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0 Five receive Young Artist recognitions

Five young and emerging artists have been honored in Singapore, winning grants to continue exploring the world from an artistic perspective.

Alecia Neo is a photographer who thrives when exploring relationships through her craft. One of her first projects featured the house of a prominent Singaporean feminist that was about to be torn down. What emerged from that project was a sense of understanding of the feminist and an intimate look at her battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Neo was also recently commissioned to create an art installation that went along with a photo series she created on the lives of blind people. The installation included Braille displays and audio art.

Liu Xiaoyi has been exploring art through highly symbolic theater performances. He won an award from one of his works, which was designed to be recited on the radio. Just this year, Liu crafted a piece that featured actors moving extremely slowly for twenty-minute spans of time. While this might be seen as groundbreaking and experimental, he is good natured about some of the poor reviews he might receive from the audience — including people who fall asleep during performances.

Muhamad Harezam doesn’t have an art studio, so he does smaller scale pieces in an unexpected by highly accessible medium — skin. Harezam’s skin masterpieces have both delighted and revolted viewers. Highly delicate and detailed, it is difficult to perceive the medium at first. The artist admits that his housewife mother is disgusted by the process of collecting and crafting the flakes of skin into art, but it has made Harezam a widely known artist. He credits his art for helping him through a troubling childhood.

Marc Nair is a poet who is prolific — he already has six collections of his work by the age of 34. He is excited about winning this award because it recognizes the rising power of spoken word poetry, which he says is art in motion. He can shape the energy of the people in the room and influence the mood of the audience as he performs, which means that his art isn’t as static as a painting simply hanging on the wall. Nair looks to use the grant money to continue to travel, which influences his writing.

Pooja Nansi grew up writing silly poems about boys she had crushes on. It wasn’t until she attended her first poetry slam that poetry in all its visceral beauty really took shape for her. She is a creative writing teacher and also performs spoken word poetry and music as a part of a duo. Nansi, whose parents are Indian immigrants, finds many stories to tell about Singaporean experiences from multiple perspectives.

Art can take on many forms, and there is sure to be an art class that will interest everyone on SGArtClass.com. Sign up for a lesson that you’re passionate about on this website, from found art to assemblage art, recycled art to artistic photography. Your imagination is your only limitation.

To learn more about the four recipients of the honors, visit http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/young-artist-award-recipients.

0 Singapore Art Show has positives, negatives

This month’s Singapore Art Show is a creative exhibit with strengths and weaknesses, though it will ultimately be up to the viewer to decide if the collection works.

Some of the strengths of the show include works by artist Teo Eng Seng. An abstract painting by him is so thoughtful and beautiful that it appears to wave on the wall where it is displayed. Teo is well represented by the works on display in this exhibit, as he is an artist with considerable range. One of his pieces takes on the look of a battering ram and makes political commentary on the war in Iraq and the ongoing issues of terrorism and its prosecution throughout the world. Teo is best known for straying from his original medium of choice of oil paint to a technique he invented himself, which entails dyeing and sculpting paper into 2-D and 3-D forms.

Another strong point of The Singapore Art Show is a sculpture that moves the viewer to recall the impossibilities of the Mobius strip. The Mobius strip is something of an optical illusion, or a structure meant to challenge our notions of physics and just what is possible in the real world. It takes on the appearance of an infinity symbol, or a figure eight, and a continuous line can be traced on either side of the flowing surface. The sculpture, which has been rendered in bronze and features a patina, places more importance on the subject matter.

The weaknesses of The Singapore Art Show detract from what should have been a broader success for organizers, artists, and viewers of the exhibit. While there are many classic artists on display, the few younger artists included in the show have been shuffled off into a smaller gallery space within the facility. This causes the viewer to wonder if the works are a separate show in of themselves, or perhaps not given their proper due. The curation is also under scrutiny at this point, as the art on display from the younger creatives looks too similar. This is likely because of the fact that most of the artists use photography as their medium. Organizers could have instead given more visibility to different voices in the art world.

Another weakness of the exhibit is confusion. Viewers can easily wander in and out of the actual show, as other works and collections are also on display. It is difficult to discern exactly what is a part of The Singapore Art Show and what is just coincidentally on display at the same time. Organizers would have been more successful if they had included a wider range of artists in this display.

Make your mark on the art world by signing up for an art class via SGArtClass.com. Whether you’re interested in 3-D sculpture or ink drawing, there is sure to be an art class and expert teacher ready to expand your artistic mind.

To read more about sights at The Singapore Art Show, go to http://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/arts/good-and-bad-singapore-art-show.

0 Singapore sees increase in art participation

With a push for more art projects, multiple interactive exhibits, and the opening of a brand new art venue, it might come as no surprise to some that more Singapore residents are taking part in art in the nation. Out of around 2,000 Singaporeans participated in a survey that found that a vast majority of them attended an art event in 2015.

Analysts and organizers of the survey said that many things could factor into the enormous jump in art participation in Singapore, including the fact that there were so many creative events scheduled to coincide with the nation’s 50th birthday. This included interactive community efforts with opportunities for residents to participate, such as an art celebration that saw the facades of residential buildings decorated with enormous works of art that neighbors could help put together. Another likely factor in the increase of art participants was the opening of the highly lauded National Gallery Singapore. National Gallery Singapore billed itself as a foremost site for art from the Southeastern Asian region. Even more special is the fact that the facility was constructed by joining two of Singapore’s most historic buildings — its former supreme court and city hall.

Other findings of the art survey include the idea that more and more Singapore residents understand the perks of attending art events and participating. These benefits consist of being able to understand previous and future generations better by viewing different types of art and opening conversations about it. Singaporeans also realize that they have much to gain personally by embracing art, such as an ability to bring more creative ideas to the table in their work and school. Additionally, more Singaporeans say that attending art events helps them understand cultures different from their own, fostering further education about diverse beliefs and practices.

Residents also believe that Singapore itself has become more open to art and dialogue in the country — more than ever before. While there have been some vocal critics to the government practice of limiting audience ages and content for art events that could be seen as controversial, a majority of people believe that great progress has been made within the country. Art can clearly be used as a way to talk about subjects that might previously have been taboo to discuss, opening doors of understanding and progress within the populace.

Learn how you can benefit directly by taking art classes by visiting SGArtClass.com. SGArtClass.com is a wonderful way to begin your art journey, even if you’ve never studied art before. This website includes a huge list of different art classes you can take — from pastel drawing to caricature drawing, oil painting to mural painting, and many more. Teachers will help you complete projects that will pique your interest, and you’ll soon see your creativity skyrocket in more realms of your life than you thought possible.

To read more about the boom in Singapore’s art scene, go to http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/spike-in-singapore-arts-attendances-for-2015-survey/3162136.html.

0 Legal case transcripts converted into artistic music

An artist with legal training recognized the strange beauty present during court proceedings and used his time during a residency with Singapore’s Community Justice Centre to create a highly unique body of work inspired by it.

Jack Tan, who is usually based in London, was the artist in residence for the Community Justice Centre for two months. During that period of time, he witnessed several different court cases play out. While transcripts recorded during such proceedings might preserve the facts that took place in the courtroom that day, Tan noticed that other things — such as attitudes, sights, sounds, auditory cadences, and much more — were left out because there was no way to illustrate them. So while a person who didn’t witness the case in court might be able to pick up a copy of the transcripts and learned what transpired, they can never truly understand what happened without being there to witness the emotions that were on display that day.

Tan has found a way to channel that unique energy into his art. He took inspiration from one case in particular, where an interpreter was attempting to translate a mentally ill defendant’s words for the court, and was being interrupted by both the judge and the angry defendant. The struggles to be heard and understood took flight for Tan, and he realized that this kind of magical interplay could be represented both visually and musically. He created graphic scores to go along with the court cases he witnessed, replacing ordinary notes and sheet music with bright colors and different shapes to represent the different people speaking.

These artworks will be on display before being submitted for the Singapore Biennale, but what’s even more special is that the scores Tan composed will also be performed by a choir. His art will span several different understandings — from the inner workings of the courtroom, to the development of an artist’s masterpiece, to the performance of something people can witness and listen to. While some people might think going to court all day and watching the proceedings might be boring, Tan saw art and music in the justice system, interpreting them and recording them so that more people might be inspired to see the beauty around them.

There is no better way to explore the world around you and pick out the beautiful things in the ordinary than by taking an art class. Go to SGArtClass.com today to see all the different art classes you can take. From oil painting to chalk pastel drawing, you are sure to find the art class suited to your personal interests. Expert teachers experienced in teaching students new skills and techniques and organizing and leading projects will be on hand to help you discover a brand new passion for art that you might not have otherwise ever realized you had.

To learn more about the project birthed during the artist’s residency at the justice center, go to http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/legal-voices-sounds-translated-art.

0 Substation offers diverse mixture of art programming

The Substation, a well-known location for Singapore arts and cultures, is undergoing something of an identity crisis. Missing a person in its primary leadership position for nearly a year, the new artistic director of the space was looking to make a complete revamp of what The Substation has to offer until the surrounding art community used to using the space rebelled. The new chief of the facility had wanted to limit the rental space available and influence regular programs. He also wanted to organize a program that would stretch out for an entire year and adhere to only one theme.

However, perhaps inspired by the vehement protests, he has turned over the reins of The Substation to another art group for an examination on what The Substation itself means to the art community in Singapore.

The other art group, Post-Museum, has been moved from location to location so often that its most consistent spot is a Facebook group wistfully described as ghosts drifting around, haunting different buildings around the country. Now, though, that group has an outlet in The Substation, and organizers and taking full advantage of the opportunity to really explore the importance of the space.

Perhaps the most simple but profound change is the remodeling of the entrance. Before, people walked into The Substation through the front door, located at the building’s front facade. However, people now walk down an alley to enter through a side door. This simple change has enabled a makeover inside, causing people to believe that The Substation is something quite new. The exhibit space inside has changed, offering a chaotic but natural space for punk art to sprawl, waiting for viewers to make meaning of it. Other programs included in this examination include everything from yoga classes to ghost storytelling, spoken word poetry to forums on a wide range of topics. People even have the opportunity to play or watch a war-themed video game being played while discussing the effects of war and violence on society. The programs taking place at The Substation right now will truly interest a wide range of people, and this current iteration of the space is not to be missed by the broader art community.

If you’ve always been interested in art but aren’t sure how to further your skills, think about taking an art class via SGArtClass.com. SGArtClass.com is a website that functions as a one-stop location for all things art. Read articles about different artistic genres, browse a wide selection of art products for sale, and then turn to the long list of art classes available for you to take. No matter if you sign up for makeup art or comic drawing, expert teachers will help you develop the techniques you need to complete the projects you’re most passionate about.

To read more about the events and projects on tap for The Substation, go to http://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/arts/art-review-survey-space-sharing-haunting-making-sense-arts-and-culture.

0 Government uses art as tool to preserve buildings’ heritage

With Singapore’s push to modernize, the struggle to preserve historic buildings is challenging. Many former religious schools have been torn down or modernized to house everything from retail stores to hotels. However, the Singaporean government is working on unique ways to raise the visibility of historic buildings in order to encourage people to be more aware of them and likely to support efforts to preserve them.

One such site was the former Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus. The group itself has been relocated to another site, but the highly impressive and artistic building remains. It has been declared a national monument and currently houses shops and outlets. Some people who attended the school complained about how the building is used now, but others whose schools have been demolished tell them that at least the building still stands.

Another interesting conversion has been the former St. Joseph’s Institution, a Catholic school for boys. The building that used to house the campus now is home to the Singapore Art Museum. One of the directors of the museum says that learning is still the focus of the facility, making it easier for alumni of the former school to stomach the changes.

Some critics of the changes and growth of Singapore’s highly modern and artistic culture say that there was no need for the historic buildings in question to be remodeled, but the truth of the matter is that the things inside them require that the buildings be climate controlled. Singapore’s heavy tropical heat would damage artwork if there was no air conditioning present — even though, in the past, no buildings had air conditioning.

However, the Singapore government is looking to preserve buildings from several of its historic districts and showcase them in unique ways. One effort is to draw young people back into the heart of the city itself by making historic areas more interesting for them. That requires the addition of retail opportunities, restaurants, and the arts. Another way is innovative events like the Singapore Night Festival, which shuts down streets and incorporates buildings into art displays. This past year, the facade of the Singapore Art Museum was included in an artistic display, providing the backdrop for a wildly creative projection of a Jules Verne classic story.

Celebrate the heritage around you by enrolling in an art class today. SGArtClass.com will help you find the art class that’s the best match for you. From cityscape painting to landscape painting, expert teachers will take you step by step on completing projects that you’re passionate about. It doesn’t matter if you have very little artistic background. Instructors are prepared to help students of every level learn about the things they’re most interested in. Sign up yourself, a loved one, or a group of friends or coworkers today to start gleaning the knowledge you need to embrace art.

To read more about Singapore’s historic buildings and the efforts to conserve them, go to http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/09/175898/past-lives-and-present-glory-singapores-preserved-heritage-buildings.

0 Leader of Arts House prepares to depart from position

Another of Singapore’s art institutions is losing one of its leaders. Lee Chor Lin has said that she is leaving her position at Arts House Limited, the latest in something of a leadership vacuum among art organizations in the nation. Several highly visible art museums, galleries, and organizations have recently lost their leaders, raising fears of continuity problems as new chiefs vie to leave their marks on the organizations.

While Lee declined to discuss her specific plans after ending her tenure at Arts House Limited, she said that she is likely to find another position within the art world. She has served in a number of capacities across several different organizations in Singapore, achieving remarkable things during her times there, including remodeling and extending the National Museum of Singapore, helping start the Asian Civilisations Museum, and bringing in a variety of important exhibits to every facility she served at. As the CEO of Arts House Limited, Lee worked closely with playwright Ong Keng Sen to revamp the Singapore International Festival of Arts.

Though Ong and Lee publicly clashed over promotional materials for the festival a couple of years ago, Lee says that the argument didn’t lead to her resignation. She said she and Ong quickly resolved their differences and that she stayed on for two more years at the helm of the organization.

Instead, she said that she has done what she was originally tasked to do — remade the Singapore International Arts Festival into a vibrant and important annual event. Although she only held her CEO position for three years, Lee said that she feels she is leaving the organization in a good place, and that her replacement had a strong foundation on which to build. She also hopes that the person who will take her place remains open minded and cognizant that art is the most important pursuit for the position and the organization. In her three years leading the group, Lee was also responsible for revamping two distinct art spaces, which she says she has achieved. The spaces or them have undergone makeovers, and teams are in place to ensure that the original visions for the use of the facilities are preserved.

Open up a new door in your life by exploring the creative world of art. Visit SGArtClass.com to start browsing a complete listing of art classes available for you to take. Enroll in classes on watercolor painting, ink drawing, printmaking, mural painting, and many more. Art classes are a great way to open your mind to art as well as a healthy hobby for passing the time. Gather a group of friends and meet in a common place for an educational and fun social event. All classes are led by expert teachers knowledgable in helping students of all artistic levels. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never taken an art class before.

To read more about Lee Chor Lin’s exit from Arts House leadership, visit http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/arts-house-chief-lee-chor-lin-to-leave-post-in-december.

0 Special children showcase art skills in contest

A very special art competition for very special children has highlighted the achievements of young artists who shine in art while faced with challenges in everyday life. The theme for this year’s contest was about wishes and the changes necessary to see them come true. On display were differently abled children’s hopes for their futures. While it was exciting for many of the winning children to get picked to have their artworks displayed, the real aim of the program was to get children who might be reticent to stand out to express themselves through art.

One of the young winners, who is on the autism spectrum, created lushly colored watercolor paintings of what her mother believes are coral gardens. The family often vacations at the beach, and the girl loves to explore the ocean and what’s beneath it. The painting itself incorporates bright colors, which the girl’s mother says she uses whenever she’s in a good mood, feeling happy about life. Darker colors are reserved for when the girl is sad or angry about something, showing just how important art is to expressing the girl’s feelings.

Another young winner created a piece of art that featured a teacher dressed up in superhero garb. The piece is touching, as it is of an art teacher, showing just the kind of impact art educators have on their students. The boy’s mother remarked on how special it was to see her son display his love for art. The child is attention deficit, and often has trouble sitting still and focusing. However, when he is painting, he is able to concentrate for hours at a time. He often gets up early to paint.

A third winner at the competition created a mesmerizing rainbow piece that features a car he wants to ride in at some point. The young artist is obsessed with cars, and has a toy collection that he often draws inspiration from. His paintings are of such a professional quality that it originally surprised his grandparents. Now, they are proud of his achievements and of the challenges he overcame to reach them.

Observers of the work on display were fascinated that the pieces were created by differently abled children. One woman remarked that it seemed like individuals on the autism spectrum were simply tapped into life differently, able to see things that others can’t and represent them with great talent on canvas.

Art is for everyone, and art classes are no different. Whether you’re old or young, differently abled or not, there is an art class and teacher waiting for you to help you unleash your creative skills. Visit SGArtClass.com to see the wide variety of different art classes available. Sign up for everything from digital art to mural painting and everything in between. Consider enrolling a child and a group of similarly aged friends in an art class as a fun birthday party.

To learn more about the contest for the special children, go to http://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore-news/art-helps-calm-these-special-needs-kids.

0 Risky art shows pushing boundaries in Singapore

As Singapore continues the push toward becoming an international arts and culture destination, the inevitable challenge of balancing traditional values in the country with edge art and theater shows is a thin line to walk. However, many viewers of these shows have expressed surprise at just how meaningful they are and that the government would allow it to be shown within the nation.

Many of these shows were highlighted at the Singapore International Festival of Arts, a production organized by one of Singapore’s foremost playwrights. He is so liberal that when officials originally asked him to organize the festival, he told them no. Ong Keng Sen has been a vocal critic of censorship and government meddling in the arts, and he felt that he had no place directing such an event at the behest of the government. However, an official who approached him chided him for feeling like that, telling the playwright that he had had enough time to complain about the way things were, and now it was time to reshape them.

Ong’s festival has certainly reshaped things. With the visionary playwright at the helm, the festival has hosted many provocative theater experiences and performance art opportunities. The first play — and perhaps the most disturbing — is one that examines the true story of a pedophile who abducted and killed children. Child actors raise questions about just what kinds of favors we do for our own children by trying to shield them from the ugly things in the world, and makes the point that we should be talking about evil in order to better combat it. Many spectators of this important show were shocked that such a play was performed in Singapore, but Ong wasn’t fully satisfied. Just a few days before its premiere, officials decided to restrict access to the show to viewers ages 18 and older. Ong believes this meant missing out on the opportunity to talk with children about the real dangers present in life, and was forced to refund some of the ticket sales.

While there is still much to do to fully open the art scene in Singapore, many of the shows during SIFA are already expanding minds. One such performance required the participation of hundreds of audience members and explored the theme of restricting performance art in Singapore and the still prevalent sense of homophobia in the country. Other future festivals and shows will continue to push for greater educational experiences through art.

Explore the world around you by signing up for an art class today. Visit SGArtClass.com to see just what types of classes are available to you. Whether you’re interested in comic drawing or 3-D sculpture, there is sure to be a class that inspires you to create new art. Your teacher will work with you and give you the training necessary to complete projects and continue creating long after your class is over.

To read more about this collection of provocative shows, go to http://www.scmp.com/culture/arts-entertainment/article/2020578/provocative-shows-singapore-arts-festival-stretch.

0 Singapore talent uses unique medium in masterpieces

A Singaporean artist who enjoys a large social media following practices her craft in a somewhat unconventional medium. Chan Clayrene, who posts photos of her lush creations on Instagram, incorporates nail polish into all of her work.

This artist doesn’t believe that nail polish is only for the hands. She uses different colors and styles on her drawings, also using the brush that comes with a bottle of nail polish as a tool to decorate her art. Clayrene is most inspired by fashion, mimicking looks usually only seen strutting down a runway. Some of her most popular works emulate haute couture looks from fashion houses around the world. Others are dresses created from her own imagination and inspired by pop culture.

Lauded on Instagram as a creative genius, Clayrene says it can take anywhere from a handful of minutes for a quick sketch to nearly an hour for one of her more intricately detailed paintings. The pieces she posts on Instagram show the painting itself as well as the materials used to create it positioned around the work. Clayrene uses everything from colored pencils to watercolor to nail polish — including glittering and vivid hues. She said her dream project is to design a wedding dress, as her style is more princess at heart. In some of the frillier numbers, Clayrene even uses real flower blossoms to add texture and dimension to her pieces.

In one creation, the model turns her back to the viewer, hair upswept, the deep “V” of the dress exploding into a full skirt. Clayrene has used abstract shapes and color washes to add to the fullness and texture of the dress, and has embellished it with smears of glitter nail polish.

Another dress design, again presented from the back, recalls glitter and tulle and a shimmering pattern. The artist has combined globs of different colors of nail polish — no less than two of them, combined with acrylic or oil paint — to create a delicious texture that surely shimmers as the imaginary model walks the runway.

Clayrene is truly very artful in her creations. One dress explodes into a long, glittery train of bigger than life flower blossoms, moving the viewer to wonder how any model might walk in it. Another celebrates the recent phenomenon of the mobile game Pokemon Go, decorating a sweeping ballgown in the faces of popular characters of the game.

If you’re inspired by fashion, think about signing up for an art class via SGArtClass.com. This website hosts a long listing of different art classes you can take, from fashion drawing to nail art and much more. Incorporate your love for all things beautiful and frilly into a focused art class with a teacher who will encourage you to design to your heart’s content. Using a medium of your choice or recommended by the instructor, you will be able to make your own fashion creations in no time.

To read more about the artist’s methods, go to http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3772916/Singapore-Instagram-artist-creates-fashion-works-art-nail-varnish.html.