Category Archives for "Blog"

0 Mental health patients utilize art as therapeutic tool

A variety of landscapes, cityscapes, and other paintings were on display as a part of a special art show that helped raise funds for a Singapore mental health organization and featured some very important artists — students of a special art therapy class who also suffer from mental illness.

Proceeds from the paintings sold during the exhibit went to help fund the mental health organization, and all of the works of art were created by students during the classes they attended. Scenes on paper and canvas ranged from colorful buildings vying for attention in the skylines of imagined cities, to scenes of peaceful repose at kampungs and beaches. All of the works were completed during the therapeutic art classes.

Though there are still a great many stigmas for sufferers of mental illnesses to overcome in terms of how they are perceived by other members of society, art is a common ground that allows people from all walks of life to express themselves. Art has been particularly therapeutic for some of the students in the class, including one who was even able to reduce his doctors’ visits thanks to the benefits of creating art. He practiced doing landscapes using pointillism painting, which is when works of art are created using small dots instead of broader brushstrokes, and said that concentrating on painting in that manner helped make the tremors in his hands more manageable. Pointillism painting became also something akin to physical therapy for the student, and the concentration helped him to focus, shrug off his stresses and anxieties, and reduce the amount of medication that he has to take for his mental illness.

Visitors of the art show said that just from looking at the masterpieces, it was evident that their creators put forth a lot of passion and effort to create each and every piece of art. They took pride in creating the best artwork they could imagine, and that pride transformed into confidence in all of the art students. Art has many benefits that people who have never taken an art class might have trouble imagining.

Start exploring art’s benefits for your own life by signing up to take an art class today. SGArtClass.com is a comprehensive website that lists a great many art classes available for enrollment. From pointillism painting to 3-D sculpture, fashion drawing to comic drawing, nail art to decorative painting, there is truly an art class for everyone. Use your art class to explore your feelings by asking your teacher to lead you on art journal exercises, which can be useful to eliminate stress from your life, examine your relationships with others, and process your feelings on everything from work to school to even major life changes, like divorces or deaths in the family. You can also use your art class to help you develop lifelong skills that will help you respond in healthy ways to everything life can throw at you.

To read more about the art experiences the patients had, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/fighting-the-stigma-of-mental-health-issues-through-art.

0 Singapore museum green-lights first ever digital art space

A brand new digital art space at the National Museum of Singapore is offering a cutting edge opportunity to reshape the way art is seen and experienced.

The digital space, called Gallery10, is the first permanent space for the art group. The inaugural exhibit is devoted to traditional dance and nighttime scenes around historic neighborhoods in Singapore. The all-digital art space comes with three highly technologically advanced projectors, plunging visitors into a completely immersive scene. For the dance-themed opening exhibit, traditional dancers rehearsed their moves in front of green screens, used to superimpose backdrops in animation and other uses. These dancers, who belong to actual dance groups in Singapore, are then projected onto images of neighborhoods like Little India. When visitors enter the space, it is as if they are entering a different place entirely, filled with dance and glowing, magical street scenes. An organizer of the exhibit says she hopes it inspires people to continue to embrace traditional art forms like the dances the artists perform. Not everyone is interested in still images for art, one visitor said. The digital space and its ability to transform and transcend traditional art is a wonderful way to draw in new fans of art.

Another exhibit in the works has been kept tightly under wraps, but it promises to be exciting and an entirely new experience for everyone. What the organizer would reveal is that the art space is experimenting with projection, smell technology, and edible art to completely transform the art of dining, setting the stage for a unique and incredible food experience there. One’s mouth waters to consider what kind of technology will be present to achieve such a feat.

Though one person lamented the fact that the gallery space is secluded enough within the National Museum of Singapore to be easily overlooked by museum visitors, Gallery10 is sure to be a success among the people who do find the treasure hidden with it. Gallery10 is free to visit and it is the only portion of the museum where food and drinks are allowed. It takes up the space that formerly belonged to an eatery on the museum property.

Art can encompass many things, and you might just be surprised at how close your own life, work, and hobbies are to being creative and artistic. Get in touch with your artsy side by signing up for an art class via SGArtClass.com. Browse an exhaustive list of art classes available, including everything from mural painting to digital art and many, many more. You will be sure to find a class that piques your interest and inspires you to create. Expert teachers will be on hand to instruct you in a variety of projects that you’re passionate about, and you can easily even set up meetings for classes in the comfort and convenience of your own home.

To read more about the digital art space at the National Museum of Singapore, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/making-exhibits-come-alive.

0 New Singapore haven for creatives a cost-effective solution

One Singapore artist remembers the glory days of his art career, creating large and lofty structures in bronze, steel, and other mixed mediums. He took advantage of all the space he had living in a kampung, never so much as considering limiting the size and style of his artworks because of it.

However, when he was forced to move to a housing project that didn’t include any kind of storage space, the artist had to leave behind much of his body of work. There simply wasn’t any place to keep his larger sculptures, and he ended up giving up sculpture altogether, moving back to painting, which didn’t take up as much room as his 3-D artistic efforts.

Now, though, with a new government initiative to find housing and space for artists and their various projects, the artist has been set up in a former primary school that has been transformed into an affordable studio space for a group of artists. He can now continue to pursue his passion for sculpture and projects on a larger scale because of the new space made available to him.

The artist shares the space designated for art by the government with nearly thirty other artists and two art collectives. There are studio spaces in the facility, along with the ability to convert the space into a gallery to show various artworks. The artist credits his access to the facility with turning his career around and allowing him the resources he requires to make his 3-D masterpieces.

The space itself is ample, giving artists plenty of room to work, grow, and experiment with their art. The grounds the former primary school are situated on are full of greenery and flowers, making the studios beautiful and almost like not living in a city at all. Though there is a road just outside the building, artists say they never hear the traffic because the building is insulated with the trees. Artists who work there also have the added benefit of being able to readily collaborate with other artists. When many creative minds are in the same place, the facility can work as a sort of incubator for ideas, meaning that there are a lot of different viewpoints and talents present that could take ordinary ideas and elevate them into something truly great.

Give art a chance in your life by enrolling today in an art class via SGArtClass.com. SGArtClass.com is a one-stop shopping opportunity for both artists and people who think they might be interested in art, offering discounted supplies, informative articles, and a large listing of classes. From figure drawing to pointillism art, oil painting to nail art, decorative painting to assemblage art, there is sure to be a class for every single creative interest. Visit SGArtClass.com today to get in contact with a professional teacher who will be happy to accompany you on your artistic journey.

To learn more about arts housing project and the artists benefiting from it, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/living-city-creative-haven-for-artists-at-telok-kurau-studios.

0 Singapore-owned shipwreck treasures to be displayed in United States

A collection of historic and artistic treasures recovered from an ancient shipwreck and collected by Singapore will be loaned to a museum for a showing in the United States in conjunction with a Singaporean museum. It will be the first time the artifacts have been seen in the United States. A previous attempt to show the collection at the Smithsonian Institute in the United States was stalled and eventually canceled because of concerns about how the treasures were obtained.

Though the collection was brought up from the bottom of the ocean in a perfectly legal method, the fact that a commercial company sold the artifacts to Singapore for a profit goes against the principles set up by a worldwide organization that is dedicated to protecting the historic treasures of the world. Though neither Singapore nor the United States had signed anything adhering to this principle, the Smithsonian Institute backed out of showing the collection out of respect for the policy and the organization behind it.

Now, however, a unique partnership between a museum in New York and a museum in Singapore will bring the important treasures to a new audience who has never seen it before. There will also be a symposium on the items, providing valuable context to their importance. The ship, called a dhow, sank on its way to sell the items on a popular overseas trade route. The items have been preserved under the surface of the sea all this time, and include graceful stoneware ornaments and pitchers, large jars used for storage or decoration, and even a highly decorated and ornate bronze mirror. The entire collection is valued at being worth tens of millions of dollars, and it is one of the most talked about finds in history.

What’s even more special is that a Singaporean collector will be adding a few items from his own collection of similar historic artifacts to the exhibit, rounding out a presentation that will be sure to impress attendees of the showing at the museum. Experts have said that the items presented all together highlights the ideas of globalism present in Southeast Asia.

Make some art history of your own by signing up for an art class via SGArtClass.com. SGArtClass.com is a comprehensive website that hosts a long listing of different art classes awaiting enrollment. You can start delving into everything from digital art to 3-D sculpture, watercolor painting to comic drawing, nail art to mural painting. Expert instructors will work with you and adapt to your busy schedule by meeting you in a convenient common location or even your own home. Think about signing up with a group of friends or coworkers to take an art class as an alternative way to socialize. Art can bestow surprising benefits on its practitioners, including creative problem solving skills, self-expression, and boosting confidence.

To learn more about the collection of historical treasures from the shipwreck, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/singapores-tang-treasures-travel-to-the-us.

0 Gallery closing leaves artists without way to retrieve work

Mandala Gallery in Singapore might be closed, but its list of troubles are only just beginning. Nearly forty artists say that they have not been able to retrieve their artwork that was on display at the gallery, and employees of the gallery say they are still owed pay.

The owner of the gallery, who is from Sri Lanka, left Singapore in 2016 after the gallery closed. The space where Mandala used to stand remains empty to this day, the walls blank and plain, the doors chained shut. The main issue is the artworks, whose combined value total more than $1 million. The masterpieces from nearly forty international artists were transferred to a secure storage facility following the closing of Mandala Gallery, but there’s a catch — the storage facility refuses to release any paintings to their rightful artists because of rent owed by the gallery owner for the storage space.

The artists who displayed their work at Mandala Gallery are not only unable to retrieve their paintings. They also are owed thousands of dollars in framing and transport costs for those works.

One such artist whose artworks are in limbo, a painter from Ukraine, made public the issues that were going on in an attempt to force some kind of action. The painter is missing several paintings that Mandala Gallery used in a show tailored to scuba diving. The painter himself works while underwater, completing uniquely rendered abstract pieces while scuba diving. Even reaching out to the Ukrainian embassy in Singapore has left the artist with no options.

The former gallery owner, when contacted by a newspaper, agreed that he needed to make payments for the storage facility rent, but admitted it was hard since he had lost half a million dollars after opening Mandala Gallery. This debt accrued, coupled with the defunct storage facility rent, has also meant that employees still have back pay owed to them. One employee says he is owed $11,000, and that even when the gallery was open, the owner would never pay him on time. This isn’t the first time the gallery has been embroiled in scandal. In 2016, it was accused of illegally reproducing a painting as a print and attempting to sell it for thousands of dollars.

Investigate the world of art by visiting SGArtClass.com. SGArtClass.com is a comprehensive website for all things art, including discounted art supplies and instructional materials, informative articles about loads of artistic genres, and a hub of a wide range of classes anyone can enroll in, no matter what their age. If you have reached retirement and aren’t sure what to do with your free time, think about taking a landscape painting class to initiate what could become a beloved hobby. If your child loves cartoons, think about signing them up for a class on comic drawing to push their creativity even further.

To read more about the plight of the artists whose work remains with the closed Mandala Gallery, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/shuttered-gallery-leaves-artists-hanging.

0 Singapore artist sets up funding to award other artists

A well-rounded Singapore-based artist has designated $10 million to go into an art fund that will award deserving artists around the world with money, a gold medal, and a poem.

Tan Swie Hian’s fund is virtually unprecedented in Singapore, especially with its scope. Tan said that he wished to leave a lasting legacy in place prior to his death, and that he has been pondering ways to give back to the art community he has been a part of for many years. A talented artist himself, Tan has seen success with large-scale works, poetry, sculpture, painting, and even calligraphy. He is a true example of being a multi-faceted creative mind.

One of the artist’s large paintings is an interesting rendering of a portrait of a couple. A man and woman stand casual and relaxed in the center of the large canvas, painted accurately but a little abstractly — not true to photo. In the background, however, things get interesting. There are rows of written characters, a riot of different line work, and blotchy and mixed colors that almost take on a dreamy watercolor effect. Another painting by Tan sold at auction for millions of dollars, and depicts the moon rising above a tree, reflected in a body of water below. This masterpiece is loosely rendered with visible brushstrokes and an almost impressionistic take on a landscape. Foliage represented with dashes and dots seem to reflect movement, as if the branches of the trees are being swayed in a gentle nighttime wind. In the water where the moon is reflected, the artist has included lines of text that blend into the blue of the water.

Tan is currently working with lawyers on securing the award’s future, and then he’ll pick the judges to help select the recipients. Tan, who is in his 70s, has practiced Buddhist meditation for the majority of his life. Doing so has helped him become more contemplative about how he can give back to the world around him. He has also sold several paintings at records prices for Singapore art. Tan also won a coveted award for his art while in Singapore.

Find your own connections to art by enrolling in an art class today. Visit SGArtClass.com to browse the many art classes available to take. Whether your interest lies in acrylic painting, Chinese ink painting, portrait drawing, nail art, or comic drawing, there is sure to be a class to inspire your creative side. Whether you’ve taken some art classes before and want to refresh your knowledge or if art is something completely new to you, expert teachers are on hand to give you the background knowledge and skills necessary to complete projects that you can help decide on. Teachers can also work around your schedule and meet where it’s convenient for you — even in your own home.

To read more about Tan Swie Hian’s contribution to the arts, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/local-artist-tan-swie-hian-sets-up-10-million-global-artist-award.

0 Singapore art program aims to engage senior citizens

A special program that supervises senior citizens and teaches them new skills like art and dance is helping a population of people that often suffer from depression and loneliness.

The seniors participating in a popular painting class have enjoyed many surprising benefits from completing their art, their instructor said. One intricate collage of a couple of bears impressed even the instructor, who said that she wouldn’t have had the patience to complete it herself. Other seniors are happy that they are actually getting advice on how to complete their paintings and projects. One confessed that she used to try to paint for pleasure, but she always gave up on her project before it was finished. The class she enrolled in at the senior center taught her perseverance. Even though she’s been working on her current painting for four class sessions, she isn’t ready to let it fall by the wayside.

The painting has also been therapeutic for some of the seniors. The instructor said that when she saw certain participants only using dark colors, she was able to ask them why they were sad or upset. Some of them were shocked that she was able to tell their state of mind through their paintings, and they were able to use the work to process through their negative thoughts.

One senior said that the classes have given her a lot more confidence in her daily life. Before she enrolled in the painting class, she always wore dark colors and long sleeves due to a health problem that made one arm shorter than the other. Now, though, she loves to dress up in bright colors, and wears whatever she wants. She doesn’t care what people might think of when they see her. She only cares that she’s comfortable and feels good in what she’s wearing. She added that she was proud of herself and her painting, and thought that such a thing wouldn’t be possible since she didn’t know how to read. This proves that art can even transcend language, transmitting thoughts and feelings for everyone who participates in it. The instructor said that some seniors have even remained friends outside of the activities the center puts on, saying that they gather in groups for outings or to take pictures together.

Start enjoying the various benefits of art today by enrolling in an art class of your own. Visit SGArtClass.com to see all the different classes you can sign up for, including collage art, found art, assemblage art, mural painting, oil painting, portrait drawing, and many more. Whether you’re interested in picking up a paintbrush for the very first time or if you already have some art experience, teachers can instruct students of all different levels. Soon, you, too, will be confident that you can express your own thoughts and feelings by using art.

To read more about the special art program for senior citizen engagement, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/drawing-seniors-out-of-their-shell-with-art.

0 Gallery raises money in hopes to become online creative leader

A Singapore art gallery is looking to become a leading art dealership online after raising more than a million dollars.

The Artling, a gallery for both art and gently used luxury items, has been a presence in Singapore for four years. Founded by a Singaporean who used to work with the late, world-renowned architect Zaha Hadid, The Artling received its new boost of funding from a luxury dealer in Europe.

The Artling’s website is a hub for selling curated artwork, and a recently added facet sells luxury items. Many of the items have been previously owned, and include everything from fine watches and fashion to luxury cars and whiskey. The way The Artling works is that current owners of the products, which also includes artworks, contact the curators of the website, who then work to pick and choose which items to feature. What results is a highly selective gathering of everything from art to jewelry. Buyers might be able to purchase things through the website that they never would’ve gotten their hands on otherwise.

While the selectiveness has worked thus far, the founder of The Artling says that now is the time to expand. The boost in funding will help greatly in that, making it so the Artling curators will be able to reach a broader audience by adding more staff members and refocus on marketing themselves. The funding boost will also benefit The Artling by giving it ties to luxury companies in Europe.

A new feature of the company is the purchase of a website usually based in Hong Kong that features artworks at exhibits and events and offers them for purchase. So if something comes up and a visitor either can’t attend a certain art fair or can’t afford the entrance fee for the event, they can still view the art available. They may also purchase the art featured on the site. This will also help The Artling expand eastward even as it lays down connections in the west.

Curate art in your own life by becoming more knowledgable about it. Whether you realize it or not, art is all around you — from murals to posters to newspapers and even the packaging on your favorite foods and drinks. You might not realize it, though, because you’ve never awakened to that artistic presence. Visit SGArtClass.com today to learn about art through a series of informative articles and to enroll in an art class. Whether you’re more interested in sketching or oil painting, portrait drawing or sculpture, there is sure to be a class that will pique your artistic curiosity. It doesn’t matter if you’re an artistic novice. Expert teachers will be on hand to help teach you the skills you need to complete the projects you’re most interested in. Teachers also have the ability of working around your busy schedule and can even meet you in the convenience of your own home.

To read more about The Artling’s online efforts, go to https://www.techinasia.com/the-artling-series-a-artshare-acquisition.

0 Singapore artists talk art in nation in new comprehensive book

Eight Singapore artists have come together at the encouragement of an organizer to collaborate on a lush coffee table-style book that documents the artists’ works and their place in Singapore. Called “The City Book,” the organizer also plans to make editions for other cities of the world, including Paris, Rome, and Taipei. A similar tome already exists for the organizer’s home city of Hong Kong.

The Singapore edition is notable for bringing the eight artists together. It also includes a special map that is removable and can lead interested visitors to the different locations of the art around Singapore. Each of the artists ruminate about how their artwork is inspired by Singapore, the place they call home, and sections detail just where their art fits in to Singapore itself.

Described as a travel book for travelers who are creatively minded, “The City Book” is filled with information and special context that anyone interested in art and Singapore should pick up and own. While it is easy to examine art in Singapore from a historical perspective, including information about the country’s place in an empire, readers have commented about how intriguing it was for “The City Book” to look at art in Singapore from the artists’ perspectives.

One artist covered in the book took inspiration from atlas moths. The behemoths can be bigger than a face when full grown, and tend to invade the skyscrapers of Singapore during the species’ mating period. The moths favor alighting on the buildings to help dry and cool their gigantic wings, and the fluttering of the large insects created vibrations that the artist was able to record and reproduce as a part of an immersive art exhibit in which visitors walked through the soundscape and the moths themselves were represented by large, abstract dots.

Another artist reproduces portions of Singapore that would normally be teeming with people looking to get to their destinations, but she draws them completely devoid of humanity. It is almost a post-apocalyptic look at busy spots in Singapore, but the artist wanted to examine the way that urban sprawl intrudes on nature — and what might happen if humans weren’t there to intrude.

Still another artist blends nostalgia with reality, transforming the ruins of former amusement parks in Singapore with bits and pieces of old films showing the same scenes. The end result is a ghostly tribute to the fun and family times had at the former hot spots.

Another artist gathers items that had meaning in her childhood and arranges and photographs them according to color, creating something of a tableau to her upbringing. It puts the viewer in a child’s perspective, trying to ferret out just what was seen as beautiful in something as simple as a ball or toy.

Celebrate art by signing up for an art class via SGArtClass.com today.

To learn more about “The City Book” and how to purchase it, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/singapore-through-the-eyes-of-local-artists.

0 Number of activities scheduled to inspire budding young art minds

With all the multiple things to do for the Singapore Art Week, organizers are looking to preserve the highly successful art happening for future generations. That’s why there were at least four art events tailored toward tiny tots in an effort to develop art appreciation for young people.

Art appreciation can start at an early age if parents or teachers incorporate hands-on art activities adjusted for age. This can range in anything from finger painting to playing with moldable clay, or painting with water and a paintbrush on concrete or wood surfaces outdoors. The important thing is that children are supervised and engaged. Art can also help develop fine motor skills and creativity at an early age.

At the Singapore Contemporary art fair, parents can focus on the art on display while certified art teachers entertain children and instruct them in a variety of different projects, including painting and drawing. Specially designed art tours with children’s interests in mind will also be available, building appreciation from an early age for brightly colored, highly engaging, age appropriate art.

During the Singapore Biennale, art tours and artworks in general are both curated with parents and children in mind. A plethora of instructional blurbs on artists and their works can be found throughout the exhibit, guiding children and giving them more context on the artwork. Organizers also designed a series of questions to help foster discussion on the masterpieces and the themes of the biennale.

At a children’s center for creativity in Singapore, organizers take the extra step of consulting with actual children when planning activities. This ensures that all activities will appeal to young visitors. For example, curators of the center’s current exhibit, which focuses on storytelling, met with groups of young children to see what worked and what didn’t in the displays.

Even when there isn’t a special art event happening, there is a wealth of children’s programming available during the year in Singapore. There are often special children’s nights and age appropriate talks and workshops at existing museums and galleries around the nation. National Gallery Singapore is taking this one step forward and devoting an entire wing to children’s programs and activities. There will also be a special art biennale with younger attendees in mind later this year.

Art is important for people of all ages, and that’s why you should consider signing your child up for an art class via SGArtClass.com. Art can help children express their feelings, thoughts, and emotions, and early adherence to classes and lessons could help develop a burgeoning talent that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. Whether it’s a class on watercolor painting or sketching, SGArtClass.com is sure to have a class that will pique your child’s curiosity. Expert teachers are trained to be able to adapt curriculum to students of all ages and abilities, so it doesn’t matter if your child has little formal art training.

To read about the art events planned for children, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/activities-to-nurture-next-generation-of-arts-lovers.