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0 Instagram personality traverses street art in Singapore

Art can, arguably, be found anywhere — from the packaging of your favorite snack to the design of a well-worn couch. Art doesn’t have to appear only in frames in galleries and museums, or in heavy coffee table books. It can be in the eye of the beholder, or even just around the corner, in an unexpected street, a mural on a simple wall, a burst of surprising color as you zoom by on a motorbike or behind the wheel of a car.
At least, that’s the premise of a new video series on Instagram documenting the unexpected public art in and around Singapore. The host of the show zooms around on the back of a motorbike and records the murals and other public paintings in different parts of Singapore. The first of the series, which debuted online at the end of November, looks at the art offerings of the walls and streets of Little India.
Available online and made specifically for Instagram, the host first looks at a well-known mural depicting an ever day scene at a barbershop. However, the mural itself is special because it looks to preserve a culture fast in decline in the face of a modern age. A boy laughs as his friend waits to get his own hair cut in a traditional barbershop setting. The mural was painted in the spare time of an accountant who loved art. After he secured the permission to complete the painting, he gave his neighborhood a quaint scene that might have been typical if passing in front of a window of a place of business instead of a solid wall. Everything in this mural is true to life, including the proportions and perspective. At one point, the host of the video series squats down in front of a chair in the mural, and she looks like she, too, belongs in the barbershop scene.
As the first episode progresses, it shows a series of different mural scenes in snapshot, musical montage format. It’s understood that if the viewer follows this particular account on social media, these snapshots would be regularly available, including people posing and interacting with these special murals. Everything from shop scenes to realistic sleeping dogs are on hand for the viewer’s pleasure.
The host of the show also investigates alleyways in Little India, which host graffiti and restored, colorful buildings. Little India will be the site of an approaching art event centered on these pieces of art.
Explore all the forms art can take by enrolling in an art class today via SGArtClass.com. Learn about and participate in everything from mural art to graffiti art, including how to plan out and secure permission for your pieces. You can learn everything from techniques with traditional paint and brushes to how to use airbrushes and spray paints for more modern looks. Take art into the public space by taking an art class today.
To join in on the motorbike journey for art around the nation, go to http://news.asiaone.com/news/lifestyle/discovering-singapores-art-alleys-motorbike.

0 Creator of beloved comic book speaks at Singapore event

Comic book fans packed a recent Singapore writing festival for the chance to pick the brain of the creator of the highly popular “Detective Conan” series. The author was on hand to answer questions about his creation, and caused a big stir by suggesting that the latest installment of the manga could very well be set in Singapore. Many in the audience were visibly excited by this surprise announcement.
Gosho Aoyama himself seemed a little surprised by all of the love he was receiving from the fans who attended the Singapore Writers Festival to get the chance to see and hear him. At the end of his question and answer session, when it was announced that just one hundred fans would get the chance to meet Aoyama and get a book signed, many in the audience thundered out of the room to ensure they would get a good place in line to achieve that goal. Aoyama was left laughing to complete his talk to a diminished audience.
Aoyama talked about the successful “Detective Conan” series, based on a high schooler transformed into a child as he solves complicated mysteries, as well as his own journey as an artist and writer. He said that he knew when he was in elementary school that he wanted to create manga for a living, but he was afraid of disappointing his parents. He decided instead to pursue a career in teaching art, but when he was in college to earn his degree, he joined a manga club and his dreams to create works in that genre were reignited. “Detective Conan” is looking forward to the one thousandth installment in the manga series, and it has also seen tens of movies and a popular ongoing anime television series to complement it. Aoyama couldn’t have foreseen the success of his dream, especially given the challenges inherent in the genre. With good humor, he blamed any deadline delays on his editors instead of on himself, admitting that it is difficult to put deadlines on the creative process. He also revealed that the long-running manga is nearing its end, laughing at disappointed fans and chiding them that everything had to eventually come to an end. His titular character continues to get closer and closer to the truth, and Singapore fans could see their home country featured in the climax of the story.
Are you interested in manga, anime, and comic book drawing? Think about taking an art class in one of those genres via SGArtClass.com. Expert teachers will be on hand to teach you everything you need to know to make your own comic, including sketching, planning action and dialogue in your frames, and using markers, paints, or computer programs to add color and bring your characters and stories to life. Soon, you will have an all new way to tell your stories through art.
To learn more about what the creator had to say about the wildly popular comic, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/detective-conan-may-be-set-in-singapore.

0 Details emerge for next year’s Art Stage Singapore

The latest installment of Art Stage Singapore is set to dazzle and unite the Southeast Asia art market as one of the first big art shows of the new year. Scheduled for the middle of January, the show aims to unite art in Singapore with art from the rest of the region, which is posed to become a major player in the global art world. Now is an even more important time than ever to put on a united front in the Southeast Asia art world, which competes with bigger markets in China, Europe, and beyond.
The organizer of Art Stage Singapore cites that reason for this year’s theme, which is called “Only Together Can We Be Strong.” Blending the strengths of art in Singapore and its neighboring nations in the region can be seen as only a good thing, making artists’ work in the area be seen as a driving force to tell the story of the region to the rest of the art world. Since Singapore is the smallest country in the Southeast Asia region — and, in fact, one of the smallest countries in the entire world — it particularly benefits art in Singapore to band together with art from its neighbors to show the world what the region has to offer.
In light of global economic issues and the changing tides of politics around the world, Art Stage Singapore is poised to examine the role of art in the world, and — more specifically — the role of Southeast Asia’s art in terms of its creative influences. While many people might be able to visit an art gallery or museum and look at and enjoy art, many artists do not have the luxury of producing art simply for art’s sake. Committed artists must also take into account what art might be lucrative, or might at least support their lifestyles and ability to make more art without the distraction of worrying about bills or taking care of their families. Singapore, along with the rest of Southeast Asia, looks to market its art to collectors around the world, particularly those who may have more money at their disposal to purchase art. There will be a wide range of diverse art on display at Art Stage Singapore, featuring masterpieces from nearly thirty countries.
Get in the spirit of Art Stage Singapore by seeing just what kind of art you can create yourself. Sign up for an art class today via SGArtClass.com. SGArtClass.com is a comprehensive website containing everything from informational art articles to exhaustive lists of art classes you can take. It doesn’t matter if you have experience in art lessons or if you’re a beginner to the genre. Art teachers of every area are highly trained to teach you the skills you need to complete projects in the genre of your choice, including oil painting, sketching, digital photography, and more.
For more details about the upcoming show, go to http://popspoken.com/arts/2016/11/art-stage-singapore-2017.

0 Special Singapore art show inspires sense of community

In its fourth year, Varnam, a special Singapore art show for the country’s Malayalee community, is expanding from a two-day format to four whole days to make room for the thousands of visitors expected to take in the wide range of art that will be on display. More than one hundred masterpieces from 25 artists will be on hand in prices ranging from $100 into the tens of thousands of dollars. A small portion of proceeds garnered from the show will go toward a special fund aimed at bringing art to the disabled population.
Artists taking part in this year’s installment of Varnam aren’t restricted to a specific theme or medium, meaning that visitors will be treated to art of all shapes and sizes and messages. Everything from acrylic paintings to mixed media works will be on display. One full-time artist says she achieves a 3-D aspect in her paintings by using different mediums, including glass paint and metallic colors, in spite of the fact that her favorite subjects are natural ones, including trees and coral formations. Another artist who will be featured at the show works on a large scale, completing murals that take hundreds of hours. This artist taught himself to paint, and the method of his murals isn’t something that is readily seen in Singapore.
Due to the popularity of Varnam in years past, this year, organizers allowed for the first time for artists who are not a part of the Malayalee community to participate. Of the 25 artists on hand, seven are from outside the community, representing an effort to be more inclusive and all encompassing for people belonging to both the Malayalee community and those outside of it. The art show brings different groups together, which is important so that they can learn from each other and build on mutual skills and understanding. Art can be a big part of teaching people that there are common themes and understandings that span all different types of cultures and communities. Art can be a language that people from multiple places in the world can grasp, and that can help bridge misunderstandings.
If you’re interested in art but aren’t sure where to start your journey, consider visiting SGArtClass.com today. SGArtClass.com is a one-stop shopping website for all things art, including articles about different styles of art, low-cost products to help fuel your hobbies and passions, and listings of classes you can sign up for. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never held a paintbrush before. Teachers you can meet with in the comfort and convenience of your own home will give you the skills and background necessary to create art projects in the genre you’ve always wanted to explore, including mural painting, found art, 3-D sculpture, acrylic painting, and much more. Sign up for an art class today.
To learn more about the special art show, go to http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/fostering-community-bonding-through-art-exhibition-singapore-malayalee-association.

0 Five masterpieces not to miss at Singapore Biennale

With the Singapore Biennale in full swing for the next four months, there are a number of talks, performances, and exhibits to take in over the sprawling Singapore Art Museum and several other auxiliary sites. This year’s event focuses on artists exclusively from Southeast Asia, illuminating the special insights and skills art from this region has to contribute to the rest of the art world. This year’s theme, “An Atlas of Mirrors,” is repeated throughout the works on display, from use of literal mirrors to an actual representation of the god Atlas, the one consigned to forever lift the world on his shoulders. Other references to atlases slip in, also, through depictions of maps of the region and the countries in it.
Still others, however, take the theme and go running with it. Examinations of myths and beliefs throughout the region, as well as politics and cultural considerations, take center stage with depictions of mythical beasts of legend as well as historical arrivals of explorers reimagined in the lens of rumor and mystery. All of these exhibitions combine to create a conversation about topics important to Southeast Asia and beyond.
With so many art exhibitions strung out over such a long period of time, one would be forgiven for being at least a little intimidated by the spread. However, one writer sifted through all the various offerings of the Singapore Biennale to name five exhibits that you should take care not to miss, if you’re aiming at getting some of the works present under your belt.
One of these exhibits is a fantastical map by a Chinese artist sure to ignite the imagination of both map fans and fantasy aficionados. Lovingly rendered using traditional techniques, the map looks like it should lead to a treasure, and includes such landmarks as the sea of the imaginary voyage.
The second masterpiece is a massive installation by an Indonesian artist depicting a traditional tale of a legendary prince. The story itself is constructed on a large piece of canvas, but the real story is the massive book from which hand-cut letters spill.
The third exhibit is a series of gold-plated nutmegs stitched together to take on the appearance of three hooded, metallic figures sailing on three boats. The installation is meant as a commentary on imports and exports from Southeast Asia.
The fourth piece might be easily overlooked, as they look like nothing more than bits of trash someone might have carelessly left behind. But the installation is by a Japanese artist who has carefully reproduced garbage he has seen around Singapore.
The fifth masterpiece not to miss is also so small that it could be forgotten among the other larger scale pieces. But using pearl and mother of pearl, the artist has painstakingly crafted tiny eyes, staring at the viewer, challenging them.
Enroll in an art class today via SGArtClass.com.
To read more about the Singapore Biennale and the works on display there, go to http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/lifestyle/5-works-to-check-out-at-the-singapore-biennale-2016/3240010.html.

0 Illustration festival set to delight Singaporeans

You might not see their work on huge canvases hanging in museums or galleries, but that doesn’t mean the work of Singapore’s illustrators are any less art than their more traditional counterparts. In this vein, a brand new art event will be putting their work at the forefront, and if all goes according to plan, The Illustration Arts Fest will become an annual fixture in Singapore’s many art events.
This special festival will feature between one hundred and two hundred illustrators, who will be on hand to greet visitors, give live demonstrations of their art, discuss their roles as illustrators, and conduct hands-on workshops with interested visitors. It will be sure to be an exciting and novel event, especially since it is the first of its kind in Singapore. All of the illustrators’ art will be available to purchase.
Indeed, many illustrators aren’t as visibly famous as other visual artists, most of them laboring in relative anonymity behind social media avatars or bylines on projects. This event gives the public an opportunity to meet illustrators and understand the kind of work they do. One illustrator attending the festival commented on how it is something of a struggle, at times, for illustrators to make ends meet. If they do sell pieces, it’s not on the same scale of traditional artists, though there might arguably be more opportunities for them commercially and otherwise.
One of the most exciting special events organized in conjunction with the festival is a free opportunity to see illustrators at work. Participants will say a word, phrase, or situation, and then right there, on the spot, an illustrator will create an illustration based on what the participant says. Perhaps one of the most famous illustrators who will be on hand during the celebrations is the illustrator behind the lauded graphic novel “The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye.” The work won a literature prize this year. He will be conducting a talk about the graphic novel as well as giving a lecture about storytelling through comics.
Overall, illustrators who are taking part in the event hope they show that there are many different styles of their chosen art, and that Singapore is becoming a lively hub for creative work.
Celebrate the art renaissance in Singapore by signing up for an art class today via SGArtClass.com. SGArtClass.com is a wonderful resource for all your artistic needs, offering informational art articles, discounted supplies, and a vast listing of different art classes you can enroll in. From chalk drawing to portrait painting, 3-D sculpture to abstract painting, you are in for a treat in whatever class you choose. Expert teachers are on hand to help you develop the background and skills you need in order to successfully complete projects with your specific interests in mind. Art classes give you surprising benefits, including stress relief, a healthy hobby, and developing creative problem solving skills.
To learn more about the new illustration festival, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/draw-of-illustrating.

0 One of Singapore’s oldest galleries celebrating two decades

The Gajah Gallery in Singapore is named after a term for elephant used throughout the Southeast Asia region. Elephants are respected creatures throughout the area, slow and steady and faithful, and so it is perhaps particularly appropriate that the Gajah Gallery is one of Singapore’s oldest remaining art galleries. It is set to celebrate its upcoming 20th anniversary with a massive two-week show highlighting the gallery’s strengths and history.
The founder of Gajah Gallery says he got his inspiration for the name while going on an extended trip throughout Southeast Asia, looking for art and creative inspiration in general. In Thailand, he saw an elephant tied to a streetlight in the heat of the day, and he realized just how patient the animal was, waiting for whatever might come. In this vein, the Gajah Gallery has also weathered various storms, including the rapid opening and closing of other art galleries like it in Singapore, as well as an economic downturn in the country that sent other art curators scrambling.
It is perhaps a lifelong love of art that has kept the Gajah Gallery owner going, as well as a good deal of luck. He points to the Singaporean government’s investment into art as a good thing, and something that enabled artists and gallerists alike to try and pursue their creative dreams. Without that influx of government cash going toward the pursuit of art, many places, Gajah Gallery included, might not have been able to survive as long as they have.
However, twenty years ago, the art scene in Singapore was quite “barren,” to borrow the gallerist’s word. Gajah Gallery held its first show in the same year that the Singapore Art Museum opened, and it was something of a struggle to understand how to keep up with what it should be doing as well as inspire people and draw serious art collectors in to the space. At first, Gajah Gallery didn’t even have a dedicated, permanent space. It simply continued hosting popup shows around Singapore. Finally, a new space opened up for them, and Gajah Gallery grew its brand by featuring virtually unknown Indonesian artists.
A bigger space enabled bigger dreams, including featuring bigger and pricier artwork. The more art they sell and business they attract, the more Gajah Gallery is able to do. Running the gallery has turned into something of a team effort with organizers, technicians, and many others coming together to ensure constant success.
If you’ve always wondered how to get into art but aren’t sure what you can do about it, visit SGArtClass.com today to see a vast offering of different art classes you can enroll in. Discover a brand new passion for yourself or simply relieve stress from work or school by signing up to take a charcoal drawing class, found art class, fashion drawing class, and many more.
To read more about the Gajah Gallery’s history and its look to the future, go to http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/lifestyle/elephant-in-the-room-how-singapore-s-gajah-gallery-embraced/3258430.html.

0 Biennale a celebration of Southeast Asia’s creative connections

Just because this edition of the Singapore Biennale features art and artists exclusively from Asia doesn’t mean that it is any less international-minded than other biennales across the globe. At least, that’s what the creative director of the four-month art event says, highlighting the fact that Singapore serves as an important hub for all of the nations within Asia — each of which has something valuable to contribute to and reflect to one another. That’s why the Singapore Biennale’s theme — “Atlas of Mirrors” — is even more meaningful.
The creative director goes on to say that the cultural exchange among Asian countries isn’t simply a one-way transaction — or even a two-way street. Instead, all of the interactions, influences, and communication among the countries in different parts of Asia act as a sort of tapestry, with unique threads combining to make a whole.
The focus on Singaporean and other Asian artists in this installation of the biennale echoes across the world with meaningful pieces that have turned the attention of the global art world toward the show. One Singapore artist built a functioning loudspeaker for the show made entirely of woks, showing how prevalent this cooking tool is even beyond Asia. Other exhibits include a projection of videos of ocean waters shone on actual water, creating an immersive experience that recalls the journeys people make in order to find work to support themselves and their families. An art exhibit constructed exclusively with sound includes recordings the artist made in areas frequented by immigrants, reinforcing the idea of different cultures intwining to make new cultural connections all their own.
While the Singapore Art Museum is the main site for a majority of the artworks present in the Singapore Biennale, a number of other annexes and locations house other pieces. These pieces are the more heavily political, reflecting the tumult of history in the region. One artist from Myanmar reconstructed a map of the country using carved soaps very similar to the ones he carved while in prison for protesting. Others document periods of time rife with controversy. Artists are examining an interesting segment of time in which the traditions of the past are fading in the face of future advancements. Art does some work in preserving these traditions, but it is artists who are caught in the middle.
Celebrate the Singapore Biennale by finding your own place in the art world through taking an art class. Visit SGArtClass.com today to browse an exhaustive listing of art classes that are available for enrollment, including oil painting, portrait drawing, collage art, and many more. There is sure to be an art class to inspire you, along with an expert teacher to lead you through the history of your chosen art genre as well as the techniques necessary to complete projects you’re most interested in doing.
To read more about the art on display at the Singapore Biennale, go to http://theartnewspaper.com/news/news/singapore-biennale-reflects-on-the-ties-between-asian-countries-/.

0 Singapore curator discusses biennale, art world elitism

Michael Lee, a Singaporean artist and curator whose current role finds him in the middle of the Singapore Biennale, recently sat down with a reporter to answer some questions about art in Singapore, the biennale, and broader topics about art in general.
Lee expressed excitement about this year’s Singapore Biennale, talking about how thrilling it is to have such a foremost art celebration focusing on art and artists exclusively from Southeast Asia. This brings a focus to art produced in this region, showing the rest of the world what the area can contribute to contemporary art. All of these different perspectives will combine to bring a greater understanding of both art and culture as well as belief systems and histories among all of the artists and the countries they come from. The biennale itself will take place over the course of four months in a variety of locations. Though the hub of the celebrations is the Singapore Art Museum, other annexes and museums in the country have also been tapped to house everything from art exhibits to artist performances, talks, and tours.
One Singaporean artist who will be addressing a topic that can be applied to the entire world creates installations examining forest fires. This important environmental issue will also be on display at the biennale, where the artist will recreate a scorched forest with burned logs and stumps standing upright to reflect a forest that has been burned but hasn’t fallen. This stark symbol of loss and hope could appear anywhere in the world that has experienced the environmental fallout from forest fires, including North America, Europe, Australia, and beyond.
Lee’s own views of the importance of art are influenced by being an artist himself. He believes that his own freedom is intrinsic on understanding his place in culture. While he learns from the past and accepts its influence on the present, he also understands that there are parts of the past that can never be known. Whether they’re lost to history or conflicting reports or suppression of the truth, Lee knows that it’s up to us to put ourselves in the historical context we best understand.
Lee also addressed the idea that the art world was rife with elitism. With a majority of art funding in Singapore coming from the government, many have feared that the government — in a direct or indirect way — has influence over the art produced in the country. Lee disagrees, saying that the government funding enables artists to explore topics that might not necessarily be as marketable as more traditional paintings. This gives them the chance to pursue passion projects or things more important than selling their work. The assumption that elitism is present is also problematic, Lee says, implying that people don’t understand art is for them, too.
Investigate your own place in the art world by looking into signing up for an art class via SGArtClass.com.
To read more details about the question and answer session with Singaporean artist and curator Michael Lee, go to http://sea-globe.com/singapore-biennale-michael-lee/.

0 Artist makes, breaks blood oath amid performance controversy

A Singaporean contemporary artist will allow his art exhibit to continue to be shown in the Singapore Biennale despite a dramatic blood oath display, where he stated that he would never allow his work to be shown in the country again.
The blood oath incident stemmed from the artist not being allowed to put on the performance portion of his exhibit. This performance would have included the artist being pierced by six metal hooks on his back and walking through the streets of a Singaporean neighborhood. Attached to the hooks would be representations of temples and other places of worship depicted in ice sculptures. Authorities limited that performance because they were afraid it would offend religious viewers — the artist said that no religious offense was intended, and the ice sculptures were generic. The artist himself is well known for grueling, often hard to watch performances.
However, the artist’s other works will still be on display at the Singapore Biennale. After meeting with the curatorial team of the biennale, he issued a statement saying that his blood oath protest was more about the freedom of artistic expression in Singapore itself than at the biennale, and that he respected the curatorial team’s process. Many officials on the curatorial team have had the unenviable task of balancing loud artistic voices with the diverse ages and beliefs of people viewing the art.
While the artist will not be performing for his exhibit — or giving further interviews or statements on the subject — his art exhibit, which did not originally include any performance elements, will still be seen. The artist encouraged a further dialogue about controversial art and performance art in the country and beyond, and the necessity of discussion over the reality of smothering unique voices that challenge the status quo. The artist was respectful when making this statement, saying how essential it was to maintain integrity even among controversy. Spokespeople for the biennale curatorial team agreed, citing contemporary art’s important place in fostering cultural growth and conversations about difficult topics.
Explore topics close to your own heart by signing up to take an art class today. Art can help you work through difficult feelings, get more in touch with your own beliefs, relieve work- or school-related stress, and help you develop a new set of creative skills that will benefit you in whatever realm you choose. Visit SGArtClass.com to see the wide range of art classes offered. Enroll in a class on digital art, mural painting, acrylic painting, comic drawing, or many more different genres. Expert teachers will be on hand to lead you through your chosen genre, highly trained to engage with students of all levels and techniques. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never had any formal art training before setting foot in the class. You will learn everything from the basic concepts, such as color mixing and how to use brushes and other tools, to completing your very own project.
Read more about the proposed performance art and subsequent incident by visiting http://www.todayonline.com/singapore-biennale-artist-abandons-blood-oath.

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