Category Archives for "Blog"

0 Art groups in Singapore celebrating quarter-century, 30th birthdays

Performing arts groups in Singapore are reaching milestones in their own stories histories. one dance group and a theater organization are both set to mark their 30th anniversaries next year, while another dance collective and additional theater ensemble will celebrate the quarter-century mark. As the leaders of the organizations reflect back on their pasts and look toward perhaps tentative futures, all must respond to the same challenge: how to remain relevant in a rapidly changing society and world.

Many of the organizations spoke about how difficult it is to find funding. An annual outdoor Shakespeare celebration wasn’t held this year because of budgeting trouble. Next year, though, a performance will be staged thanks, in part, to an online fundraising campaign. It’s finding sources of nontraditional funding like crowdfunding websites and other resources that will become key to supporting efforts from the group.

Another dance troupe bemoaned the fact that even though they host grand ballet performances, they still lack their own, dedicated orchestra. While other groups would be surprised at this lack of a facet to the performance, the leader of the dance organization said it’s simply par for the course — when the money’s not there, it’s impossible to fund everything that would help elevate a performance to the next level.

For the other dance organization, which focuses on Malay dancing, the trouble comes from sponsors. People who do not come from a Malay background are often uncomfortable donating money to Malay dancing, an official explained, while those from a Malay background are uneasy as the organization challenges the traditional notions of Malay dancing. Arts organizations of all shapes and sizes are often responsible for simultaneously preserving traditions and histories while bringing practices into modern times. It is increasingly difficult to do, especially with a lack of funding.

Many of the leaders of these organizations view a number of obstacles as the reasons behind their groups’ challenges. Interestingly enough, one unlikely challenger to arts and culture in Singapore might be something many people around the world have access to: video and television streaming services. It is hard, one leader said, to decide whether to go see a theater performance or to stay home and relax on the couch with Netflix. That’s why officials must continue to encourage people to attend and find new and innovative ways to draw the attention of the public to the shows they are staging.

Make art a bigger part of your life by visiting SGArtClass.com. SGArtClass.com is a comprehensive website that hosts deeply discounted art supplies for purchase, highly informative articles on a variety of creative genres and subjects, and a wealth of different art classes you can easily browse and enroll in. Led by talented teachers experienced in leading students of all ages and abilities, these art classes will help you learn more about art and develop skills that will serve you for the rest of your life.

To read more about the storied pasts and future plans of the Singapore art organizations, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/still-young-at-art.

0 Singaporean artist uses trees as theme in new art show

A popular avant-garde Singaporean artist will have a new body of work on display at a fine arts venue in Singapore. Zai Kuning, who resists definition in a single artistic genre, will show a new series that examines the life of trees in the form of an autopsy.

Throughout Kuning’s work, trees have been given special importance. At a show in the early 2000s, he even included a tree weighing nearly a ton in the exhibit space. This new focus on trees has been, in part, due to forest fires and the purposeful burning of trees for agriculture in forests around the world. Recently, Singapore and other nations in Southeast Asia were engulfed in choking smoke due to these burns. Kuning’s body of work maintains that if people were to treat trees as they treat fellow human beings, the world might change for the better. There would be less pollution, less extreme climate change, less deforestation, and more green spaces for people to enjoy and endangered animals and plants to thrive in.

In one of the artworks that will be on display at the exhibit, a quartet of figures rest on a single piece of paper. All four of the figures are two-dimensional, completely shaded-in forms, mostly lying flat. Two of them are small, humanlike forms — children, perhaps. Another could be a dog, cow, or some kind of domestic animal. The fourth figure could be a human, though it lacks arms. The torso of the body seems more like a tree trunk than an actual body. All of the forms lack defining features like faces, but they are similar in their presentation.

Many of the 2-D works hanging on the wall at this exhibit feature similar figures. Many are human in shape, including rudimentary fingers and toes, but most blend into tree-like shapes, highlighting the idea that Kuning would like us to treat trees as humans. There are several 3-D points of interest that round out the exhibit, including metal sculptures that reflect spines and branches in the same breath, as well as a low table of wooden tree branches and a trunk of branches cut off, abbreviating the progression of life.

Art is one of the best ways to pay tribute to the things you find most important in life. Think about enrolling in an art class today via SGArtClass.com. SGArtClass.com is a wonderful way to start investigating and learning more about art. From informative art articles to a comprehensive listing of different lessons you can take, SGArtClass.com is a truly immersive experience. Whether you’re interested in watercolor painting or 3-D sculpture, caricature drawing or nail art, or any of the many more lessons available for enrollment, you will be sure to find a class that will most interest you.

To read more about artist Zai Kuning and view a slideshow previewing some of the works that will be on display at his show, go to http://www.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/2696177/zai-kuning-autopsy-at-ota-fine-arts-singapore.

0 Artist uses pieces as a way to express unique sight

After a rare disorder caused Wesley Seah to lose all of the sight in one eye and more than half in the other, he turned to art as a way to cope. Art didn’t always welcome him back.

He laughed as he described his background in creative pursuits, having thoroughly flunked traditional art classes in school. And even when he did decide to give painting another try after losing the majority of his eyesight, he failed again. His sight was so poor that he wasn’t sure how big the canvas was, or even if he was leaving paint on it. The end result was that the painting surface beneath the canvas was mostly covered with paint while the canvas wasn’t.

It wold’ve been easy for Seah to admit defeat, but he never did. Instead, with good humor and persistence, he learned how to paint in other ways that would allow him to succeed. Instead of relying on his eyes to tell him how he was painting, he relied on touch. He keeps track of the pressure he exerts on the brush to understand what he’s painting, and the thickness of his brushstrokes. The texture of the surface he is painting on is also a good indication for the direction of his brush. Seah also uses twists in his wrists and fingers to further express himself. He said that many people who observe his paintings tell him he uses different styles based on the feelings he is experiencing. For example, if he’s upset about something, Seah will generally use thick, heavy brushstrokes to express it.

Now, Seah has fully embraced calligraphy as his artistic genre of choice. The weighted, measured brushstrokes of ink on paper have enabled him to create minimalistic, gorgeous works. One calligraphy piece features an elegant lion flowing forth from the character. Another is stark and graceful, perfectly positioned in the middle of the paper.

The fact that Seah didn’t give up on painting, even when art didn’t come easily to him with his eyesight intact, is a telling lesson for other people. If Seah can succeed and thrive as an artist with his sight hindered, then who’s to say that other eyesight-impaired individuals can’t succeed in other pursuits? Seah said he hoped that everyone from executives who make hiring decisions to people with various disabilities take his story to heart.

No matter what your creative background or artistic ability, SGArtClass.com is sure to feature an art class in a genre that will teach and inspire you. From Chinese ink painting to portrait drawing and everything in between, SGArtClass.com is a one-stop shopping website for all things art, including opportunities to enroll in lessons. Whether you’ve already had basic art classes in school or you’ve never picked up a paint brush before, expert teachers will be on hand to lead you in projects that interest you.

To read more about Wesley Seah and his artwork, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/art-as-a-form-of-self-expression.

0 South Korean art fans get taste of new art from Singaporeans

When most people think about different kinds of art, they usually consider unique mediums like paintings versus sculptures. However, especially with the proliferation of technology in both society and the creative world, more and more artists are embracing digital work — as are collectors.

One Singaporean artist spent several months on a beautiful island and made from his experience a distilled video that lasted about half an hour. The film was a meditation on the island, and included calming shots of ocean waves lapping at the shore. The artist brought the film with him as a part of an exhibit in South Korea and was stunned when the piece sold for around $2,000 to a collector eager for a small piece of that soothing experience. The artist said that he doubted such a piece would ever sell in Singapore’s art market, which still embraces more traditional forms of art, like paintings, drawings, and 3-D artworks.

However, South Korea is shaping up to be a very modern scene for art collectors, including those willing to invest in masterpieces made from new or nontraditional medium. That has many Singaporean artists flocking to show their work in South Korea, especially if that work is digital, film, or other technology-based pieces.

The same Singaporean artist who sold the film artwork on island living returned recently to South Korea with a group of like-minded artists from Singapore. All of them were media artists, meaning they use new technology to construct their artworks. The initial artist’s new work is a special installation that uses small, metal balls in movement to replicate the sounds of waves hitting the beach. The other artists also have something special to offer — art from a uniquely Singaporean perspective. Since Singapore is home to a confluence of so many different cultures, artists from there have valuable insights on everything from art to life and culture. By bringing those unique viewpoints to a place like South Korea, Singaporean artists can share their experiences and broaden the experiences of other artists and art fans alike by exhibiting their work. One Singaporean artist even plans on sharing a piece from their own perspective on the highly controversial and politically charged demilitarized zone between the borders of North Korea and South Korea. It’s these kinds of shared ideas that help boost the understanding of everyone.

Art is a great way to expand your knowledge. Enroll in an art class of your choosing by visiting SGArtClass.com. SGArtClass.com is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to explore art on your own terms and time. Expert teachers are on hand to help you learn the skills you need to complete the projects you’re most interested in. From traditional classes in oil painting or pastel drawing to modern classes on video art and digital painting, you’ll be sure to find the genre you’re most passionate about.

To read more about the different types of art on display in South Korea from Singaporean artists, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/seoul-sold-on-media-art-from-singapore.

0 Singapore Art Museum to host art exhibit featuring moving images

A number of cutting edge artists are coming together for a new exhibit at the Singapore Art Museum that puts moving images in the spotlight. Everything from videos to installations to animations and more will be on tap during the show, which will run through March of next year. Though current technology lends itself well to this genre of art, the history of moving images in art actually date back two centuries.

In one of the moving artworks that will be on display in the exhibit, a simple, pixelated world is on display. In a still from the video, figures in yellow suits hop on top of a large, green crocodile in the middle of an industrial or laboratory setting. The still is reminiscent of classic video games.

Another installation includes a twofold presentation. The projector of the video, which shows an artist at work on a drawing while using geometric tools, is actually an installation itself. The sculpture of the projector is mounted on the wall, and its elaborate design recalls a complicated 3-D sculpture borne on the shoulders of a group of running figures.

In a still from another video, thousands of buttons and and beads form a collage of a singing woman. Various shades of green buttons form the background, while white, gray, and black buttons form the microphone and woman. Tiny white beads make up the skin of the woman. The effect of all the various pieces is kinetic and exciting, though it is very apparent just how much work went into crafting the single scene.

Yet another installation includes twelve various light panels that display different shades and tones of white. Even though the piece is called “A White, White Day,” the panels are everything but. In the photo provided of the panels, only one of the twelve is white, and there is still the lingering effect of a dark shadow crossing its borders. Other panels are pale shades of purple or pink, along with one orange panel. All of the canvases include dark shadows, almost like tree branches.

Another arresting display is a long 3-D rectangle of gel displayed in a glass case. Within the gel, several bullets have been fired. Viewers can see the path the bullets traveled into the gel, along with where they stopped, as the bullets remain suspended in the gel.

Art comes in many different forms and fashions. Within the plethora of artistic genres, there is sure to be an art form that interests you. Investigate the art world by visiting SGArtClass.com and signing up for one of the multiple art classes available on the website. Expert art teachers will work with your busy schedule, even going as far as meeting you in the comfort and convenience of your own home.

To see a sneak peek slideshow of some of the works that will be on display at the exhibit, go to http://www.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/2675096/cinerama-art-and-the-moving-image-in-southeast-asia-at.

0 Opinion: “Jingapore” fallout illustrates lack of creative thinking

In a recent snafu over a public art installation displayed in a transit station, a plaque naming a mural as “Jingapore” — a play on the artist’s name and his views of Singapore — has been removed. One writer crafted an argument against this move — and the public fallout that accompanied it — that was published on a news website.

In the argument, the writer says that by automatically jumping to being offended, people who viewed the title of this art display instead demonstrated a close-mindedness toward art. In fact, many of the people who saw the plaque instantly assumed that it was an embarrassing and disrespectful error. In a social media post, the artist fought to dispel this notion, explaining that the name “Jingapore” was a play on Singapore as well as his own surname, Jing. Further, the word “jing” can mean scenery. However, since so many people did not stop to question whether the name might actually be written like that on purpose, the writer proposed that there might be a greater problem at work. Since children were taught not to consider the world in grays, and instead to adhere to beliefs in black and white, adults might be unable to consider all the various shades the art world comes in.

For example, as the writer put it, children are encouraged to color in the sky as blue in early school age drawings and paintings. Children who do not include blue for the sky are discouraged, told that their thinking is wrong. However, we know that there are a great many colors available for the sky. On overcast days, the clouds can be bright white or dark gray. At sunrise and sunset, there can be every color of the rainbow present. And in the night, inky blacks and indigos speckled with bright stars are the norm. Learning about art from an early age, then, can help people to analyze such instances as the one in the transit station in different ways. Instead of automatically being offended by a perceived mistake in an artwork’s title, people can think critically, using their creative problem solving skills to consider the play on words present in the name. The writer promotes the idea of how important it is to teach art in schools. Regular education can make an intelligent and work-ready populace, but adding an artistic component can add another facet to citizens’ intelligence and experience.

Expand your own mind by enrolling in an art class via SGArtClass.com. Browse the numerous art classes available on our website to find a lesson that inspires you. From mural painting to art installations, watercolor painting to comic drawing, there is sure to be a class that you will be passionate about. Art classes impart knowledge that goes beyond simple brushwork. Art can reduce stress and boost creativity in school and the workplace.

To read the complete opinion piece examining the “Jingapore” art installation in Singapore, go to http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/commentary/outrage-over-jingapore-exposes-unimaginative-rigid-singapore-9435176.

0 Singapore group uses art, theater to discuss final part of life

The most certain part about life is that, one day, we will all die. However, talking frankly and candidly about death remains taboo in many different cultures and societies. Now, one group in Singapore is working to dispel the notion that people shouldn’t talk about death through a series of discussions, panels, plays, and art installations.

All of the events scheduled by the group include a humorous look at end of life concerns like health, funeral decisions, legacy questions, and more. One puppet show represents a married couple with two containers holding material that eventually expires — a thermos and a food container. It was performances like this one that got audiences laughing and talking about death as a natural part of life rather than avoiding the subject and being frightened of something that is, for every single person on the earth, inevitable. The puppet show covered everything from the onset of dementia and the need for adult diapers, but in lighthearted ways to get the audience amused and engaged.

One of the organizers of the event spoke about her own grandmother’s death. If her grandmother and the rest of the family had been more open to talking about death prior to the actual event, it would’ve saved the survivors of the grandmother a lot of heartache. When preparing for funeral services, several family members argued over what the grandmother would wear. If that had been solved prior to the grandmother’s death, the family members could have simply adhered to the plan already in place, which would’ve respected any wishes the grandmother had for her final attire. The family members could’ve grieved together instead of arguing over minutiae regarding the funeral procedures.

The event included opportunities to sing, a film, and craft projects. One of the most artistic portions of the day was the opportunity for senior citizens to take part in creating a quilt block that would be sewn together with others to make a legacy quilt. The idea that many different stories are stitched together over the course of a life was the main theme of the project.

In the future, the event will continue to expand to include people who might not yet qualify as senior citizens. It is never to early to start talking about end of life desires and all of the legal and economical planning that must go into managing care and services. The organization looks to sponsor a series of panels and group workshops to cover all of the necessities.

Art can come in handy in better understanding the world around us and our roles in it. Sign up to take an art class today via SGArtClass.com. SGArtClass.com is a one-stop shopping website for everything from informative art articles to discounted supplies to an exhaustive listing of different art classes you can enroll in today.

To read more about the group’s work in Singapore, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/art-drama-make-discussions-on-death-come-alive.

0 New art, artists have the spotlight at Affordable Art Fair

Singapore’s Affordable Art Fair has always been about uniting new artists with new collectors. This year’s installment is embracing that idea even more with new changes sure to delight visitors to the show.

One of the biggest changes has been to replace the popular wall that featured art under a certain price point. Since the vast majority of the art available for purchase is highly affordable, the wall will now feature brand new artists who have never displayed their work before. This is a great chance for new artists to gain exposure and the experience of showing their work at an art event. It is also an opportunity for people interested in learning about collecting art to start their collections, as much of this art is priced to sell. One of the artists featured on this wall is a recent graduate of LASALLE and made paintings on porcelain plates. Another is an American who works in wire sculpture.

Another new feature at this installment of the Affordable Art Fair is the presence of new media art. A small portion of the art that will be for sale includes digital and video art. As technology continues to be folded in with art and other facets of life, visitors can likely expect this category of art to continue to surge forward.

There are many opportunities to immerse and engage with art throughout the festival. One artist will be putting on performance art amid her installation at several points during the event. What’s even more special is that musicians will get a chance to respond to her art by performing for visitors. At another station, visitors will be able to try on a virtual reality headset that enables them to experience life with cataracts. The station has been set up by an organization aiming to raise money for the poor in Indonesia who need cataract surgery but don’t have enough resources to make it possible. Part of this station will also include artworks made by artists while wearing the headset. Some of these paintings include portraits of people with white slashes over their eyes, showing just how hard it is to function in everyday life with cataracts.

Have you ever wanted to delve into the art world but weren’t sure where or how to start? Begin your journey into art by visiting SGArtClass.com. On our website, you can easily browse a number of art classes you can take, including oil painting, fashion drawing, assemblage art, and much more. Expert art teachers are on hand to help guide you through your creative explorations. They can easily work around your busy schedule and even meet with you in the comfort and convenience of your own home. Consider enrolling in an online-only art class to maximize convenience with the ability to start and pause art lessons as your schedule requires.

To read more about the kinds of art and attractions the Affordable Art Fair will feature, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/the-art-of-fun.

0 Singapore Art Week boasts over one hundred attractions

With over one hundred different events and attractions, the upcoming Singapore Art Week will truly have something for everyone. After all, that’s the goal for the event, organizers said — bringing art to more people and raising interest in the art scene in Singapore. The last event saw nearly 200,000 people attending at least one program during Singapore Art Week. Organizers look to increase that number for the upcoming weeklong festival.

One of the most interactive and immersive experiences planned is the chance to play with an oversized version of Jenga, a block stacking game. This version, made from balsa wood, puts participants in the shoes of first world leaders. Each of the blocks features a different idea, including globalization, a military option, or some other kind of societal advancement. The point, the artist said of her work, was to show people just how difficult it is to make all of the right decisions. If people try to stack only blocks with positive things, the tower will eventually fall. With the object of the interaction to build the tower as high as possible, players need to also use less attractive options to support other blocks. The artist added that selecting decisions like this was a way of reflecting on choices that looked good in the moment but might not be so good down the line.

Another artist will present a comical take on Chinese wedding customs in a new art film. The film will be available for screening at one of the many venues taking part in Singapore Art Week. More than a wedding, the film examines all the different ways in which a person grows up, advancing their understanding of the world around them and how they fit into it.

There will be walking tours chock full of history, art, information, and dramatic storytelling throughout the neighborhoods of Singapore, organized by galleries and students. Another special feature of Singapore Art Week will be a nighttime installation that projects different works of arts on the facades of buildings throughout Singapore. Visitors to Singapore Art Week can also look forward to brand new indoor artworks in National Gallery Singapore, along with other museums and galleries.

The time leading up to Singapore Art Week is a perfect opportunity to gain a better appreciation of art. Visit SGArtClass.com today to start your journey of learning. SGArtClass.com is a comprehensive website full of informative articles, opportunities to purchase discounted art supplies and resources, and numerous art classes you can enroll in. Take a class on watercolor painting, 3-D sculpture, comic drawing, and many other art genres. Our expert teachers have experience instructing students of all ages and abilities. You’ll be able to master the skills you need to know to complete the projects you are most passionate about. There is a class to pique every interest.

To get a sneak peek at all the events that will take place during Singapore Art Week, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/more-than-100-events-at-singapore-art-week.

0 National Gallery Singapore hosting renowned international paintings

National Gallery Singapore is providing a wonderful opportunity for visitors to be able to take in masterpieces from Impressionist painters normally on display in a Paris art museum. It is a chance not to be missed, and is included in the museum’s Century of Light programming.

Impressionist painters used unconventional methods that challenged the artistic world of their time, including using dots to convey light and color in pointillist paintings, as well as almost abstract shapes to portray scenes that reflect movement and are true to sight.

There are a number of masterpieces that visitors should look forward to seeing as a part of the show.

One piece by Claude Monet is a startling challenge to the expectations of art at the time. The enormous canvas features a snowy country scene. True to sight, and to the colors Monet himself observed while painting, the snow isn’t completely white. There are yellow and blue patches, and the shadows cast by a snowy fence are a deeper shade of blue instead of black. The focus of the painting is a single black bird perched on the gate. Normally, paintings of such size would be devoted to portraits of kings or saints, or depictions of historically and religiously important events. By putting a normal scene on such a large canvas, Monet was highlighting the importance of the world around us based on how we observed it.

Another painting by Edouard Manet gives viewers an intimate nighttime scene. Manet employed the use of a new black paint emerging at the time. So though the setting is a harbor at night, the liberal use of black throughout the painting is still luminous. A cloud-swathed moon illuminates a group of women waiting for fishermen to unload their catches for the day. Even the black sails in the harbor have caught a little moonlight, adding to the magic and mystery of the scene.

In a portrait by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, painted of a relative of his, the importance of light is again examined. The woman touches a rose in her hair, the outlines of her body vivid with color. Each swell and curve of her is illuminated by a light source, making her intense and ephemeral — like the flowers that accompany her.

Take your art skills to the next level — or learn new creative skills that will benefit you for the rest of your life — by enrolling in an art class via SGArtClass.com. Try your hand at watercolor, acrylic, or oil painting, or try something a little less traditional with nail art, recycled art, or caricature drawing classes. There is an art class designed to suit every taste and interest. Talented instructors will take you through the steps of learning techniques necessary to complete the projects you’re most interested in.

To see a preview of the paintings that will be on display at the show at National Gallery Singapore, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/show-me-the-monet-10-highlights-from-national-gallery-singapores-colours-of.