All Posts by Smiley Admin

0 Cancer patient battles disease through art

Muhammad Khairul Ikwan went from being completely healthy to deathly ill in a matter of months, but that hasn’t destroyed the art student’s spirit.

In spite of discovering that he had Stage 4 colorectal cancer that had spread to his brain, Khairul continued to create art. A graduate of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, he recently launched a show composed of nearly 100 pieces of original art at the campus. The showing of his pieces will be titled “Hope.”

The journey hasn’t been easy, but Khairul attributes part of the comfort he has been able to find in the face of the fatal disease to art. His exhibition was organized in part by his alma mater and a hospice care organization that helps grant wishes to youths with fatal disease diagnoses. One of Khairul’s sisters said he is expected to live for about nine more months.

Khairul is still undergoing treatment for his cancer, saying that while nothing short of a miracle will help him recover, he will still keep trying. The treatments give him as much pain as the disease, exhausting him and making him vomit. That hasn’t slowed him down very much, though. He even has another art project in mind after his exhibition, hoping that his works will inspire others while leaving a legacy that will persist long after he is gone.

The artist used to listen to music while he painted, but now he reads lyrics and poetry to seek inspiration. He has lost most of his hearing to his disease. He says that some of his favorite paintings on display in the “Hope” exhibition are a series of watercolor works featuring eyes and water spirits. Though his vision has also been affected in the disease, giving him much pain, the role of supportive family members and friends around him has lifted his spirits and made it possible to continue to complete his artwork. Painting and creating his other masterpieces, including mixed media pieces and video, has become as much a form of therapy for his situation as his actual treatment is. Khairul says that it is pointless to give up on life when he is still alive, and that is why he continues to make art in spite of his grave condition.

Art can be used for everything from self-expression to therapy to meditation. Think about signing up for an art class today to improve everything from your stress level to the way you solve problems at both school and the workplace. Visit SGArtClass.com for a taste of all of the art classes you can enroll in, from video art to collage art to watercolor painting and everything in between. Expert art teachers will assist you in your projects no matter what your level of experience is with art, and you can even take group art classes with your friends, classmates, or coworkers.

To read more about Muhammad Khairul Ikwan’s art, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/his-art-show-is-expression-of-hope-despite-pain.

0 Affordable Art Fair gets personal with dating event

Buying art — or even getting your foot in the door about collecting — can be intimidating, but a popular event at the Affordable Art Fair is returning to help put potential buyers’ minds at ease. An innovative speed dating event is one way visitors who sign up can get acquainted with several galleries on display at the festival without wasting too much time about it.

The speed dating event can be very helpful to first-time visitors to the Affordable Art Fair, which can be a little intimidating to some. Those who participate in the speed dating event will get about five minutes with a handful of galleries taking part in the Affordable Art Fair — valuable time well spent for participants to get their bearings.

With so many accessible artworks at the Affordable Art Fair, it’s easy for visitors to get overwhelmed by all of the artwork and offerings that they might be able to take home. That’s where the galleries come in, able to help potential buyers digest all of the art pieces available in their price range. It also helps soothe the nerves of buyers, who might be anxious about whether they’re getting a good deal or if the masterpiece in question is truly right for them.

The speed dating event isn’t the only activity organized to get visitors acquainted with all the Affordable Art Fair has to offer. There are also themed tours that take participants through booths in search of artwork that fits the theme in question, including new talents, art under
S$1,000, and other specific subjects.

Another tour is individually led, with visitors able to tune in via a smartphone app to guide themselves through the fair. This might work well with individuals tentative about interacting with gallery organizers looking to sell art, or those who might want to browse the festival at their own pace, with their own device.

The Affordable Art Fair has been, traditionally, a great way for art aficionados to get their foot in the door regarding collecting. With masterpieces priced anywhere from S$100 to S$10,000, the Affordable Art Fair is a perfect place for people to buy their first artwork. Another popular facet of the Affordable Art Fair is again returning this year: a wall of art on display that costs just S$500. Half of the profits of this wall will be going toward benefiting a hospital in Singapore.

The Affordable Art Fair is a great way for people to get acquainted with art, but so is taking a more hands-on approach by signing up for an art class. Visit SGArtClass.com to get started on your creative exploration by browsing the dozens of classes we offer on our website. No matter how experienced — or not — you are in art, you will be sure to find a class that’s right for you.

To read more about the upcoming events at Affordable Art Fair, go to http://www.themalaymailonline.com/features/article/affordable-art-fair-singapore-offers-speed-dating-personalised-tours.

0 Rare gemstones exhibit celebrates art and science

The ArtScience museum at Marina Bay Sands is a happy marriage of art and science as visitors to the exhibit will be treated to an informative and beautiful look at the making of jewelry. However, the jewelry doesn’t just start at the hands of a jeweler. Part of the science aspect of the exhibit will look at the physical formation of gemstones, a process that can take thousands of years.

Hundreds of glittering jewelry pieces will be on display as a part of the show, many of them on loan from French museums and collections across the world, all focused on a single prolific jeweler. A handful of titular pieces from the jeweler, Van Cleef, will be on hand at the show, including a must-not-miss peacock pendant.

The pieces themselves involved in the collection are truly breathtaking. A golden peacock in flight, encrusted with diamonds, emeralds, a large, oval sapphire, and other stones, looks to be delicately plucking a fruit from another stone laden with diamonds. In another item that will be on display at the show, a vanity set forged from gold and accented with gorgeous rose-colored gemstones proudly displays everything from a pocket mirror to a notepad to a chic lighter. Gemstone-laden figurines will be a popular draw for this exhibit, as seen by a sparkling ballerina clip composed largely of diamond-like stones with flashes of pink and green gemstones, balanced precisely on the toe of one foot. Innovation is also the name of the game for the pieces on display, as seen by a lush tasseled and gem-studded necklace that, with a simple zip, can easily transform into a bracelet. Yet another distinctive piece pairs two glittering flowers on top of each other, connected with a sinuous, belt-like golden setting. A thick bracelet inspired by Egyptian culture displays wall painting-like figures depicted in gemstones. Another clip is light and airy, looking for all the world to be a bouquet tousled by the wind, the steps and leaves in gold, the flowers ruby and sapphire colored. A rich depiction of a luscious flower is the subject of another clip, tiles of red gemstones lined in gold acting as the blossom, while diamond-encrusted leaves and stems twirl outward from it. Another cuff bracelet is painstakingly constructed from diamonds of all shapes and sizes — from pears to circles to squares.

It can be easy to be blinded by glittering jewels and gemstones of jewelry pieces and forget that some of them are true art. If you’ve ever been interested in the art of jewelry but weren’t certain of how to pursue that interest, consider signing up for an art class about jewelry-making or fashion drawing today. Visit SGArtClass.com to investigate dozens of different classes, as well as connect with expert teachers who will help you on your art journey.

Read more about the exhibit by visiting http://www.harpersbazaar.com.au/news/culture-club/2016/4/van-cleef-and-arpels-the-art-and-science-of-gems-singapore-exhibition/.

0 Singapore Art Book Fair brings a lot to the table

Exploring art is easier than ever with the arrival of the third iteration of the Singapore Art Book Fair. This special event, located at the ArtScience Museum, focuses on books covering topics in contemporary art, design, and art-driven magazines. Organized by a handful of independent book sellers and publishers, the Singapore Art Book Fair is a place to delve into volumes of beauty and knowledge.

The theme for this year’s event was “cabinet of curiosities,” reflecting that any one of the ideas of the books available at the fair could be squirreled away into a visitor’s own “cabinet.” The books are meant to be inspirational, leading to other artistic innovations or inspiring projects that might not have been stumbled upon if the visitor never opened the book in the first place.

Nearly three dozen exhibitors, composed of publishers, art groups, design studios, and more were expected at the Singapore Art Book Fair. While many of the exhibitors were from Singapore themselves, several came to participate from as far away as the United Kingdom and other countries in the Southeastern Asian region. A number of these exhibitors were return customers, reflecting the power and popularity of the event.

Also a testament to that notion was the fact that there were so many related events going on at the same time as the Singapore Art Book Fair. These events included talks by figures about the process of writing their own books, book signing opportunities, workshops, viewings, and much more. The aim of this year’s festival is to engage many senses of the visitors to the fair, drawing in more participation and piquing more interests.

The ultimate aim of the Singapore Art Book Fair is to bring recognition to the recent boost of independent book publishers and the works they are producing within Singapore itself. The fair is a great way to showcase all of the talent and creativity present in the country while bringing in international perspectives to further enrich the experience of visitors, offering new perspectives. The recent explosion of local art is an important focal point of the Singapore Art Book Fair, which looks to continue publicizing the creative growth within the nation.

Have you ever had an idea for a work of art but didn’t know how to execute it on paper or canvas? Think about signing up for an art class to help you find the right creative outlet for you ideas via SGArtClass.com. This website is the perfect place to get acquainted with all of the various art classes offered — from sketching to oil pastel drawing to acrylic painting. Once you choose the medium for you, your art teacher will help lead you through projects you’re most interested in from start to finish, educating you about how to bring your creative ideas to fruition.

To read more about the Singapore Art Book Fair, go to http://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/arts/singapore-art-book-fair-wants-pique-your-curiosity.

0 Art museum closing in face of suit, few viewers

The Singapore Pinacotheque de Paris will be closing after less than a year of its debut, citing a lawsuit from an exhibit organizer in Italy as well as poor attendance records. Museum management expressed disappointment in the failure of the project, which was housed in the Fort Canning Arts Centre.

The lawsuit, worth S$667,500, stems from an exhibit about historic Egyptian Cleopatra, which was the facility’s first exhibit. The Italian exhibit organizer said the pieces were poorly arranged and displayed, contributing to low ticket sales and an overall poor experience for viewers. The group that put on the display at the Singapore Pinacotheque de Paris has filed a lawsuit against the Italian exhibit organizer for damages and costs.

Earlier this year, the celebrated Pinacotheque de Paris, located in France, closed because of poor attendance records. It had been open for nearly a decade. The founder for both the France location and the Singapore location declined to comment on the nature of the closings.

However, there may still bet a future for the Singapore Pinacotheque de Paris. Art Heritage Singapore released a statement saying that the embattled museum looks to continue to contribute to the art scene in Singapore and will continue to explore better options for a presence in the country.

The Singapore Pinacotheque de Paris had housed dozens of paintings by classic masters of art, including Monet and Rembrandt masterpieces. However, one visitor to the museum criticized its collection, saying that the paintings didn’t represent the finest work of these masters, leaving her disappointed in her visit. It is perhaps this sentiment, shared by a wider range of people, that helped contribute to the downfall of the facility.

The museum also hosted a number of rotating exhibits in addition to its permanent collections. The latest, an exhibit examining graffiti art, was supposed to be on display through the end of June of this year. Brightly colored panels filled with the expressions of different graffiti artsits were on display throughout the exhibition space, including a graffiti walk organized by several international graffiti artists. The Singapore Pinacotheque de Paris also had retail and food options, as well as an art academy and museum about the history of Fort Canning.

Art comes in all shapes and sizes. If you’ve ever been interested in investing in a creative process, think about visiting SGArtClass.com today. This website organizes dozens of art classes in one convenient spot, meaning that you’re sure to find an art classes suited to your tastes. From graffiti art to miniature art, SGArtClass.com will help you connect with an expert teacher excited to help lead you through learning new techniques and completing projects you’re actually interested in doing. It doesn’t matter if you’re a student of art or if you’ve never taken an art class in your entire life. Let SGArtClass.com open your doors to creativity.

For more about the Fort Canning museum closure, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/private-art-museum-to-close-amid-lawsuit.

0 Art in the arsenal to help Singapore seniors battle dementia

A study among dementia-struck senior citizens in Singapore will measure whether art therapy might make a dent in the degenerative condition. As a part of the research, several dozen seniors will be monitored throughout the course of art classes, museum visits, and other artistic activities for signs that their dementia has been affected by the pastimes.

Every two weeks, the group of seniors will visit a museum in the area, like National Gallery Singapore, to tour the exhibits and attend sessions afterward discussing art pieces they saw, including assessments about how the pieces relate to them. An organizer at National Gallery Singapore says that the facility’s participation in the study will hopefully provide training so that museum staff can continue to take part in other art therapy sessions. During the alternate weeks, they will take part in an art therapy class, which will require them to complete activities related to expressing themselves and their feelings. The art therapy classes will feature such curriculum as varying projects in a variety of mediums, such as drawing, painting, collage art, and more. Projects will explore such topics as family relations and other tasks that help encourage the seniors to probe their memories for exploration through art.

Organizers of the study will measure the seniors’ progress through MRIs performed throughout different stages of the project, as well as blood tests. Seniors will also participate in a battery of tests designed to measure their memory, cognition, and other facets of their mind and understanding.

While studies around the world have provided considerable anecdotal evidence about the power of art therapy and senior citizens, this will be unique in that it will perform measurable tests, such as the MRIs and blood tests. That way, the study will be able to analyze whether there are tangible improvements to seniors’ health while participating in the art therapy program. The tests will be performed at the beginning of the program, as well as at intervals during it.

All sessions will begin with a meditation session that will ask the seniors to be self-aware of both their minds and their bodies, encouraging and increased awareness overall — something that could be key to the success of the study.

Dementia affects a growing number of Singaporeans, and organizers hope this study will help shed some light on possible treatment plans or solutions to the condition. The ultimate goal is to be able to recommend certain activities — like taking an art class — to senior citizens at risk of dementia.

Art classes are available for students of all ages and abilities. Sign you or a loved one up for informative classes via SGArtClass.com. SGArtClass.com is a comprehensive website that organizes all different types of art classes for browsing in one spot. Whether you’re interested in painting or collage, sculpture or drawing, SGArtClass.com will help you pinpoint your creative interests and sign up for further instruction.

To read more about the art therapy study, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/art-therapy-for-seniors-at-risk-of-dementia.

0 Art Stage Singapore leader speaks

Lorenzo Rudolf, the current director of Art Stage Singapore, recently sat down with a reporter from Forbes Magazine to discuss the shifting art world, new and exciting goals for art in Singapore and across the world, and Art Stage Singapore itself.

Art Stage Singapore was created to be a singularly Asian art fair. With the increasing global mind present in the art world, it was special for such a bourgeoning event to be Asian-centric, giving artists and art lovers from that region a place of their own. Through the years, the success of the festival has only made it expand, drawing more and more international attendees in the form of both buyers of art and artists themselves. Today, Art Stage Singapore is one of the most popular art shows of the year in the Southeastern Asian region. It is a wonderful place for artists from the region to break into the international market thanks to the high visibility Art Stage Singapore receives around the globe. The festival works to unite all of the various art markets in the Southeastern Asian area to present a powerful front to collectors, museums, galleries, buyers, and contests from around the world.

In fact, Rudolf says that it is Art Stage Singapore that is primarily responsible for providing the boost behind Singapore’s booming art scene in recent years. Art Stage Singapore itself is like a sprawling, temporary museum. Though some visitors attend the fair with no intention to purchase any of the art, others are delighted that all of these masterpieces are available in one place. In most museums, you can’t simply buy a piece you like off of the wall and take it home with you. However, Art Stage Singapore breaches that gap and provides a unique experience for both attendees mildly interested in the art world and rabid collectors looking to add to their walls at home.

Rudolf goes on to say that an increase in global communications, thanks, in part, to technology such as the Internet and cellphones, has boosted the occurrence of art festivals around the world. Increased prosperity and communication around the world meant that art aficionados had, for the first time, wider access to both the funds to collect art and the access to the art in question. Even economic hiccups around the world did little to discourage art collection. Though other markets may tumble, art is still seen as a viable investment.

If you’ve ever been to Art Stage Singapore or another similar festival, you can understand the draw to creativity. However, if you don’t have the means to buy a painting or other work of art for yourself, think about signing up for an art class to create some art of your own. Visit SGArtClass.com today to browse a listing of available classes, connect with your expert art teacher, and get started on your art journey.

To read more of the interview with Lorenzo Rudolf, go to http://www.forbes.com/sites/yjeanmundelsalle/2016/04/13/qa-with-lorenzo-rudolf-founder-and-director-of-art-stage-singapore/#3ba14bb408b7.

0 Special art experiences highlighted at upcoming festival

There are a number of highly immersive and exciting art exhibits and experiences coming up as a part of the Singapore International Festival of the Arts and another show, but there are a handful of very exciting portions that you definitely should try to catch.

The Old Kallang Airport will receive a very fun makeover into a nightclub with classic stylings from the 1940s and 1950s. Participants will get to experience a day — or night — in the display, which will be complete with musical performances, installation art exhibits, and performance art to ogle. Live performers will be on hand to breathe reality into an artist’s cartoon imaginings, as well as a host of other goodies.

Also taking place at the Old Kallang Airport is another show you won’t want to miss. A lauded tattoo artist who also spends his time addressing social issues will be on hand to showcase some of his art. Interested in a tattoo but not sure if you want to make a lifelong commitment? The tattoo artist’s designs will be available in temporary form, meaning that you can select lots of fun images and use your own body as a canvas.

An artistic experience that might surprise or shock you is on tap for National Gallery Singapore. A performance artist is arranging for actresses to occupy ten beds, set up in a public and highly visible place. Participants will be invited to lie in bed with the actresses, who will then whisper memories from their childhoods. The beautiful display is not one to be missed, even if you’re nervous about climbing in bed with a stranger.

A gallery and exhibition space will be hosting an important collection of provocative photo portraits capturing Iran. The exhibit, by an Iranian photographer who taught herself the art of photography, seeks to throw out old stereotypes of Iran and showcase a nuanced portrayal of real people and their actual lives. The exhibit explores social expectations and highlights challenges that Iranians face every day.

Though many people live in Singapore, there might be one artist you’ll soon tune in to regularly. An actor will be spending nearly a week living in a tiny house near Marina Bay Sands. Passers-by are invited to interact with him over the course of several days or to simply observe his routines and practices. The house itself is tiny and made of wood, contrasting greatly with the modern buildings and tumult of technology and innovation surrounding it.

If attending art shows and festivals and exhibits makes you excited about art, you should consider exploring your own creative side. Sign up today for an art class via SGArtClass.com. SGArtClass.com is the best place to start when you’re thinking about taking an art class. This website lists numerous classes available for you, connecting you with expert teachers who can impart invaluable wisdom on the artistic genres you’re most interested in.

For more on the upcoming show, go to http://www.buro247.sg/culture/news/things-to-do-singapore-international-festival-arts.html.

0 Singapore artist goes to great lengths with yarn art

One of the best parts about art is just how broad its appreciation and practice can be, and one artist in Singapore is taking full advantage of that freedom.

Singaporean Kelly Lim learned how to crochet — using a small hook to create different types of patterns and textile designs using yarn — when she was a young girl, but her peers teased her so much that she let the skill lapse. However, when she first heard of an artistic phenomenon called yarn bombing, she decided to use her crochet prowess to participate. Now, Lim has a part-time business because of her yarn art, a distinctive personal style, and fun projects galore.

Some people compare yarn bombing to other forms of public and urban art like murals and graffiti, and they wouldn’t be too far off. Yarn bombing is a practice in which a yarn artist or multiple artists work together to cover every day items in public places in knitted, crocheted, and wrapped yarn. These items can range from benches to trees to traffic signs and many more. Lim, for example, knitted accessories from the Pokemon game and cartoon series and adorned several waterfront bronze statues with her creations in Singapore. Unlike graffiti and other painted murals, yarn bombing is ephemeral. It can be removed at any time, and isn’t meant to endure the elements. This means that whimsical and funny yarn bombings can bring a smile to the faces of passers-by without being destructive to the items the yarn adorns.

Lim is a devoted student of yarn art. For her senior project in a fashion design program, she even knitted her own dresses to show. Yarn bombing is, for her, a wonderful outlet for her creativity as well as a personal statement, a way to bring more visibility to her work. Lim is quite visible, herself, attracting attention by wearing her own knitted creations as well as chunky, colorful hair wrapped in yarn. Lim’s first experience with yarn bombing was covering part of her bicycle with yarn, and her passion hasn’t stopped since that moment. A client has now tasked her with covering an entire scooter with yarn, which Lim has already started to do. After a few days, a portion of it is completed, bursting with yarn moss and yarn flowers, adding a whole new dimension of fun to the scooter.

Do you have a passion for creativity that you would like to explore further? Visit SGArtClass.com to browse an exhaustive listing of art classes for every interest. From assemblage art to yarn art to mural painting, there is surely an art class that will pique your curiosity. You have the freedom to determine what kinds of projects you’d like to complete during your art class, meaning that expert teachers will guide you on things you actually want to do.

To read more about the artist and the art of yarn bombing, go to http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/singaporean-artist-keen-enthusiast-unique-art-yarnbombing.

0 Artsy hotel offers public the chance to cross paths with artists

When you think of cutting edge art experiences, a hotel might not be the first place to cross your mind. However, you would be remiss in discounting a highly creative experience at Singapore’s Hotel Vagabond, which successfully marries a boutique hotel, visually stunning interiors, artist residency programs, and a world-class restaurant that is eager to challenge visitors’ palates.

While Singapore has a great many hotels, many of them are conservative in their scope and vision. Hotel Vagabond has pulled out all the stops to fulfill its owners’ visions. The five-star hotel, while pricey to stay in, offers highly eclectic settings for famous people traveling in Singapore to young, rising stars in the Singaporean business world. On special nights of the week, visitors to the hotel can eat, drink, and chat with artists in the hotel’s residency program, or even just creative minds who flock to the hotel, which is bursting with artistic inspiration.

The hotel, which is located in one of Singapore’s more colorful historic neighborhoods, offers a feast for the senses once a visitor steps inside. The building itself has an infamous past, once having housed a brothel, a den for drugs, and a bicycle store. Now, though, the owners have hired a famous designer to bring in unexpected displays throughout the hotel — including a golden elephant bursting from a wall. Everywhere you look offers different sights: paintings crammed in every available wall space, a peppering of different chairs and tables throughout, and a lush gold and red color scheme throughout the entrance and lobby. The art and design present in just this one area of Hotel Vagabond is a playful exchange of cultures and themes. You certainly don’t feel like you’re in Singapore anymore once you’re inside. Enormous golden trees sprout right from the carpet and branch out across the ceiling, offering an enchanting shade just by the well-stocked bar.

Drawing on the importance of art in the hotel owners’ visions, Hotel Vagabond has a salon that hosts performances and movie showings — as well as space to eat.

The restaurant itself is a bit of a challenge to the squeamish diner. The chef cooks and serves up every available animal produce — even ones that some eaters might not be used to. However, if diners just give the dishes a chance, they won’t be disappointed. Some concoctions dreamed up from animals’ organs are some of the most popular menu items.

It’s easy to get inspired by artsy and beautiful places. Think about enrolling in an art class to ride the wave of that inspiration and use your own creativity to make beautiful and memorable works. SGArtClass.com offers a comprehensive listing of art classes you can sign up for, linking your passion with an expert teacher who will guide you through your interests and projects every step of the way.

To read more about the hotel, go to http://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel-leisure/article/1932236/mingle-artists-singapores-eclectic-hotel.