Category Archives for "Blog"

0 Video series features Singaporean artist making her mark

Being able to afford name-brand luxury leather items is a status symbol. But some people want to take their investment purchases to the next level, personalizing the labels in a way that make the bags their own.

That’s where Singaporean artist Cherin Sim comes in.

Sim started her career as a purse designer before creating her own leather goods company. There, she made bags and other leather items to clients’ specifications. This included the actual design of the piece as well as any painting that would go on it.

Now, Sim’s main line of work is known as marquage art. Marquage means mark in French, and that’s just what Sim is doing on the luxury leather items that her clients bring to her. She holds in-depth conversations and interviews with her clients so that she can discern their artistic likes and dislikes, and proceeds with her designs from there. Sim has painted everything from a Hello Kitty with a Stormtrooper helmet on to a depiction of Hokusai’s famous painting The Wave on luxury leather goods. And as pricey as those handbags, wallets, totes, and other items are, Sim doesn’t come cheap herself. The prices for her intricate and sought-after work starts at $800.

The personalization could, in some ways, pay for itself. For one, clients come away from the experience with a truly one-of-a-kind artwork. Sim never paints the same thing twice. And wearable artwork is one accessible way for people to make their start in the world of collecting art. Between the cost of Sim’s painting and the luxury leather good itself, it’s not a cheap investment. But it can be more attainable than a painting or sculpture for first-time collectors.

Sim’s marquage art is a way to show clients’ personalities and luxury taste. That’s why this Singaporean artist has been featured in a new video series showcasing Singaporean entrepreneurs. Sim makes quite a living in her art business, usually completing five to ten bags every single month. And her pop art and twist on casual luxury makes her wildly sought after for personalized, exclusive, rare art.

Art can take you in unexpected twists and turns in your life. For example, if you’ve always loved art, you could have the chance to turn a passion into a career. Visit SGArtClass.com to browse an extensive listing of classes you can easily enroll in to start enhancing your own artistic skills. Even if you’ve never sat down and dedicated your time and attention to making a work of art, you could very well discover unknown and untapped creative skills through an art class with the expert teachers at SGArtClass.com. From oil painting to portrait drawing, comic drawing to nail art, mural painting to miniature painting, there is an art class sure to ignite your creativity and lead you down a new road.

To read more about Cherin Sim’s art and the artist video series, go to https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/made-in-singapore-video-series.

0 Indian traditional fiber art to be demonstrated in Singapore

A traditional art form of weaving and dyeing fiber from India is coming to Singapore in the form of a special demonstration.

This historical fiber art is especially celebrated in saris, particularly because famous Indian women including a former prime minister prefer to wear them. They are also highlights within a folkloric tradition in India. The process itself is nearly 800 years old, and the knowledge to complete the weaving and dyeing is passed on via families.

The process involves making and dyeing by hand a length of exquisite silk fabric. The process itself can take several months, and involves the labor of up to eight people at a time. In general, what makes the end result so special is the unique weaving that takes raw silk and transforms it into fine silk — the kind that one might find in an expensive shirt hanging in a department store. But the dyeing process, which includes patterns and colors specific to the tradition, mark this as a fiber art specific to Indian culture.

This intensive and laborious process has seen a decline in demand, but recent attention and the advent of social media have given the process a much-needed boost. Experts and practitioners of the art have said that exposure like that — including demonstrations like the one that is scheduled to be held in Singapore — is key to making sure this beautiful fiber art persists. Now, people can even buy the traditional fabric art online, opening up a window to the world for the centuries-old practice. The most visible practitioners of this fiber art tradition even have a presence on Facebook to spread awareness and understanding of the practice.

The demonstration of the weaving and dyeing process in Singapore is part of a larger initiative to highlight traditional cultural practices from India in Singapore. Singapore is home to many Indians, and one of the most vibrant neighborhoods in the nation is Little India. A recently featured art practice was calligraphy from India that was demonstrated in Singapore as a way to embrace Indian heritage and history in the nation.

Art plays a large role in the culture of a community. Take a larger part in your community by enrolling in an art class via SGArtClass.com today. It’s easy to browse the numerous classes available on the website to find the class that will help you unlock your creativity. From ink painting to found art, nail art to comic drawing, portrait painting to landscape painting, you’ll be sure to find a class to interest you. Expert teachers will work around your schedule to find a time for lessons convenient to you. As an alternative, SGArtClass.com features online-only classes so you can pause and start your art lessons whenever you need to, fitting in art education at every available moment.

For more information on the Indian art form, go to https://www.connectedtoindia.com/master-patan-patola-craftsman-kanubhai-salvi-to-bring-traditional-art-to-singapores-shores-4414.html.

0 Professor collects paintings of Southeast Asia temples

A professor who lives in Malaysia has found a lifelong passion for art and temples throughout Southeast Asia — including temples in Singapore. He has, over the course of last few decades, amassed around 400 paintings of the temples he’s passionate about. Normally, those paintings are kept in his home, displayed on walls and every available surface with the support of the professor’s wife. However, the professor decided to share a portion of his admirable collection with the rest of the world in a special exhibit that celebrated both Malaysian artists and the temples they painted. The 77 paintings displayed at the event represented just a sliver of the professor’s complete collection.

The professor first became interested in art during the last part of the 1980s. He visited the United States to complete postgraduate work at a university there and spent much of his free time touring art museums. That passion for art returned back to Malaysia with him, where he continued to visit art museums on at least a monthly basis. But his fascination with Hindu temples began in the 1990s, during a pilgrimage he made in the Himalayas with his family. The trip was a difficult one — an hours-long climb up a tall hill, and then a cold, overnight wait at the top. However, the trip made the professor realize just how many Hindu temples there were in the world — including many closer to home in Malaysia that he hadn’t yet visited. His wife was supportive of his project, going so far as to accompany him and drive him to his subsequent pilgrimages. And collecting paintings of temples was a perfect way to commemorate his visits to the temples themselves.

The paintings were painted by both local artists who lived near the temples the professor visited or interpretations completed by international artists who also found inspiration at the temples. About ten years ago, a book was published based on the professor’s extensive collection of temple art. The professor said he initially received guidance on collecting art from a friend who was also a gallery owner.

Art is a wonderful way to explore your passions — or express your feelings about the things you’re most interested in. Have you ever kept an art journal? Art can be an easily accessible method for working through challenging life moments, as well as developing the coping skills necessary to process these moments and get past them. Visit SGArtClass.com today to get in touch with experienced art teachers who can lead you on art journal entries, helping you develop the artistic techniques necessary for exploring your feelings through paint and canvas or other methods. You might find yourself less stressed about your family, job, or school, or even happier with circumstances that might have caused you pain prior to your art practice. Art just might be a hobby that will help enrich parts of your life you wouldn’t have thought possible.

To read more about the professor’s painting collection, go to https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2018/08/397516/rampals-temple-arts-collection.

0 Singapore arts manager talks about inner workings of career

Amanda Lim knew that she loved art while she was attending art school in Australia. But she also realized a key fact about herself: She wasn’t crazy about performing in front of people. Whereas many people believe that if you go to art school, you have to perform in some form or fashion, Lim’s path took her in a different direction. She was passionate about the work that took place behind the scenes — the props and lighting and technical aspects of a play, for example, excited her more than learning lines and acting out a part. That didn’t limit Lim’s career outlook, however. If anything, that passion broadened it. There are many opportunities for people who love art but might not necessarily want to become a famous painter, singer, dancer, or actor. Lim’s route? Art management.

Through her art education in Australia, Lim was afforded an opportunity to study through an internship opportunity at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. There, she got a chance to learn how to lead workshops, conduct tours, organize public outreach for programming, and produce written materials for exhibits. That learning experience was instrumental in igniting a passion for arts administration and management in Lim. Now, Lim is an executive at a Singapore dance organization, a position that might not have been possible without Lim’s prior experience at Marina Bay Sands and her education program.

Some people might think that it can be difficult to get a meaningful career in the art world, and in some ways, they are right. It can be very challenging to break into the scene if you’re aiming at being the next big singer. However, consider just how many people work around that singer — a manager, a makeup artist, a costume designer, the band, backup vocalists, dancers, and many, many more. Arts administration positions are in high demand, meaning that with the right education and experience, many people can have a fulfilling career in the creative industry — just like Lim.

Lim recommends the kind of art degree that she got to anyone looking for a way in to the industry. She was able to apply the skills she learned through her classes at the Marina Bay Sands internship, likely securing her later job in the dance organization. Hands-on experience is instrumental in future job achievement.

If you’ve ever wanted to explore your creative side through an art class, visit SGArtClass.com today to browse the vast selection of art classes and workshops you can easily enroll in. From 3-D sculpture to mural painting and everything in between, there is sure to be a class that will help ignite your creative passion. It doesn’t matter if you have no or limited background skills in art. Expert teachers will help you learn the skills you need to complete the projects you’re interested in.

To read more about Amanda Lim and her career in Singapore, go to https://www.artshub.com.au/education/news-article/sponsored-content/arts-education/artshub/what-its-really-like-to-be-an-arts-manager-256140.

0 Singapore artist creates short animated series for Nickelodeon

Jacinth Tan had a hard time getting her parents to believe that she would be able to have a lucrative and rewarding career in the art world — and that she would be able to support herself with it. Some of their concerns were relieved after Tan was hired by a Singaporean animation studio about thirty days after she graduated from art school. Now, they can all enjoy the fruits of Tan’s labor — a short animated series that Tan created has been picked up by children’s programming network Nickelodeon. This is a first for Singapore — and all of Asia — on the network.

Tan first stumbled upon the idea for the animated series while playing with her dog and watching a popular nature channel event about sharks. The character that was born out of this is a combination of a shark and a dog, and the series is aptly titled Sharkdog. Each episode of the series is bite-sized — just a minute and a half apiece — and there are tens of episodes planned for the Sharkdog series. Tan created a rebel of a character like the playful and mischievous Sharkdog in order to convey an important message — children should pursue their dreams, even if it means going against what is considered to be normal in society. Tan says she feels lucky that she is able to work on a project that she conceived, as well as a project with such a worthy message to its young viewers. This message mirrors Tan’s upbringing, studying art and aiming at having a career in the creative industry in spite of her parents not believing that she could do it. For Tan, Sharkdog is deeply personal.

Tan’s series was selected out of nearly 900 other submitted ideas, meaning that her message and vivid characters stood out. A representative from Nickelodeon said that the Sharkdog series was given the go ahead because of the fun comedy and ultimate meaningfulness of the story arc in each episode. Tan says she hopes that her series getting picked up by a network as major as Nickelodeon is serves as inspiration for other artists hoping for success in their own creative careers.

It is possible to do what you love for a living, even if your greatest passion is art. Take an art class via SGArtClass.com to find out how. SGArtClass.com is a website that features a plethora of different art classes you can easily enroll in depending on your interests and what you’d like to improve. From oil painting to comic drawing, there is sure to be a class that will fit with your passions. Receiving quality instruction and valuable feedback from expert teachers, you will be able to learn new skills, improve upon the techniques you already use in your art, and take your creativity to the next level. Enroll today in an art class of your choosing.

To read more about Jacinth Tan’s animated series on Nickelodeon, go to https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/singaporean-created-sharkdog-series-nickelodeon-first.

0 Asean leaders incorporate young people to promote art

This year, Singapore will act as the host for the best performance art pieces for the Asean festival. This special event will showcase art from around Southeast Asia. Asean leaders and organizers are looking forward to linking art and culture and spreading its important message of understanding among some of the individuals poised to become art’s greatest future advocates: young people.

During last year’s Asean performances, held in the Philippines, two young performers came together for a special Chinese folklore presentation. In just two weeks, the contemporary dancer and traditional drummer figured out how to combine two ancient cultural practices to reinterpret a tale as something completely new for audiences. It’s this kind of cultural collaboration that is especially meaningful for Singapore, whose culture draws on many different practices.

In honor of this year’s Asean celebrations, one Singapore museum is unveiling three new exhibitions that examine the art of different religions. Another exhibit will take a look at art and artifacts from nations around the region. This reflects the melting pot of Singapore’s own culture, including the idea that welcoming new practices and beliefs is desirable. With an attitude like that, countries, organizations, and other collectives can act as sort of creative incubators. In such creative incubators, the combination of ideas from people who come from different walks of life can combine, and new solutions and creative ideas can be formed that might not have otherwise taken place.

Organizers in Singapore are also working with their regional counterparts to open new museums and galleries to properly host artwork from partners throughout the area. This is more than artistic and creative education. Diplomacy and closer ties in the region can also be achieved through such efforts as cultural exchanges.

In terms of efforts to involve young artists in the festival, organizers in Singapore are offering creative minds in a certain age range access to funding for their artworks. The funds are available to young artists throughout Southeast Asia, meaning that more than just Singaporean artists stand to benefit. Through this fund, a popular puppet show toured Singapore and beyond, bringing stories from specific cultures to a wider audience.

Other funds have promoted more than artistic trade between Southeast Asian countries. Through another grant effort, Singaporean computer students helped revamp devices in a Cambodian school, doing a good deed and gaining valuable educational experiences in the meantime.

Art can be an important component of anyone’s life. To learn how to incorporate more art and creativity in your own experience, visit SGArtClass.com today. SGArtClass.com is a comprehensive website that hosts everything from educational articles to cheap art supplies. The crowning jewel is the multiple art classes that you can easily enroll in through the website. From watercolor painting to caricature drawing and everything in between, you will be sure to find the art class perfect for igniting your creative passion.

To read more about Asean leaders’ efforts to draw more support for art, go to https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/asean-youth-step-in-to-forge-friendship.

0 Exhibit creation takes spotlight at Singapore Art Museum

Everyone expects to attend exhibits when they go to art museums. But Singapore Art Museum is letting visitors take a peek behind the curtain in a new exhibit on the process of making exhibits.

Visitors to the museum have an opportunity to learn about what goes into curating and realizing a full exhibit at a museum space. What’s even more special is that the exhibit on exhibits is in the context of the Singapore Art Museum’s own storied history in bringing art to the masses. This behind-the-scenes exhibit details the museum’s more than 20-year history. Singapore Art Museum was the first space in Singapore that was completely dedicated to exhibiting art. Since then, its role has grown, expanded, and transformed amid the nation’s booming arts scene.

The exhibition will also present a brand new installation by a legendary Singaporean artist commissioned specifically for the exhibit. And visitors have the chance to get their hands dirty and gain real experience on curating and installing their own shows in an interactive component to the exhibit. Visitors can expect an inside look and experience learning everything there is to know about museum administrators, the curation process, the artists’ experiences, and even the literal installation process of paintings, sculptures, and other works.

In one portion of the exhibit, visitors will get to see a fully comprehensive timeline of different exhibits amid the history of the Singapore Art Museum, color coded for maximum comprehension. Another sculptural display features interlocking rings suspended in the middle of the room and roped off. A temporary-looking sign that reads “Installation in Progress” mirrors the name of the exhibit. Visitors can also take a load off and sit in comfortable chairs while browsing the books available to read in the reference library of the museum. It’s a wonderful opportunity to truly delve into the inner workings of a bastion in Singapore’s art scene. And perhaps the biggest draw of the exhibit is the create your own exhibit portion, where visitors can literally arrange and plan their own exhibits and display their own curations.

Learn more about the behind-the-scenes moments of art by enrolling in an art class today. Visit SGArtClass.com to read informative art articles, purchase affordable art supplies for your next project, and browse a wealth of art classes that you can easily enroll in. Whether you’re interested in 3-D sculpture or oil painting, nail art or comic drawing, portrait painting or collage art, there is sure to be an art class to inspire your creativity. Expert art teachers with experience teaching students of all ages and abilities will be on hand to ensure you have the skills necessary to complete the masterpieces you’re most interested in. Who knows? You might just unearth a talent you never knew you had before taking an art class.

To learn more about the exhibit on exhibit making, go to http://www.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/3142048/installation-in-progress-at-singapore-art-museum.

0 Youth festival aims to ignite interest in Singapore, Chinese culture

As an important cultural hub of Southeast Asia, Singapore features many different cultures and practices. Through a partnership with a Chinese cultural group, a festival aims to increase appreciation for Chinese culture and language.

One part of that effort was a fun skit organized by a group of people who promote Chinese culture in Singapore. One Russian-born, naturalized Singapore resident took part. The woman has always been interested in Chinese culture and language, attending university in Taiwan before returning to Singapore. The skit was the opening event for a festival meant to celebrate Chinese language and culture in Singapore. It is the second year for the celebrations, which are tailored around young people and their families to create interest from an early age in Chinese culture.

Some of the events that attendees can look forward to include special theatrical performances, school lessons, and speaking events that feature traditional Chinese art forms like crosstalk and clapper talk. Crosstalk is a comedic performance, and clapper talk sometimes includes bamboo instruments meant to act as percussive elements in a story. The fact that these performances are meant to be funny is a strategy in attempting to eliminate the stereotype of Chinese culture being very serious and only focused on studying and achievement. Seeing lighthearted performances will add a dimension to the understanding of Chinese culture.

Organizers hope that a global audience will enjoy the Chinese performances — not just those attendees with Chinese families and upbringings. To draw further interest and a wider audience for the performances and experiences, all events are free. Interested potential attendees simply have to respond to an email to obtain their complimentary tickets for the festival.

Art and fine art performances are integral parts in breaching gaps between cultures. Sometimes, it’s easiest to understand a culture different from your own simply by attending museum exhibits and special shows, gallery openings and programming, and other events hosted by different cultural collectives. This Chinese appreciation festival is no different, bringing unique aspects of Chinese culture to the forefront — performances that many people might have never experienced beforehand.

Bring a greater awareness of different cultures and art forms to your life by enrolling in an art class via SGArtClass.com. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never even held a paintbrush before. Expert teachers with experience in instructing students of all ages and abilities are on hand to lead you through projects and lessons on artistic techniques so that you can complete your own creative projects. Learn about color theory, painting and drawing techniques, and a wealth of other art knowledge through the class you enroll in — whether it’s oil painting or assemblage art or anything in between. Art classes are valuable for all ages. Enroll your child as a part of a fun summer learning experience, or your elderly parent as a way to pass the time and stay sharp.

To read more about the festival, go to https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-china-youths-arts-festival-aims-to-kindle-interest-on-chinese-culture-and.

0 Singapore museum announces winners of art contest

Every three years, a museum in Singapore hosts an art competition open to artists from the Southeast Asia region. The competition brings out the best creative minds and this year’s experience was no different. The grand prize winner this year was an artist from Vietnam who imagined a village made up entirely of children and created an art and video installation based on his vision.

The Vietnamese artist’s installation was based on observations written on one such village in the 1600s. She made videos that featured the children who lived in the imaginary village, and included oil paintings that recreated scenes there. One of the judges who decided that this installation would win the grand prize of the competition remarked on the quiet power it showed. Viewers couldn’t help but be drawn in to a place where children were in charge. Though the source material was hundreds of years old, the installation breathes new life into its vivid, visceral imagery. Though it offers commentary on historical periods of Vietnam, it still manages to do so in a refreshing and modern way.

An Indian-born artist who lives in Singapore won another award during the competition. His installation examined the history of book banning, burning of educational materials, and the destruction of libraries — which should be preserved as sources of knowledge. The artist said he was gratified to be recognized for his work, which he called a marriage between cultures and lives. Much of culture is preserved and conveyed through books, so it was a cathartic experience for him to base his work on that notion.

An artist from Thailand won additional accolades with a massive collage piece that featured pieces of Buddhist monk’s robes as part of the material. The overall effect of this work is almost overwhelming, but still joyful. The colors are vivid and bright, dots making up most of the competition. Swirling lines very nearly cover up an image in the background, but the viewer can just discern the shape of a large house, building, or temple just behind all the color.

An Indonesian artist won the people’s choice award for a highly detailed painting that depicted hundreds of scenes from the daily life of people in Indonesia. Viewers could study the rich tableau of figures dancing, families coming together for meals, individuals working, and much, much more in the masterpiece.

You can say so much with art once you learn the language. Learning those skills comes quicker if you have an art teacher in your corner. Visit SGArtClass.com to browse the full list of classes that are available for enrollment. You can meet your teacher based on your busy schedule. Instructors are experienced with leading students of all ages and abilities, helping you hone you craft and develop new skills to complete your creative goals.

To read more about the contest, as well as the winning artists, go to https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/signature-art-prize-2018-winners-phan-thao-nguyen-shubigi-rao-10483476.

0 Special education artists design parade packs

Inclusion and representation are important, and recent efforts by Singapore have proven that, particularly for special education youths.

The latest example is the fun packs that are distributed every year for the Singapore National Day Parade. For the first time ever, young students who are differently abled are behind the various designs of the packs. A variety of different designs will be easily displayed on tote bags. Inside the tote bags, a booklet featuring the special education students’ artwork will be included. Other items that can be found inside the fun packs include apparel, snacks made right in Singapore, shakers, and other items.

The organizer for the festive day said that the items were pared down to a minimum so there wouldn’t be too much waste. And in spite of many of the items having wrappers, the tote bag also includes a trash bag so there won’t be any temptation to litter. Everyone who picks up a tote bag prior to the parade will have the opportunity to collect their own trash. About a quarter million of the fun packs will be available prior to the parade.

One special education student drew representations of several distinctive members of the Singaporean city skyline. He said that he felt those are the kinds of sites that represent the country best, and expressed excitement at the notion of his family and friends carrying around tote bags with his art proudly displayed on them.

Another tote bag design features messages in sign language, braille, and other languages, highlighting the different ways people who are differently abled communicate. Another design features a bright representation of Singapore’s very own merlion figure, which functions as a sort of mascot for the country. Each of the tote bag designs are as distinctive and special as the children who created them, showing everyone that though these young students are differently abled, they still have much to contribute and say about the place where they live.

Art education can start at any age. From young children who have not yet entered school to retired citizens looking to fill the time in their days with something enriching, art can be a viable pastime no matter who you are or where you come from. Think about signing up a loved one — or yourself — for a valuable art class via SGArtClass.com. Teachers responsible for the classes have experience leading artists of all ages and abilities, meaning your child or grandparent will be engaged and entertained for the duration of the session. Whether it’s a class on watercolor painting or comic drawing, who knows? You loved one might discover a new passion or talent and choose to pursue the hobby of art long after their class has ended. Visit SGArtClass.com today to browse the many different classes that are now available for enrollment.
To read more about the inclusion of the special education artists’ designs in this year’s fun packs, go to https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/ndp-funpacks-feature-art-by-special-education-students.