Category Archives for "Blog"

0 Prominent Singapore art prize money gets boost

An art award that honors Southeast Asian artists who devote their works to freedom is getting a bump in the prize money at the start of the new year.

The award, presented by a Singapore art fair in conjunction with the United States Embassy, is named after the first U.S. ambassador to Singapore, Joseph Balestier. The prize money, which will be doled out in January 2016, has been raised to more than S$20,000, an increase of about one-quarter of the prize money from the first time this prize was awarded this past year.

The winner of the 2015 Joseph Balestier Award was Indonesian artist FX Harsono, known best for his installation exhibits and performance artwork, as well as his pro-democracy criticism efforts and work bringing attention and awareness to minority groups.

Harsono, who is also on the shortlist of potential winners for the 2016 award, challenges political viewpoints while exercising the ability of free expression in his art. One of his better-known works features Indonesian masks cut into two pieces, a commentary on people and forces in power marginalizing traditional groups and beliefs. Another vivid installation from Harsono is a four-place table setting perfectly placed and ready for diners — but only if the diners are hungry for dozens of delicately arranged butterflies.

The rest of the shortlist will be announced early in January. Another nominee is Singapore performance artist Lee Wen.

Three jury members from the region have been appointed to pick the winner of the 2016 award, with the announcement for top prize coming in the middle of January. The grant money included in the top prize is also accompanied by a certificate and trophy, which are all presented by the current U.S. ambassador to Singapore, Kirk Wagar, as well as the director of the Singapore art fair that cosponsors the prize, Lorenzo Rudolf.

Rudolf added that the prominent art award was possible because of the partnership with the U.S. Embassy. The art award is also the latest effort to recognize the importance of arts and culture in society, coming on the tail of a slew of new art galleries, shows, exhibitions, museums, festivals, and much more in Singapore, marking the nation’s 50th birthday.

With such a significant push to recognize how important art is, now is the time to contribute your own creative viewpoints to the art world. Sign up for an art class via SGArtClass.com. Our website is the easiest way to browse and indicate your interest in various art classes ranging in all kinds of art genres, from installation art like Indonesian artist FX Harsono, to more traditional forms of art, including mural art, photography, scratch art, portraits, and much more. All of our classes are led by knowledgeable instructors dedicated to making your in-class experience as fun and informative as possible. Classes can be held onsite or at a location of your convenience, such as your home or office. Enroll today to ride the artistic wave.

For more on the Singapore art prize, go to http://news.asiaone.com/news/lifestyle/freedom-art-prize-money-raised-20000.

0 Famous kabuki artist coming back to Singapore

Kabuki, the traditional Japanese theater performance, is having a strong showing at the moment in Singapore, which is why it’s important not to miss a masterful upcoming performance featuring one of the greatest kabuki actors today.

Actor Ebizo Ichikawa XI, the latest kabuki actor in a long tradition in his family, dating back to the 17th century, is returning to Singapore to take part in a performance that will feature two kabuki plays. The first, which Ichikawa stars in, is about an umbrella salesman in a monsoon who proves himself to be quite the fighter when threatened. Ichikawa himself remarked that one of the biggest cultural differences Singaporean audiences will notice about this play in particular is that he noticed that people who live in Singapore use umbrellas much less often than people who live in Japan. The play features many different performances featuring umbrellas.

The second play as a part of this special performance is actually a collection of 18 short traditional kabuki plays centering on the concept of divorce, including the complicated relationships between men and women.

Even if Singapore audiences might not understand the Japanese language of the kabuki performances, Ichikawa compared kabuki to opera. Even if an opera audience might not understand Italian, German, or whatever language the singers perform in, they can still follow the story based on the emotions conveyed by the actors, the tone of the music, the setting, and other elements. Many Japanese transplants living in Singapore turned out for the last kabuki performance that Ichikawa led in the nation, making it likely that they will do the same for this upcoming show.

Kabuki is a traditional Japanese performance art typified by bright, distinctive white makeup with exaggerated features painted on, elaborate costumes, and very distinctive and traditional movements. The art takes years to learn. The actor Ichikawa started performing when he was just 5 years old, completing an apprenticeship while he was still a teenager and becoming an accomplished full kabuki actor after that. Kabuki is enjoying a resurgence of popularity coupled with a nostalgia for the art form’s tradition and beauty, with many traditional kabuki actors and storylines finding prominence in current publications, movies, and other media.

Kabuki theater is just one small but fascinating part of the larger art world. If you’re interested in learning more about art in theater, think about enrolling in an art class through SGArtClass.com. Our gathering of art lessons will help you find the class you’re interested in — whether it’s set design, mural painting, decorative indoor painting, makeup art, or much more. Find out how art transcends all of its different genres — from theater to singing to visual displays — and find your own niche. Our thoroughly screened teachers will be able to help you find your way on your artistic journey, tailoring the lessons to what you’d like to learn and adjusting their instruction to your already existing skill set. Grow as a person while investigating a brand new side of culture.

To read more about the upcoming performance, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/prominent-kabuki-actor-returns-to-singapore.

0 Charity looks to help heal children’s war wounds through art

When war strikes a region and residents are forced to flee, many times with only the things they can carry, the focus is always simply on preserving their lives. They must leave the places they had considered home in order to keep on living, and become refugees, strangers in lands strange to them, upended from everything they used to know. When basic survival becomes the top goal, other things can fall by the wayside, including the emotional wellbeing of the children caught up in the turmoil.

That’s where a Singapore art therapy organization saw an opportunity to help.

The Red Pencil, a service group based in Singapore, aims to help people work through traumas in both every day life and extreme situations, such as after natural disasters. When The Red Pencil works with people in art therapy in Singapore, sessions are usually conducted at hospitals and other facilities. The group’s trip to help children in a Syrian refugee camp was its first venture into a war zone, but one the founder said was an important way to aid in this humanitarian crisis.

Laurence Vandenborre, a woman born in Belgium who now lives in Singapore, oversaw The Red Pencil’s efforts at the refugee camp. She said she saw firsthand just how damaged the young refugees were when an innocent game of soccer erupted into violence when one child would snatch away the ball. Children would throw rocks at one another for what used to be minor slights, an indication of emotional trauma.

The first art session held with children living at the refugee camp was less art and more acting out, or outpourings of emotions. Instead of completing a drawing project proposed by art therapists, many students pressed too hard with their pencils and markers, tearing holes in the paper, ripping up what they did create and throwing it away. Though it may have felt like a failed session, Vandenborre said the children’s actions actually ended up being cathartic, helping them focus their artistic intentions on the next project.

With patience and hard work, the children began completing actual art projects, working together with their peers and with the art therapists to produce collaborative pieces of art. Before completing their initial mission to the refugee camp, the art therapists worked with the parents of the children to help teach them ways to use art to cope with the traumas present in their children’s lives. Art therapists of The Red Pencil plan to return to the refugee camp at least two more times.

Art is incredibly important, offering myriad benefits for those who choose to learn how to complete projects in any one of a number of genres. That’s why you should consider signing up for an art class through SGArtClass.com, especially if you’ve never tried art before. Everything from drawing to painting to mural art and 3-D sculpture can lessen stress and bad moods while giving you tools to cope with whatever life throws at you.

To learn more about the charity’s efforts to help refugee children, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/charity-tries-art-therapy-to-heal-refugee-kids-trauma.

0 Artists transform superheroes into traditional shadow puppets

Talented artists, visionaries, and craftsmen have dedicated themselves to preserving an important cultural tradition using a unique tool — superheroes.

The Malaysian team is using DC Comics superheroes — including Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Green Lantern, and Flash — to bring renewed interest to traditional art form of shadow puppetry, also known as Wayan Kulit.

This form of shadow puppetry is a dying breed, so the team took it upon themselves to try to revive it by reimagining the traditional characters. Each superhero is immediately recognizable because of their costumes’ colors and overall appearance, but traditional elements of Wayan Kulit design remains present. For example, Superman receives a floating pose because of the character’s power of flight. The Batman puppet stands on a bat, poised to emerge from the darkness. Green Lantern’s magical ring receives a larger protective green hand, signifying its power. Instead of being portrayed as more passive traditional princess, Wonder Woman retains her lasso and appears ready to do battle. Flash’s speed is depicted by the puppet appearing to run on a lightning bolt.

Each puppet is lovingly designed and brightly colored and crafted by a team of experts devoted to the art form. One of the artists says that it’s a common misconception that the shadow puppetry takes place completely in black and white, explaining that the traditional paint for the puppets’ bodies is translucent, allowing the colors to be conveyed in the shadow.

The Malaysian team behind this heroic reimagining of shadow puppetry has a number of other projects up their sleeves to gain renewed interest in Wayan Kulit. There have been three performances of traditional shadow puppets modeled off of Star Wars characters, for example, as well as a puppet depicting martial arts star Bruce Lee and a Christmas show. The team is set to reveal a new collection of puppets around the Halloween holiday.

Though the technology to expedite the process of making each puppet exists, the team resists taking the easy way out. Some of the traditional values of the art form would be lost if all of the puppets were made via computer. Instead, after the team revamps the styles for the puppets, they send the designs to traditional craftsmen, who make the puppets completely by hand, lending to the magic of the traditional Wayan Kulit.

Interested in pop culture, design, puppets, or traditional art forms? Learn more about all of these art genres and many more by signing up for an art class today. Visit SGArtClass.com to browse exhaustive lists of class offerings. You’re sure to find at least one lesson that piques your creative interest. Under the tutelage of art teachers familiar with their craft, you’ll be able to learn a new set of creative skills, hone art techniques you already have, or develop an exciting new way of looking at the world through art. Don’t let your former artistic instincts fall by the wayside. Enroll in art lessons in order to refresh your creative interests.

For more about this unique art and transformation, go to https://sg.news.yahoo.com/dc-superheroes-take-a-different-form-032957850.html.

0 Art show to raise money for cerebral palsy

One of the most special parts of art is the ability for artists to create masterpieces that not only benefits the art world, but other organizations that often lack support for important causes. Singapore’s Ng Xiu Zhen is one of these special artists, creating art work that helps raise funding for a cause that is near and dear to her heart — cerebral palsy.

Ng, who has cerebral palsy, didn’t start out as a confident artist, ready to sell her works to raise money for a cerebral palsy organization. During an art class, an instructor told her to create a piece based on an orchid. Ng didn’t trust herself with the minute details that would go into such an artwork, instead painting a basic, generic flower in place of the orchid.

After much practice, however, Ng is a talented young artist, completing masterpieces of all different types of flowers in acrylic mediums and beyond. After she mastered acrylic paintings of flowers, Ng moved on to foil art and compositions made entirely of colored sand.

Her latest artwork is part of a traveling show with four other artists that was first unveiled at the W Singapore hotel. The exhibit, called “Art on the Move,” will continue to pop up at different locations around Singapore in order to raise funds for the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore group, which aims to provide rehab services and job training for people afflicted with the condition.

Ng says that the show is important not only for raising awareness of cerebral palsy and funding for the Singapore alliance, but also to show other people who might not know much about the condition that people who may be considered disabled in some walks of life are more than able to perform in different aspects of life, including painting. Ng is also an accomplished para-athlete in sailing. The leader of the cerebral palsy alliance hopes that the traveling exhibition will help move people who view it to understand that those living with the condition still have hope for the things that they can do rather than despair at their limitations. All of the artists participating in the traveling show have nothing but optimism for the future and the possibilities that art presents them with.

Are you interested in art, whether it’s from gallery exhibitions or museum collections that you come across, but aren’t sure where to start? Think about visiting SGArtClass.com today to enroll in an art class tailored to your interests and goals for your art education. SGArtClass.com hosts a number of different classes, all taught by expert art instructors, appropriate for all ages and abilities. If you’re already proficient in traditional art forms, like drawing and painting, think about taking a non-traditional class, like foil art or sand art, and expand your knowledge of what you previously believed art to consist of. If you’ve never picked up a pencil or brush in your life, consider our beginners’ classes, aimed at giving you the basic skills you need to succeed as an artist.

To learn more about the traveling art show, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/travelling-art-show-to-raise-funds-for-those-with-cerebral-palsy.

0 Amid Singapore’s art boom, reviewing arts rules

Art isn’t just something pretty to look at, watch, or listen to. Instead, art plays an important part of society, offering commentary and criticism, as well as critical reflection on the course of history and culture in a country. Art can be controversial, but it is sometimes more important to be open to criticism instead of shutting it down.

With Singapore’s booming arts and culture scene, many artists and viewers of art alike have worries that maturing artists and their increasingly mature themes and artworks are in danger of being stifled by government rules and regulations. Doing so, some people argue, could become a setback to all the growth that the art world has enjoyed recently in Singapore. This includes the openings of new galleries and museums, as well as newly inaugurated festivals, shows, and exhibitions. One of Singapore’s most celebrated recent art achievements has been a traveling show that has garnered a wealth of positive attention in cities such as Paris and New York City.

Some people argue that without a loosening of some of the restrictions controversial artwork, films, and more can face, Singapore could be at risk of losing some of its best new talent and artists. Several top curators have already left the country to lead museums and galleries abroad, where rules aren’t quite as stringent. This leaves Singapore in danger of being swept into a “brain drain,” or a situation in which talented individuals born and raised in the country seek their fortunes elsewhere in the world, halting their contributions to Singapore’s forward progress in favor of relaxed rules to let their art grow organically.

Art has an important place in society because art is often said to imitate life. Talented artists deserving of public attention and consideration take this one step further by allowing their art to not only imitate life, but also comment on it — good and bad. It’s the bad commentary — the criticisms that regulators might decry as bad for moral — that are the most important. Criticism encourages the viewers of the art to look at their own lives and societies and analyze what could be better, perhaps inspiring them to look for solutions to work toward that goal.

Censorship of artworks and films by Singaporean artists shown in Singapore, some people argue, is harmful to Singapore as a whole. Knowing that they might be restricted could make talented artists on the verge of their big breakthroughs hold back, limiting their own potentials. At worst, it could make them move to other countries where they don’t have to experience such limitations.

Delve into the art world today by enrolling in an art class offered through SGArtClass.com. Learn how to express yourself in any art genre, from portrait drawing to landscape painting to sculpting and everything in between. Reflect the life around you under the tutelage of an expert instructor and lessons tailored to your level of comfort and artistic ability.

To read more about Singapore’s arts regulations, go to http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/time-review-arts-regulation.

0 Singapore art star teams up with fashion designer for collaboration

Art comes in all different forms, from traditional pieces on canvas to the way a chef arranges a meal on a plate to a dress that a woman dons before going to work. Artistic possibilities open up when different artists from completely different creative genres collaborate in order to produce special works for a wonderful charitable cause.

This is the case of young Singaporean artist Gelyn Ong, an 11-year-old whose incredibly advanced artworks have raised nearly S$1 million for charity, who is teaming up with gifted Vietnamese fashion designer Phuong My to create a collection of dresses. The proceeds of the dress sales will all go toward the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a charitable organization that helps grant the wishes of children with cancer.

Together, these two artists created a coherent collection of fifteen dresses, all based on orchids, for Singapore’s 50th birthday celebration. Ong worked in watercolors to complete the initial designs for the patterns that would appear on the dress, pushing herself to be comfortable in a genre that she usually doesn’t work in. Ong is most used to painting on canvas with acrylic paints, not using watercolor and then digital software to determine how the design will work best on the garment. She said that she had initial misgivings about working with Phuong because of the difference in mediums and because Phuong was so talented in her own field. However, after their joint project, Ong said that she was more excited about art than ever, especially for fashion — a facet of the broad art world that she’d never considered.

For her part, Phuong said she was impressed with all the funds that Ong had raised for charitable organizations through the sale of her artwork. Introduced to each other through a mutual friend, Phuong was eager to team up with Ong in order to give back to the community by completing a mutual project. Phuong’s fashion designs have been lauded by fashion publications across the globe.

To complete the project, Ong first painted artwork with the theme of orchids. Then, she and Phuong examined each artwork and decided how it would best be reproduced on the dresses as printed patterns or 3-D textures. The end result was a beautiful collection of dresses all inspired by orchids and by the idea of giving back. Some are plastered with gauzy fabric cut to resemble delicate orchid petals. Another is softly reminiscent of a beautiful bouquet of orchids, dreamlike flowers decorating the flowing fabric.

Art comes in many different forms, meaning there is surely an artistic genre for everyone. Find yours by signing up for art lessons through SGArtClass.com. From fashion design and drawing to acrylic painting and watercolor painting, art takes on many different ideas, perfect for a wide range of projects. If you already enjoy one type of art, consider investigating another type of art that you’ve never tried before. You never know — you might find your newest passion.

To learn more about the charitable collaboration, go to http://www.todayonline.com/lifestyle/style/top-vietnam-designer-and-singapore-art-prodigy-create-dresses-charity.

0 Singapore looks to push for a more creative economy

With Singapore on the brink of its 50th birthday, other countries in the world are taking notice of it, and for good reason — the country has decided to focus its attentions on boosting arts and culture on every level.

Evidence of this can be seen at a traveling art show that has already passed through England and China, garnering rave reviews. Singapore: Inside Out, soon opening in New York City, offers viewers an immersive experience of Singapore’s arts scene.

Such efforts to draw global attention to Singapore’s creative pursuits are part of a broader attempt to foster a creative culture in the country. This effort can also be seen during Nov. 24’s grand opening of the National Gallery Singapore, a massive art museum. Singapore must also work to overcome old perceptions that it is a nation more concerned with high-paying jobs and science, technology, engineering, and math education, leaving arts and culture by the wayside.

A new willingness to embrace possibly controversial subjects that many artists explore in their work is part of what is leading Singapore’s arts and culture revolution. Officials within the Singapore government also started to reach out abroad to get foreign investors willing to invest in its cultural future. One such business giant is LucasFilms, the company behind the Star Wars movies. LucasFilms has been working out of its offices in Singapore, drawing other entertainment giants to take a second glance at working with rising Singapore filmmakers and other creative workers.

Recognizing that boosting the art world in Singapore is an economic boon has also led to more educational institutions revamping their curriculum in order to offer students additional learning opportunities. What used to be traditional art universities have started offering classes and degrees using new media — such as video, web, digital art, and much more. Boot camps for designers also have an extremely high rate of career placement following graduation.

Singapore’s creative push has culminated in a realization that creative professionals can still be employed at a high level of pay, expanding the demographic’s earning power and boosting the country’s economic level as a whole. Wanting its citizens in lucrative careers is a part of the goal of the country, which requires a large investment from its residents to keep itself going.

With Singapore embracing the arts now like never before, today is the day to explore your own artistic options by signing up for an art class via SGArtClass.com. Our website offers a database of art classes, all taught by professionals, designed to bring creativity to your life. A class that covers digital painting or even contemporary video art could unveil a whole new world to you if you gave it a chance, leading to the possibility of a lucrative career after pursuing an education in your art topic of choice. Even if you’re not looking to switch careers, art classes can give you unexpected skills you can use at the workplace.

To read more about Singapore’s push for a creative economy, go to http://www.forbes.com/sites/donaldfrazier/2015/09/22/movies-disco-toe-shoes-and-char-kway-teow-singapores-bet-on-a-creative-economy-hits-the-road/.

0 Interesting takes on art dominate during street festival

You don’t always need a fancy indoor gallery or a nice hotel in order to have some fine art on hand. Singapore’s PARK(ing) Day 2015 saw parking lots in various areas of the city turned into vibrant places for all genres of art and artistic exploration.

One such artist — a performer with the circus — was on hand with a troupe of fellow performers, wowing passers-by with intricate improvisations, art creation, and soccer skills. The performer said that she hoped PARK(ing) Day 2015 inspired residents to walk around their neighborhoods more often, experiencing the unexpected art that can sometimes pop up even in every day life.

Well over one hundred parking lots underwent a transformation into art spaces of all types around the country, which is hosting the third installment of the event. Attendees to PARK(ing) Day were expected to participate and experience the various forms that art took on during the event, which included street art demonstrations, open air musical performances, and a singing competition.

One arts manager said she hoped that people saw that urban spaces could still be beautiful, hosting creative exhibits in a place as forgettable as a parking lot. This particular arts manager participated in the event by offering two refurbished pianos for attendees to sit down and play, adding to the festive music and atmosphere of the event.

Even foodies got in on the action at PARK(ing) Day, taking the opportunity to share cultural food differences with anyone eager to try something new. Differences between foods from different countries were featured in curry fish and rice dishes, and organizers pushed for recognition and awareness of workers from different countries who came to Singapore to help construct residential buildings as well as the parking lots that hosted the festival.

While most were excited about this year’s PARK(ing) Day, a few detractors said it inconvenienced the lunchtime motorist crowd in a busy area, the Central Business District. Still, the aim of the festival was to encourage residents to reimagine what life might be like with more artistic venue and fewer parking lots. The artists who appropriated those functional spaces into places for performance, new food experiences, relaxation, and creativity helped visualize that initiative. Hundreds of pieces of art, including splatter painting and constructing art pieces with Rubix cube blocks, helped bring art to the most unexpected of places.

Art helps people visualize new ideas in different areas of life. Think about how beneficial an art class would be to your own life. If you find yourself in a rut in your personal or professional life, an art class might be just the thing to get you to see things differently. Visit SGArtClass.com today to see what kind of art might just light your creative spark again. Our expert instructors offer lessons on everything from traditional drawing and painting to tutorials on street art, decorative art, murals, and other contemporary forms of art, guaranteeing a wide selection for different interests.

For more information about PARK(ing) Day 2015, go to http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/lots-of-fun-food-and-art/2136268.html.

0 Singapore pop star becomes ambassador of art

Singapore has been appointing various cultural figures from many different creative genres as art ambassadors for the country, and the latest ambassador is pop star JJ Lin.

Lin, a singer and songwriter, has been appointed art ambassador as a part of a program called “My Masterpiece Campaign.” This initiative names art ambassadors from dance, music, writing, film, and many more areas. In turn, the ambassadors select a work of visual art as their favorite, promoting it as the art ambassador to that particular piece.

Lin selected a Singaporean performance artist’s piece “Journey of A Yellow Man No. 11: Multiculturalism” as his artwork of choice. In the piece, the performance artist paints himself yellow and wears a yellow speedo while appearing in different everyday situations. The situations are photographed, many times to surreal results, such as a bright yellow man attempting to hail a taxi amid an otherwise normal downtown scene.

Lin said that he identified with this particular artwork because he often travels to cities far from his home of Singapore in order to share his music and songs. It is often difficult to be a stranger in a strange city, and Lin said that he had a hard time connecting with people as deeply elsewhere than he did in Singapore itself. The “Journey” artwork also reflected how hard it was to fit in when you are different from everyone else around you. Lin also commented on the series’ stillness. Though the bright yellow is riotous, the still photos are often meditations on the contents of the frame. Many scenes depict busy life, filled with new technology and packed schedules, but the man painted in yellow remains unmoving, unchanging.

The “My Masterpiece Campaign” is one of many initiatives created by Singapore officials to help lead up to the grand opening of National Gallery Singapore in November. Art ambassadors named as a part of the “My Masterpiece Campaign” have been naming their favorite artworks ahead of the grand opening. National Gallery Singapore will be the host of the greatest number of artwork from the Southeastern Asia region once it opens. The artwork will be hosted inside two revamped historical buildings — the former Supreme Court and the former City Hall, a nod to the importance of the past and heritage while building toward the future.

Become your own art ambassador by thinking about enrolling in an art class today. Visit SGArtClass.com to learn about all the various art classes offered, all with the option to tailor the lessons to your particular needs or interests. Art students can get valuable input from professional and knowledgeable teachers on projects they’re pursuing for class, while beginners can get the essential skills they need in order to grow as new artists. Perfect for all ages and all careers, our selection of art classes will bring a new understanding and appreciation for art ahead of the opening of National Gallery Singapore.

To learn more about JJ Lin being appointed as an ambassador of art, go to http://www.globalpost.com/article/6650462/2015/09/16/singapores-pop-star-jj-lin-appointed-art-ambassador.