In Singapore, many young people between the ages of 17 and 35 might remember spending their formative years under the leadership of the first prime minister of the country, Lee Kuan Yew. Those same people got the opportunity to commemorate the historically important leader through a special art project constructed with a symbolic medium.
More than one hundred Singapore youths constructed a portrait of Lee using a unique artistic medium — erasers printed with the Singaporean flag. Nearly 5,000 of these erasers were required to complete the portrait, which towers on a red background. The portrait was completed to honor Lee on the first anniversary of his death.
The effect of using the erasers to construct the portrait is interesting. Close up, each of the erasers display a simple printed red and white flag, along with the word “Singapore.” It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the same thing repeated again and again, getting lost in the patterns and repetitions. However, when stepping back and taking in the effect of all of the erasers working together, placed strategically against the red background of the artwork, it’s easy to discern Lee’s memorable portrait. The texture of the portrait almost looks like pop art, and the fact that the installation is made up entirely of Singaporean flags makes it even more special. The sides of the installation are white, and viewers of the portrait have the opportunity to leave messages on those portions of the artwork using black marker. One such message thanks Lee for helping to develop the country that Singapore has become today.
Multiple members of Lee’s family have not only contributed by adding erasers to the portrait, they’ve also visited the completed artwork to make remarks and take photos of the masterpiece. The erasers were provided by a company that sells vintage Singaporean snacks and memorabilia. The vintage erasers were a perfect way to honor Lee and his legacy within Singapore.
Another art tribute to Lee took place by combining many smaller art pieces to make a larger portrait of the former prime minister. The backgrounds of the pieces matched up to make a vivid rainbow behind Lee, which is reminiscent of a speech he made urging Singapore’s youths to find their own rainbows and ride them.
Art is a broad understanding of creativity that contains many multitudes of different genres. If you’d like to explore art, think about enrolling in one of many classes available via SGArtClass.com. SGArtClass.com offers a wide range of classes — from collage art to installation art, from sketching to oil painting — and will surely have a course that piques your own creative interest. Expert teachers are on hand to help you complete art projects you’re most interested in, taking your ideas and making them reality. Teachers will work with your busy schedule to make sure you’re utilizing your creative time to the best of your ability.
For more on the artistic displays of Lee Kuan Yew, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/youth-pay-tribute-to-lee-kuan-yew-with-art.