Category Archives for "Blog"

0 Singapore native uses art to highlight awareness of disabilities

The third annual Arts and Disability Forum is back, and featured an artist born in Singapore who uses his theater performances as a way to raise awareness of people with disabilities in the creative world.

Ramesh Meyyappan works in the theater, but it’s not until after a performance that he lets the audience know he is also deaf. He says this is important to him so that people can first appreciate the art without having any preconceived notions about his disability. That way, his art can stand on its own before people think about it in relation to his being deaf.

Meyyappan was among the speakers in this year’s Arts and Disability forum held in Singapore. The focus was perceptions about people with disabilities as well as creating opportunities for them in the art world. Other events as a part of the forum included panel talks and workshops that attendees could participate in and learn from interacting with. Experts in art and disabilities from around the world took part in the forum, which spanned two days. Goals included removing barriers to people who have disabilities participating in the creative world.

With so many experts in one place, they also aim to creative pipelines and make connections to benefit creative minds and disabled individuals. Since they are working together, the experts can help promote those people in the sector to enjoy more success in the arts world. Already, though, there are signs that Singapore is creating more chances for disabled individuals to take part in the art world. One is that National Gallery Singapore offers tours with experts in sign language so that deaf individuals can understand the information being imparted. The National Arts Council also gives funding to groups that promote arts initiatives for everyone, disabled individuals included.

Art is a wonderful way to bring all different types of people together. Whether you’re creating art that helps you relate to someone from a different lifestyle from you or taking part in a creative workshop that helps you draw similarities between yourself and other people that you might not have otherwise realized, art has the power of uniting people from all sort of backgrounds. Consider expanding your horizons by signing up for an art class today. Visit SGArtClass.com to see an exhaustive listing of different art classes available for enrollment, including oil pastel drawing, pointillism painting, nail art, miniature painting, recycled art, and many more classes. Our expert teachers can work with students of all ages and abilities, so it doesn’t matter if you qualify as a disabled individual or don’t have much experience in art. You will learn the skills necessary to complete the projects you’re most interested in. Art teachers can also meet you in the comfort of your own home.

To read more about Ramesh Meyyappan’s art and life, as well as the Arts and Disability Forum, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/bridging-the-gap-between-arts-and-disability.

0 New Singapore facility to host arts, other groups

Traditional arts will soon have a brand new space to work and grow in as a part of the facelift for the Stamford Arts Centre. At a price tag of S$7 million, the revamping of the facility is expected to be complete by next year.

A number of artistic organizations previously were tenants in the facility, including a lyric opera group. While leaders at the Stamford Arts Centre are open to reaccepting old tenants, the push is to embrace groups that focus on traditional art in Singapore. The focus, however, isn’t holding on tightly to these art traditions. Organizers of the center are hoping that their future tenants will find a way to modernize their traditional art forms, bringing them to more prominence into the future. Perhaps blending lyric opera with a modern story, for example, might bring new fans to the table when it comes to opera performances.

The new facility will feature covered walkways connecting the three buildings that compose it, as well as a multipurpose common room that can host everything from an art exhibit to a performance. There will also be studio spaces and a space for an artist in residence position. The revamp comes as a portion of a project meant to inject money into various art centers. The Stamford Arts Centre is one of three facilities receiving this funding, which totals around S$25 million.

Organizers say that the Stamford Arts Centre has an advantage because of its proximity to LASALLE. Students can use studio space, make valuable connections in the art world through relationships with tenants in the facility, and attend cultural events hosted there. The Stamford Arts Centre is poised to become a cultural and creative hub in the Singapore art community.

This facility will have the added benefit of drawing in people who might not normally be interested in arts through hosting retailers. If people wander in off the streets looking for something at a retailer and end up staying to investigate an art exhibit when they normally wouldn’t have, the Stamford Arts Centre can count that one as a win, working to expand arts appreciation in Singapore and beyond.

If you understood all the benefits that art could grant you in your life, you might try harder to start incorporating it in your schedule. Art can help reduce your stress levels, aid you in working through difficult life situations, develop your creative problem solving skills, and boost your communication and self-expression. Visit SGArtClass.com to browse all the different art classes you can enroll in — from Chinese ink painting to collage art and everything in between. Even if your schedule is already packed, our expert teachers will be able to find a time that will work for you. You can even arrange to have classes solely online to be taken at your leisure.

To read more about the revamped space, go to http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/traditional-arts-to-find-new-home-at-redeveloped-stamford-arts-8789738.

0 Art funding to help boost creative ties between Singapore, Australia

A initiative worth $400,000 dollars is helping to boost creative ties between Singapore and Australia. Singapore’s government is using the funding to help sponsor an art exhibit that features artists from one of Australia’s most remote communities.

The community itself is home to a group of artists known for making sculptures of the sea life that is so important to their society. They also collect old fishing nets to help make these works of art. The exhibit the Singapore government is sponsoring will feature sculptures that will have lights and sounds for a more immersive experience. An educational opportunity will also be present, enabling thousands of schoolchildren who will be able to view the exhibits and learn about the artists and community in Australia via remote access on webcams. Connecting in this manner will teach students in both nations about life and culture in the other country, and can be invaluable in expanding horizons and enabling students to learn about things that normally lie outside of their scope of experience.

Works that are normally displayed at a fine art center in the remote Australian community will now be able to be shown in Singapore. This means that all visitors to the exhibit will get a taste of a culture they might not have been ever exposed to otherwise. The special relationship between the people of the community and all life in the ocean will be on display, and visitors will get a chance to learn how the artists celebrate that special connection.

Art is a wonderful way to bridge gaps and make connections from person to person, culture to culture. All a person has to do is visit an art gallery, museum, or learn a little something about art to begin participating in this exchange of creative ideas. Visit SGArtClass.com today to jumpstart your art journey. SGArtClass.com is a comprehensive website that highlights all the different art genres there are, offers art supplies and learning materials at heavily discounted prices, and hosts art classes for everyone curious about bringing more creativity into their lives. Browse an extensive selection of classes on this website, including everything from oil painting to charcoal sketching, fashion drawing to comic drawing, nail art to assemblage art, mural painting to graffiti art, and everything in between. There is guaranteed to be a class available for students of all skill levels and interests. Expert teachers will be matched with you based on your needs and passions, and they will teach you the abilities necessary to complete the projects you’re most interest in. Whether you’re interested in getting feedback on a comic you’ve been working on for a while, or if you’re just looking to take up something like watercolor painting as a hobby, SGArtClass.com is your best artistic bet.

To read more about the funds set aside for the art relations between Singapore and Australia, go to http://visual.artshub.com.au/news-article/news/visual-arts/visual-arts-writer/federal-funding-to-bolster-australia-singapore-relations-253676.

0 Artists adding lively hues in transit mural

A transit station in India is getting a facelift courtesy of two artists from Singapore. In a special joint cultural initiative between India and Singapore, the pair of artists are getting a chance to add bright colors and visual interest to a transit stop at a station that connects New Delhi with another city.

The two artists are bringing their heritage and love of nature to play in the mural, which will feature greenery, flowers, and birds. Singapore, known as the city in a garden, plays big into the inspiration behind the mural. A government official from India lauds the contribution, saying that New Delhi is trying to be more like Singapore in adding more green spaces to the overwhelmingly urban space. The flora and fauna present in the mural are typical to both India and Singapore, drawing even more similarities between the locations.

For the two Singaporean artists, getting the opportunity to paint the mural is a huge blessing. It’s great exposure and experience, and it helps elevate their art. One of the artists is known as the “sticker lady” because of some public artworks she has been engaging in, notably adding stickers to street crossing signs and stenciled art in other locations.

The project itself is one in an initiative in India to bring more public art to its transit stations. In addition to this mural, five other art projects are in the works at other stations. The birds in this particular mural are also symbolic of the life of the commuter — one who must travel between work and home in order to make their living. The Singaporean artists are working with a team of Indian volunteers to complete the painting, working long hours amid a heat wave. This partnership is one more beautiful thing about the initiative for public artworks in India, forming lasting relationships that will persevere for years to come. The cultural exchange goes both ways. After the artists were finished with a media interview about their role in the mural, they spotted an elephant passing by. They rushed to snap pictures, as this is an extremely rare sight in urban New Delhi these days, then resumed painting.

Have you been interested in learning more about art but weren’t sure where to start? Visit SGArtClass.com to begin your creative journey. SGArtClass.com is a perfect place to learn more about art. Whether you’re browsing the large collection of informative articles about different genres of art, or examining all the different art products available for purchase, this website offers a comprehensive look at art. Even if you don’t have very much time in your busy schedule to take on a new hobby, our expert teachers will help you work around your responsibilities, even offering to meet you in the comfort of your own home at a time that works for you.

To read more about the mural in progress, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/south-asia/spore-artists-add-dash-of-colour-to-delhi-station.

0 Singapore’s broadcast history in the spotlight at festival

The Singapore Heritage Festival is back for its 14th year with special additions to the event, which highlights places and experiences around the nation. This year, visitors will be able to enjoy and appreciation the history of broadcast media in Singapore with special tours and performances centered around the subject.

A theater group will be performing a tribute to several formative television series for visitors to enjoy. What’s even more special is that the performances — along with a number of other programs — will take place at the facility where numerous TV shows and films were produced. As portions of the facility are vacant, organizers thought it would be the perfect opportunity to allow fans of film and TV access to a never-before-seen, behind-the-scenes look at the setting to the entertainment they enjoyed for so many years. Visitors can expect to take part in tours of the building, stroll through a festive village with a retro theme, experience radio plays, and attend a family-friendly disco party.

The Singapore Heritage Festival aims to turn the spotlight on parts of the nation’s history and culture that might otherwise fall by the wayside over the years. Opening up the film facility is one example of highlighting a part of Singapore that some might have forgotten about. The dramas produced at the facility haven’t been on the air in years, even though they’ve likely existed in the memories and imaginations of the people who watched them.

This year’s festival features well over one hundred different programs at historically rich locations around Singapore. Visitors can enjoy the offerings of the event for three weekends. A majority of the programs are free to attend, though reservations, in some cases, might be required to attend. Examples of other events as a part of this year’s Singapore Heritage Festival include a walk down memory lane with traditional food and eating setups, reminiscent of the early years of Singapore’s food hawker culture. Other groups will produce performances on everything from calligraphy to martial arts demonstrations. Dancing in styles that haven’t been seen in ages will be on display at the festival, as well as other features and quirks of Singaporean culture and history.

Get ready to explore your own culture and history through an art class on SGArtClass.com. Art is one of the best ways to get in touch with your own mind and personality. Many researchers have touted the benefits of art therapy for everyone from those with mental disorders to regular people with just a tad too much stress in their lives. You can even gather a group of friends to take an art class together as a fun alternative to going out or socializing in the ways you usually do. You can take art classes on everything from digital art to rock painting, charcoal sketching to mural painting, and many more.

To read more about the Singapore Heritage Festival and what it will be offering, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/heritage-party-on-caldecott-hill.

0 Ghost net art to be featured in upcoming Singapore exhibit

Pollution is ruining the fragile ecosystems in the ocean, and one group of people are raising even more awareness of this fact through art.

Residents of Erub Island, located off the coast of Australia, have been making a series of found art and sculptural pieces out of fish nets that wash up on shore. These stray nets can cause damage to everything from endangered species of sea turtles to dolphins, sharks, whales, and other sea life. To raise awareness of this type of pollution, artists on Erub Island have been making ghost nets, recycling rubbish that washes up on shore to make colorful art with a message.

Some of the ghost nets feature uncanny representations of the sea life they would have negatively affected. Bright bits of thread and other found items are woven into the nets in the shapes of turtles and fish. The creatures look suspended in the net as if they are swimming — or caught. Streams of blue, yellow, green, orange, black, and white rope — debris gathered in the waves and tides of the sea — work together to convey the message that humans must clean up their acts if ecosystems in the ocean are expected to survive and thrive.

The representative who will be accompanying the ghost net art exhibit that will be showcased in Singapore says she is proud of the work her fellow artists are doing, but saddened that it must be done in the first place. The ocean is a gift, and humans are squandering it and forgetting how important it is by littering. The ghost net art, however, has reached global appeal after a show in Monaco. New funding will help it to reach other audiences across the world, including the exhibit in Singapore later this year.

Start exploring and commenting on the issues important in your life by signing up for an art class today. Art is a wonderful way to become an activist on a topic essential to you, as well as making your mark on the world. Even if you’ve never seriously pursued art in any form or fashion, you can enroll in an art class via SGArtClass.com to begin your creative journey. SGArtClass.com is a comprehensive website that features everything from discounted art supplies, informative articles, and numerous art classes. Our teachers are experienced with teaching students of all age levels and abilities, so you will be in good hands. Learn the history and techniques necessary to complete projects in your chosen art genre — anything from comic drawing to oil painting, found art to recycled art, 3-D sculpture to pointillism painting. There is an art class sure to ignite your creative passion, and you will soon be completing projects you had previously only dreamed about before enrolling in an art class.

To learn more about the artwork, including what ghost nets are, go to http://www.cairnspost.com.au/lifestyle/torres-strait-art-bound-for-singapore-exhibit/news-story/0b9450b1b0270f59d051be4a288626c8.

0 Arts community welcomes new theater, calls for more spaces

A new mid-sized theater is coming within the next five years to Singapore’s waterfront, but some individuals in the nation’s art community are worried about how scheduling for its programming will be handled amid something of a shortage of venues around the country.

Research shows that the vast majority of theater productions are staged in mid-sized venues, and Singapore follows that trend. However, the nation lacks the space to stage as many productions as there are available. Many plays must book venues far in advance to have any hope of showing their productions there. And there’s always the chance that, for whatever reason, their bookings might not get approval from the organization in charge of the theaters.

Since this new venue will be opened on the waterfront, expected to seat over 500 people, some in the art community said its relationship with productions and theater groups should be fluid, like the water it will be near. The exchange of ideas and thoughts should be open and immediate, giving new voices the ability to be heard.

One example of a flexible theater policy right now is an agreement Capitol Theater has with the production of the play “Tropicana: The Musical.” The play is about a real topless club in Singapore, and its organizer said that even though Capitol Theater usually doesn’t feature such productions, she wanted to work with a historical venue in Singapore since the play features historical content. This could lay the groundwork for other venues to start having similar relationships with productions — all in the interest of promoting Singapore and its arts, culture, and history.

With Singapore averaging more than twenty artistic performances a day throughout 2015, some productions have had to scramble to see their shows realized. A ballet performance had its request rejected due to scheduling conflicts with a mid-sized theater — the size it needed — and was forced to push off showing its production until a much later date. Hopefully, the latest mid-sized theater venue on the Singapore waterfront will prompt the creation of more to fill the growing need for more art space.

Make space for more art in your life by visiting SGArtClass.com. SGArtClass.com is a comprehensive website that offers both art information and art instruction. Easily browse and sign up for a variety of art classes, including ink drawing, installation art, decorative painting, and many more. Expert teachers will be on hand to answer your every question and help you develop the skills you need to succeed as an artist. As an alternative for those with busy schedules, you can enroll in online-only art classes, taking and pausing classes as needed in the convenience of your own home. Connect with other artists online and receive valuable feedback on your growing art portfolio.

To read more about the new theater venue — and the growing need for more art spaces — go to http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/more-room-for-the-arts.

0 Zines enjoy renewed popularity in Singapore

Self-published magazines, also affectionately called zines, are enjoying a surge of popularity in Singapore. Created with a broad paintbrush of interests in mind, zines can cover anything the publisher desires, and one in Singapore even regularly sells out when it hits the stands. Many of these zines will be featured at the upcoming Singapore Art Book Fair. The number is higher than last year, highlighting the growth of the art book genre in Singapore.

Nearly ten new zines have popped up in Singapore over the last couple of years. While they all come usually with a small following, their advantage is in what they cover. Since they are independently produced often with no thought of turning a profit, zines can cover whatever their creator wants. One of the most popular zines in Singapore, for example, most recently covered a family’s trip through Japan, as well as some of their favorite recipes. It sold out at fifty dollars per copy.

Anyone can make a zine as long as the desire and funding is there. For example, one zine, which examines the experiences of young people around the globe, was founded by four friends and a $10,000 grant from the Singaporean government. Other topics for zines have included a small run on collective thought, and a zine that examines what it’s like being an artist in Singapore.

Everyone who makes a zine agrees that the format of the publication is key. Something about the tactile sense of paper lends more importance to the words each zine contains. There isn’t any advertisement or links to distract the reader from the message. And afterwards, the zine itself makes for a nice keepsake. People who love books can often find a niche they love in zines, and Singapore’s zine creators are counting on that to reach an audience.

Design is just another facet of art. Investigate all the different ways art might infiltrate your life without you realizing it by visiting SGArtClass.com. Explore multitudes of articles about different art genres, find excellent deals on discounted art supplies, and enroll in any one of a vast number of art classes. You can take classes on everything from Chinese ink painting to photography, art therapy to jewelry art, 3-D sculpture to acrylic painting, and everything in between. Expert teachers are on hand to teach you the skills you need to complete the projects you want. It doesn’t matter if you have zero artistic background whatsoever. Even if you’re already an artist, teachers can help you complete projects you’re stuck on, boosting your techniques to take you to the next level. Meet with art teachers in the comfort of your own home, or in the convenience of a place close to your work or school. If you’re too busy for a traditional art class, you can also take online art classes at your own pace.

To read more about the surge of locally produced zines in Singapore, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/zine-boom-in-singapore.

0 Special show touts Singapore’s contribution to popular game franchise

Not many people might realize that Singapore has some significant ties to one of the most popular game franchises of all time. A talented team of animators and designers worked on an installment of “Assassin’s Creed” for Ubisoft, and they even inserted a little nod to Singaporean culture in the fourth installment of the franchise.

If people watch closely enough, at some point during the game, they can spot Singapore’s signature merlion. The half-fish, half-lion, which is emblematic of the nation, was slipped into the visuals at a certain part of the game to pay tribute to just how important Singapore was in the making of the video game chapter. The game, which documents the battles between two separate factions throughout history, focuses on naval battles in the fourth installment. The Singapore team of video game designers was instrumental in designing these engagements, which had never been seen before in the video game’s history. Things like moving water and water sounds had to be designed from scratch for the franchise. Designers even used swimming pools in Singapore to help develop sounds like that of sharks thrashing below the surface of the water as well as whales. The team in Singapore even had the honor of designing the entire demo for the fourth installment to be shown at an industry exposition.

Now, a new exhibition pays tribute to this team of artists and their contribution to “Assassin’s Creed.” On display are digital prints of pirates’ ships that one of the artists created for the franchise, as well as a sketchbook that shows the artistic process of developing the series from initial thoughts to finished products. The artist will also hold a workshop on drawing along with a session that features speed drawing for the entertainment of visitors and participants alike. Another part of the exhibit will highlight the characters and weapons developed specifically for the installment the Singapore team worked on. The exhibit itself will look like a fine art show, which is what the team was going for all along.

Art is present in all things, whether we realize it or not. Start taking stock of the art in your life by signing up for an art class on SGArtClass.com. Whether your passion lies in sketching characters or digital art, comic drawing or anime drawing, there is sure to be an art class that helps you embrace and explore your creative passions. Expert art teachers are on hand to give you feedback on your existing artworks and help get your art skills to the next level. You will either develop a new passion for a new hobby you never knew you had, or push yourself to start producing masterpieces that you never knew you were capable of.

To read more about Singapore’s role in the Assassin’s Creed game franchise and the exhibit that focuses on it, go to http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/entertainment/exhibition-reveals-singapore-s-hand-in-bringing-assassin-s-creed/3686438.html.

0 New art minor available at National University of Singapore

Students at the National University of Singapore have a new avenue of study to pursue with the announcement of an art minor. Though National Gallery Singapore made the announcement recently, classes to fulfill the art minor have been going on since the beginning of this year. So far, nearly one hundred students have enrolled in the introductory course for the new art minor.

Fully trained officials from National Gallery Singapore will be leading some of the courses, ensuring that students will learn from the most experienced sources of information. The art minor, instead of focusing on the creation of art, such as in studio art programs, will instead take a deep look at the interpretation of artworks. This will hopefully lead to students choosing careers in gallery work, art museum curation, and other pursuits.

A number of interesting and informative courses will be available as a part of the art minor program, including a class on understanding and curating art from Southeastern Asia. This is one of the courses that will be led by officials from National Gallery Singapore. One student who is already enrolled in the program remarked about how valuable it was to glean real-world knowledge from professionals already working in the art world. While students might benefit from this hands-on instruction, National Gallery Singapore is also set to gain highly trained graduates who would make excellent additions to the museum. The program sets up a pipeline of knowledge and potential workforce contributors between National Gallery Singapore and the National University of Singapore.

Students can look forward to learning about all different types of genres of art, including painting, 3-D sculpture, architecture, and installation art. They will soon be able to interpret the meanings for masterpieces in these various genres as well as place them contextually into history for both Singapore and the broader art world. Understanding historical happenings that were taking place around the same time that this art was being created is important to correctly interpreting the meaning of the piece, as the outside environment can often greatly influence an artist’s works.

One of the best ways to gain a new understanding of art is to enroll in an art class yourself via SGArtClass.com. SGArtClass.com is a website that unites potential students of art — or anyone curious about bringing a little more creativity into their lives — with professional, hands-on art teachers who have the knowledge necessary to help you build the skills you need to create meaningful art projects. It doesn’t matter if you have very little to no art background whatsoever. You can still take an art class in anything from watercolor painting to 3-D sculpture, comic drawing to caricature drawing, mural painting to pointillism painting. Boost your creative side by signing up for an art class today.

To read more about the new art minor at the National University of Singapore, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/undergrads-at-nus-can-now-get-a-minor-in-art-history.