Category Archives for "Blog"

0 How to buy your first artwork in Singapore

If you’ve been wanting to start investing in art but aren’t sure where to start, think about going to the upcoming Affordable Art Fair in Singapore. With the festival tailored to bring in new art buyers and experienced art buyers alike, it might be the best possible opportunity for you to begin your bourgeoning art collection. A recent question and answer session with an organizer of the Affordable Art Fair and a Singapore gallery shed more light on what people should look for when they go to buy their first work of art.

First of all, it’s easy to be intimidated by the price tag. That price, though, has been carefully determined by both the artist and the gallery owner, and perhaps even in relation to a festival itself. Prices can vary based on the materials used in the painting or sculpture, the level of experience an artist might have, their relationship with the gallery, and other factors. One special feature of the Affordable Art Fair is that it features different sections of the festival where prices on the artworks on display are capped. That, along with displaying the price of the artwork alongside it, is key to making buying art less intimidating for those who lack the experience.

There are also different advantages and disadvantages to going to an art fair versus an art gallery itself. You might get more of a variety of works of art at an art fair, but each vendor has a limited space to exhibit, meaning that you’ll get less of a selection from them. And while galleries might only have the space to fully exhibit one or two artists at a time, they’ll often present a broader body of work from those artists. They will also have more time to answer your questions and tell you the background behind the art.

The experts also discouraged people from buying art based on what they see online. While browsing works on artists’ websites and social media might be a good way to get a small taste of what’s available, there’s no way to really know the colors, size, or if you truly like the work of art before purchasing it. Try to see it in person before taking the big plunge in buying it.

Now is the best time to bring a better understanding of art into your life through SGArtClass.com. With SGArtClass.com, you can easily connect with loads of teachers with special experience in teaching art students of all ages and abilities. Take classes on fabric art, found art, collage art, and many more. Get a group of friends or coworkers together for a fun and alternative way to socialize other than the same old thing. You might be surprised to find you have a new hobby you’re passionate about.

For more information on buying your first art masterpiece in Singapore, go to http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/lifestyle/art-buying-101-a-handy-guide-to-buying-that-first-painting-for/3648090.html.

0 Call for submissions in book on Singapore’s Chinese

A special opportunity to contribute to the recording of history is available for anyone who has family ties to or information about Singapore’s Chinese community. An out-of-print book written in English about the historical community is a seminal source of information for people looking for tidbits about their own families’ genealogies. However, after some people noticed that bits and pieces of the book were incomplete — such as one woman’s grandfather being omitted on his contributions to the development of a key road — the publishers of the book have issued a call for people to submit annotations.

The book, which is now in an e-book form, has so far garnered more than a dozen annotations from five different people with connections to the Chinese community. The woman whose grandfather did valuable work on the road was able to supply an alternate name her grandfather was known by, as well as photographs of him and her grandmother. This insider information was something that might have been otherwise impossible for researchers to come up with themselves, showing just how valuable these annotations from the community have been.

Essentially crowdsourcing additions to the book has the added benefit of offering a broader picture of the Chinese community. Though the book itself is prized as an essential volume detailing the cultural history of Singapore, historians who did the research and writing themselves admitted that they could’ve missed some things. The time period of the book covers an entire century, and there’s only so much one group of people can do. That’s why it’s so important that the public participates in the annotation project. They have essential information the historians could’ve overlooked — or never known to look for in the first place — that will help to enrich the facts already present in the book. The public can contribute with either additions to the notes or photos of some of the events already presented.

After the call for submissions ends in August, one of the publishers suggested that a new edition of the book could be printed again — this time, with the annotations included. It would certainly make for a memorable piece of history for those who contributed and those who will later find ties to their own families present in the tome.

Connect to the art in your life in a more personal way by signing up for an art class via SGArtClass.com. SGArtClass.com is a one-stop shopping website that contains informative articles on different genres of art, offers on discounted art supplies, and an exhaustive listing of different art classes you can enroll in. Take anything from charcoal sketching to oil painting and everything in between. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never held a paintbrush before. Expert teachers skilled in instructing students of all ages and abilities will be on hand to help you meet your creative goals and get more art into your life.

To read more about the book project, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/contribute-to-singapore-history.

0 Singapore Art Museum to get a major makeover

As the demand for art in Singapore grows in leaps and bounds, the Singapore Art Museum is looking to keep up with the crowds with its first major makeover since it opened its doors more than twenty years ago.

The contemporary art museum is looking to grow its exhibit space so it can more easily display large-scale works. For a recent show, one such installation was forced to be shown off-campus, at National Gallery Singapore, because it was too big for the Singapore Art Museum’s display space. Other improvements include connecting the two historic buildings that currently house the museum with a bridge. They are currently separated by a small road, which confuses some visitors, and deters other in rainy weather. The new bridge would make it easier to traverse both buildings, and the construction would adhere to the principles guiding revamps of historic buildings. Both of the Singapore Art Museum’s existing buildings used to be Catholic schools. The challenge is to honor the former facilities and preserve their atmosphere while bringing the art improvements to the museum. Further additions will better support art aficionados with special considerations, including handicapped-accessible entrances.

Many agree that it is past time for the Singapore Art Museum to receive a makeover, particularly with the impressive nearby National Gallery Singapore. The hope is that Singapore Art Museum officials can take a page from the book of National Gallery Singapore improvements to see how to best utilize the space and attract new visitors at the same time. Since museum officials have had a chance to better understand the demands of both contemporary art and what people want to see at art museums, they know exactly what they need to do to take the museum to the next level. Looking at the functionality of the facility, officials will also consider boosting opportunities for interactive art displays, and seeing about using existing space like the courtyards for art.

The project will cost about S$90 million, with much of the funding coming from the government. What the government doesn’t pay for will be covered by sponsors and donors. It is expected to be fully completed within four years.

Ignite the artist inside of you by visiting SGArtClass.com. SGArtClass.com is a comprehensive website that offers informative articles about different art genres, heavily discounted art supplies for sale, and the opportunity to enroll in any art class of your choosing. Gather a group of friends for a night of acrylic painting led by an expert teacher, or attend an art retreat with a special project in mind with your coworkers. Whether you’re interested in collage art or graffiti painting, there is sure to be a class that will pique your creative curiosity.

To see more about the improvements at the Singapore Art Museum, including a rendering of the plans for the facelift, go to http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/singapore-art-museum-to-get-s-90-million-facelift/3643884.html.

0 Singapore forms new team for Venice Biennale

Singapore artist Zai Kuning is getting a reset in the team helping him to succeed at this year’s Venice Biennale after several team members backed out because of artistic differences.

Zai, an artist whose work spans many different genres, is entering a special installation in a very visible location at the biennale, so it is important for both him and his team to do their best work possible. They are representing art in Singapore at a renowned global event. The installation itself features a large boat made out of rattan, the effect almost being one of abstraction. Surrounding the boat are a number of photo and sound displays that feature interviews and research conducted by Zai with the descendants of sea people who historically lived on the shores and plied the seas with their watercraft. The installation is a comprehensive look at both the art of shipbuilding and the culture of those who use the specific style of boat that Zai recreated.

The exhibit as a whole is an homage to a voyage taken by an important ancestor in ancient Malay culture. It also symbolizes the exchange of knowledge and growth of culture through the practice of travel and exploration. This isn’t the first time that Zai has constructed such a ship, though it is its largest form. He has been exhibiting a similar show around Singapore and other locations in the world.

Beyond Zai simply making the art, there are lots of considerations his team must sort out ahead of the biennale. There is first the matter of shipping the artwork, as well as ensuring the facilities at the event are wired and designed to support the size and scope of the installation. Throughout all of this, the artistic team must ensure that they stick to the prescribed schedule to make sure they don’t fall behind and miss key deadlines for the biennale.

Being successful at the Venice Biennale with the exhibit will catapult Singaporean art onto the global stage. One government official lauded Zai’s work, saying that it brings recognition to important cultural moments in the region’s history and will hopefully bring a brand new audience for Singaporean art.

Explore your own culture and history by enrolling in an art class via SGArtClass.com today. Expert teachers are on hand to work closely with you in developing the skills you need to complete the projects you’re passionate about. Schedule lessons around your busy day, or simply sign up for an online-only course to benefit the most out of the convenient art instruction SGArtClass.com has to offer. It doesn’t matter if you have an artistic background already or if you’re just getting started on your creative journey. Our classes include everything from charcoal sketching to rock art to oil painting to 3-D sculpture and many more.

To read more about the Singapore team for the Venice Biennale, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/new-artistic-team-for-venice-biennale-work.

0 ArtScience Museum takes latest exhibit to new heights

A new exhibit at the ArtScience Museum in Singapore truly has something for everyone — especially if they’re even a little bit intrigued by space or the possibility of life in it. Many special displays will be on hand featuring both historic takes on space to modern representations of the future of such discovery and travel.

One of the exhibits that will be on the end of the grander scale of things is a strange and delightful performance filmed exclusively in zero gravity. The short video, which will be available to view, is groundbreaking, the performers executing dazzling stunts as a plane flew in endless parabolas to get the right conditions needed for zero gravity. The production team and critics who flew in the plane were strapped in for all but the final parabola, when they unbuckled their seat belts and got the opportunity to experience flight. Everyone had special pockets to vomit in so they wouldn’t ruin the performance.

Another exhibit features artwork currently found on the moon — though not many people would know that there actually are masterpieces on the lunar landscape. Art by Andy Warhol and Robert Rauschenberg were secretly added to the Apollo 12 lunar lander before it made its way to the moon, and the art remains there still.

Other attractions include sculptures of items that have been aboard space stations, the sounds recorded for the Voyager missions, and more than one hundred other pieces of art and manuscripts documenting our fascination with space and what might lie within it. First editions of space-themed writings from important names in science like Galileo, Darwin, and Copernicus will also be available to view. There will also be a replica telescope to interact with just like the one Galileo used to discover that Jupiter had moons of its own. There will also be displays on how Eastern minds were thinking about space and stars way back in history, and how important those thoughts were in shaping culture. Perhaps one of the most exciting parts will be a look at historical manuscripts that reportedly detailed interactions with and sightings of UFOs and the aliens purportedly within them.

Take your art out of this world by enrolling in an art class today. Visit SGArtClass.com to see the wide range of art classes available. Take everything from Chinese ink painting to watercolor painting, comic drawing to fashion design, graffiti painting to mural painting. There is sure to be a class for every interest. Expert teachers will be on hand to help guide you through the process of learning the skills necessary to complete projects you’re passionate about. For the busy art student, there are also art classes available online to help fit into your hectic schedule. You can take them whenever it is most convenient.

To read more about what will be included with the out-of-this-world exhibit, go to http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/outer-space-aliens-art-3-reasons-why-artscience-museum-s-new/3638408.html.

0 New arts fest director has exciting plans in mind

The newly named head honcho for the Singapore International Festival of Arts has some thrilling plans for next year’s event — and incarnations of the festival for years to come. Gaurav Kripalani looks to start elevating the event into something with international pull, much like the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. That way, the same kind of people who visit Scotland specifically to attend that art and cultural event would want to travel to Singapore for Sifa.

Kripalani, who is also the director for a Singapore theater, knows that this kind of change won’t happen overnight for Sifa — or perhaps even during his tenure as the leader of the festival. He hopes to lay the groundwork for the festival’s expansion and attraction over the next few months while he polls fellow Singaporeans for ideas on what they’d like to see at Sifa.

Kripalani says the key to giving the festival a renewed boost and attracting more people to it is to offer an unparalleled art experience that couldn’t happen anywhere else. He cited an occasion last year where an American choreographer worked with Singaporean university students to create a combination dance and art technology experience. The renowned choreographer impacted the lives of those students, and they in turn had experiences and memories that wouldn’t have been replicated anywhere else in the world at that moment of learning and performance. The interaction between international artists and Singaporean artists and performers is key, here, Kripalani added. Art should work to elevate everyone, and the purpose of events like Sifa is to bring and exchange new creative ideas. International collaborations on art projects benefits everyone involved while giving a cultural boost to Singapore itself. The entire nation would benefit from a Sifa event that drew lots of participants and visitors in — from the broader economy to the people who got to experience the art created at the festival.

An earlier incarnation of the art festival experienced some criticism for not being as interesting to participants, and the number of those who attended fell. Kripalani rides in on the wave of a previous director of Sifa who renewed the interest in the event. It’s likely, though, that Kripalani’s leadership will take Sifa to new heights, as he has prolifically organized plays for the theater group he directs.

Festivals are a wonderful way to experience the art world, but when there aren’t any scheduled, taking an art class can help fill that gap in creativity. Visit SGArtClass.com to get your art fix. SGArtClass.com is a website that hosts everything from articles about art genres to offers for discounted art supplies. It also connects art teachers with potential students of art. Whether you already have a background in art or are looking to start a new hobby, you can take classes in everything from oil painting to comic drawing and many more.

To read more about Gaurav Kripalani’s plans for next year’s Singapore International Festival of Arts, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/putting-singapore-on-the-cultural-map.

0 Singapore art groups name new leaders

Three women have been appointed in leadership roles in both the National Heritage Board and the Singapore Art Museum, bring new viewpoints and ideas for the cultural organizations.

All three have ample experience in the Singapore art world and are sure to add valuable insights to the groups. The new CEO of the National Heritage Board once served as a board member herself, meaning that she already knows the history of the organization and how to navigate the waters to help it improve and pursue the right kinds of projects in the future. One of the new members of the board of directors for the Singapore Art Museum is a professor of social science with a focus on culture. The other new addition for the museum created her own art gallery and was also only one of two women admitted to an important Singapore Chinese business group.

It is important, particularly for the Singapore Art Museum, to have leaders with backgrounds in both art and business. People who lack one or the other miss out on a complete understanding for the operations of a museum. Business leaders, for example, might misunderstand the more creative goings-on for the museum, such as the importance of select exhibitions. Art leaders, on the other hand, might lack the awareness for marketing and attracting both new and returning visitors to the property.

The Singapore Art Museum has lately seen a troubling lack of leadership, including a vacant CEO spot for nearly the past year. The high turnover rate for that position is also problematic, as new leaders of venues tend to like to put their own stamp on the facilities they are in charge of. Since the museum has seen a number of leadership changes recently, that means that the facility has experienced a lack of continuity for its programming. It also makes it difficult for it to commit to long-awaited improvement projects to its existing grounds and exhibit space — both of which haven’t seen any sort of makeover work since the museum’s opening two decades ago. With luck, the new leaders at the Singapore Art Museum will be able to support the venue as it overcomes these challenges and looks to grow in the future.

Become a leader in your own art world by signing up for an art class today. Visit SGArtClass.com to begin exploring all the various art classes and workshops you can enroll in at any time. Whether you’re interested in taking up watercolor painting or if you’d like a fun workshop on painting rocks or canvas bags as a way to relax after a long day of work, there is sure to be an art class that will cater to your interests. Professional art teachers are on hand to help you learn the skills you need to complete your passion projects.

To read more about the new leaders for the Singapore Art Museum and the National Heritage Board, go to http://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/arts-leadership-changes-in-arts-and-heritage.

0 National Gallery Singapore to host renowned Japanese artist’s work

One of the world’s most popular artists is coming to Singapore for a special exhibition that is both retrospective and groundbreaking. Visitors to National Gallery Singapore will be among the first on the entire globe to see brand new masterpieces from Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama.

The show itself is a collaboration among National Gallery Singapore and two other international art organizations. After its tenure in Singapore, the collection will move on to other art institutes. Visitors to the exhibition will be able to view a wide range of work from Kusama, who first started making art in the 1950s. Pieces documenting her seventy years in the creative world will be on display, from brightly colored paintings to examples of provocative performance art to her signature infinity mirrors, giving participants the sense that they are part of something much bigger than what it appears to be on the surface.

Kusama’s vivid artworks have drawn people in for years, but there is more than what meets the eye with her pieces. Many of them, though bright in color, might be defined as dark in nature. They are representations of troubling hallucinations that the artist has been enduring since a young age. In her twenties, Kusama experienced a breakdown and checked herself in to a institution for help in managing mental health issues. She has lived there by choice ever since, preferring its constancy and stability as an aid to her own mental state.

The show in Singapore is not to be missed. Visitors will see examples of Kusama’s art spanning multiple creative genres, including paintings, sculpture, installation work, and videos. The more than a hundred masterpieces will help visitors understand the monumental way Kusama has affected both the art scene and the world beyond it, breaking barriers regarding stigmas surrounding mental illness. Her psychedelic works have enjoyed immense popularity from a number of countries, and her maze-like mirror rooms have been a main attraction to an art display in Washington, D.C., for a long time.

Celebrate art in your own life by enrolling in an art class. Visit SGArtClass.com today to see the wide range of art workshops you can sign up for easily online. From acrylic painting to charcoal drawing, fashion design to artistic photography, nail art to graffiti painting, there is sure to be an art class to attract the interests of all different kinds of artists. Whether you’re an art student looking for some professional help on completing assignments or developing your portfolio, or if you’re just someone who’s looking to broaden their horizons and perhaps discover a new hobby, experienced teachers are on hand to help you. Instructors are experienced in teaching students of all ages and levels of ability, and will help guide you through the projects you are most interested in completing.

To read more about the upcoming display of Yayoi Kusama’s masterpieces at National Gallery Singapore, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/yayoi-kusama-exhibition-at-national-gallery-singapore-in-june.

0 Singapore to host tiny tributes to successful TV series

While the “Game of Thrones” franchise might be one of the biggest television events going on right now, particularly with the second-to-last season scheduled to premiere in July of this year, some of the tiniest tributes to the series are set to ignite the imagination of visitors in Singapore.

Organized by officials at HBO Asia, a series of nearly twenty nearly microscopic 3-D sculptures paying tribute to plot points of “Game of Thrones” are set to go on display for free in Singapore, which should draw both fans of art and the fantasy saga together. The tiny sculptures will be on display in Scotts Square, and anyone interested can attend.

Just how tiny are the sculptures? Try the tip of a pencil. A Russian artist specializing in making miniature carvings and sculptures on the smallest of canvases has crafted these artworks out of the sharpened lead of a regular pencil. For as small as the work is, the attention to detail and scale is breath-taking. Fans can enjoy everything from the various sigils of each of the five main houses in the franchise — Stark, Targaryen, Greyjoy, Baratheon, and Lannister, with direwolves, dragons, krakens, stags, and lions, respectively. There is also a deadly White Walker, part of the deadly threat that lies north of The Wall, recreated in lead clutching a sword, skin stretched across bone. There are even such fan-favorite images such as the pin given to those named the Hand of the king of the Iron Throne, as well as a pair of swords made from a special material that might just go a long way in the battle that has yet to come in the series.

Each sculpture has been painstakingly crafted using sumptuous detail that would be admirable in a work of art of a more normal size. The fact that the artist has successfully recreated such recognizable images in just the tip of a pencil is extremely notable. If visitors in Singapore aren’t themselves fans of the “Game of Thrones” saga, they should still attend the event if only to marvel at the craftsmanship and skill it had to take for the artist to execute the mini sculptures.

If you’ve been overwhelmed with everything that’s available in the art world, think about working on a smaller scale by signing up for an art class today. Visit SGArtClass.com to browse the listing of lessons available. If you’ve been wanting to bring some more creativity into your life but aren’t sure where to start, a class on sketching or watercolor painting might be right for you. If you appreciate landscapes and the beauty of nature, think about digital photography or acrylic painting. Expert teachers are on hand to instruct students of all ages and creative capabilities.

To read more about the minuscule lead sculptures paying homage to HBO’s “Game of Thrones” series, go to http://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2017/03/20/game-of-thrones-microsculptures-to-be-exhibited-in-singapore.html.

0 Singapore neighborhood swiftly becoming arts hotspot

As Singapore’s Gillman Barracks continues to play host to more and more galleries showcasing contemporary artworks, the neighborhood itself is enjoying newfound respect as a bastion of the creative world. However, challenges remain for everyone involved as galleries look to strike a balance between success and giving back to the community.

Many new galleries devoted to all things contemporary art are on the rise in Gillman Barracks. A number of these new locations have recently opened, including several that are openly embracing new, young, and emerging Singaporean artists. Though it is not unprecedented for art galleries to feature such creative presences, it is rare — galleries must look out for themselves and try to include art that is accessible and desirable to collectors. Galleries such as these do take on a risk by featuring art by artists that haven’t yet shown pieces in other exhibits or sold anything, but giving the artists a chance is a noble pursuit.

However, recent history has shown that Singaporean art itself is on the rise. During a recent auction at Christie’s Hong Kong, nearly all the Singaporean masterpieces on the auction block were sold, bringing in a record amount of revenue. This goes to show that the world is taking notice of the art that is going on in Singapore. But what is perhaps even more important to recognize is that while so-called Nanyang-style classical Singaporean artists are still valued, it’s the up and coming contemporary Singaporean artists who have the most to gain as their masterpieces come into prominence. While galleries in general and those in Gillman Barracks in particular have no real imperative to feature Singaporean artists, the idea is that these facilities would want to do good in the communities where they are located. That is why galleries in Singapore should work to give back to the community. By giving Singaporean artists a chance to break through and be successful, galleries can help boost the communities and neighborhoods that host them. Galleries should also work alongside larger art museums in Singapore so that everyone can win, providing a pipeline of opportunities for Singaporean residents to experience a wealth of unique art, and for artists to have a chance to gain visibility for their work. Though it is usually art galleries’ main goal to make money and remain open, going out on a limb for local artists would be an excellent way to make a gallery more at home within the community it wants to be a part of.

Give art a chance in your own life by enrolling in art classes today via SGArtClass.com. Lessons are available in everything from digital art to acrylic painting, collage art to pointillism painting, 3-D sculpture to printmaking, and everything in between. Whether you’re a beginning artist or an accomplished artist looking for a little direction and feedback, we have the right art instructor and class for you.

To read more about the contemporary art boom in Gillman Barracks, go to http://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/arts/gillman-barracks-now-hotbed-local-contemporary-art.