculpture, or any other genre. Or work with your child’s school to arrange for a group class so bourgeoning young artists can learn from one another.

To learn more about the artists to be featured in the upcoming show, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/presidents-young-talents-show-celebrates-rising-singapore-artists.

0 Record-breaking artist spreads creative joy worldwide

20th August 2015

Peter Zhuo of Singapore always had a love of drawing from a very young age, creating everything from portraits of loved ones to doodles of cartoons he enjoyed. However, his adoration faltered after a bad experience with an art class. It was then that his grandfather told him he could be anything he wanted to be, and he decided to help the world through art.

He says that spreading the joy of art means reaching out to children. Once children learn just how much happiness can come from something as simple as putting pencil to paper, they, too, can spread that joy to others, creating a chain reaction of creativity and positivity.

Knowing the power of art and compassion, Zhuo traveled around the world to draw with children who had been affected by tragedy. After gathering these small pieces of art, he traveled to Japan to give the encouraging pictures to children who had been affected by the 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and resulting nuclear crisis. It might have been a small moment of kindness in the face of so much tragedy wrought by the disasters, but it was in these moments — acts of kindness organized by someone who knew how powerful art could be — that helped to ignite hope in people beaten down by circumstance.

Before he was changing lives and inspiring hope around the world, Zhuo got his start by drawing caricatures for paying customers at a fair. When he learned it could be lucrative, he started raising the prices on his drawing. However, he wasn’t content simply earning a living through art. Zhuo wanted to affect tangible, positive change throughout the world using art. He had to go through a brief period of depression to realize what his true calling was — not making art for money, but instead using art to inspire change and happiness for people all around the world. That was when Zhuo started traveling and teaching art.

Having a hobby is a great way to stay active and cultivate interests outside of work, school, and even simply life. That’s why you should consider enrolling in an art class through SGArtClass.com today. Even a basic drawing class taught by our carefully cultivated expert teachers could ignite a passion for art that lasts a lifetime. We offer a number of special drawing classes tailored to specific interests, including basic drawing for beginners, caricature drawing to impress friends and colleagues or even launch a lasting career, or portrait drawing to refine drawing skills you’ve already acquired in order to go to the next level with your work. The sky is the limit in learning how to draw and create other art, and you just might find your new passion after taking an art class.

To learn more about Peter Zhuo’s mission to spread joy throughout the world by using art, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/the-art-of-spreading-happiness.

0 Creative nail art personalizes the Singapore experience

15th August 2015

What’s the catch? It’s all art completed to be roughly the size of your fingernail.

The artistic displays of nail creativity ranges from elaborate designs that extend up and off the fingernail, featuring such locations as the airport, electronic roads, and downtown sites of the city. Wearing such architectural creations are sure to attract attention to your nails, and once you’re done wearing them, you’ll want to make sure you frame them — they’re that intriguing.

There are sets of nail art for everyone, ranging widely in different interests and special sights of Singapore. One nail commemorates a gambling and gaming location, complete with roulette table, a hand of cards, poker chips and more. Other nails feature quiet green spaces throughout the city full of people walking and relaxing beneath shade trees. Another nail celebrates infrastructure within Singapore with toll way road signs and lanes. Still another has a tiny Ferris wheel as a nod to an amusement park.

Other artists feature common sights of Singapore but on nails that are a little easier to wear, for those interested. Talented artists have recreated scenic vistas of the best of Singapore in minute detail on long acrylic nails. Many of them commemorate daily sights and experiences one might have while living in Singapore or visiting the nation. A particularly beautiful set features skyscrapers at sunset, the oranges and yellows of the background framing the tall, gray structures in permanent and beautiful dusk. One set even features the nation’s first prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, for those wishing to pay tribute to history during Singapore’s birthday.

Beyond the nail art celebrating Singapore’s 50th birthday, the exciting and special designs from the School of Nail Art are also on display. All of the designs are so elaborate that it’s hard to imagine actually wearing them on your nails and going about your daily business. They would almost certainly only be worn during the most special occasions. Some of the designs the talented artists prepared include musical notes and notations, enormous blooming flowers, glittering visages and figures, and even a full-sized hand, palm up, holding a scene of its own to be displayed on your nail.

Nail art is one of the fastest growing trends in the art world today. Ride the trendy wave by enrolling today in a nail art class at SGArtClass.com. Expert teachers familiar with the challenge of reproducing art on such a small scale will be able to lead you through the basics so that you can be creating the nails of your dream in no time at all. Show off your own fashion-forward nail art at school or around town, or use your SGArtClass lessons to launch your own career as a nail artist.

For more information about the nail art celebrating Singapore, go to http://mashable.com/2015/08/06/nail-art-singapore-sg50/.