National Gallery Singapore is set to host its first international collaboration show with the upcoming exhibition, “Reframing Modernism.” Described as a show that will turn the understanding of modernism on its head, this exhibit will spotlight a number of worldwide masterpieces in the context of modernism spanning several continents.
Working with other nations in the Southeastern Asian region as well as museums in Paris, National Gallery Singapore will also use some of its national art to curate a thoughtful show that displays the different connections present in modern art — no matter where the artist originated. So many art educations are based on pieces that were created in the Western world. This exhibition aims to impart a much more inclusive take on modern art education, putting regional artworks on the same stage as their better-known Western counterparts to create a new narrative.
National Gallery Singapore organizes expressed a desire to upend some of the classic viewpoints on modernism as well as shine a spotlight on historically valuable artworks from the Southeastern Asian region. Organizers also said they hoped to offer viewers a much more enriching experience by involving regional artworks viewed side by side with global giants. Instead of organizing standalone and standard traveling shows, National Gallery Singapore officials say they hope to make an immersive exhibition that is more meaningful for its audience.
The exhibit will feature paintings by very well known Western artists, including Picasso and others, hanging alongside artists from the East who were painting in the same period. This will serve as a way to examine modernism in a broader context. All of the artworks fall under the classification of the modern art era, but the global theme will provide a commentary on inclusion. Organizers are faced with the tough task of avoiding trivializing artworks and comparing them just for the sake of comparisons. Though some art from the period created by different artists might look similar, for example, that doesn’t mean that the art was created for the same purposes. Instead, the exhibit itself centers on the artists, examining the arc of the careers and the influences that shaped their masterpieces.
The collaboration is remarkable for National Gallery Singapore simply because the institution is in its infancy, having only just opened at the end of last year. The museum has a wonderful partnership with other facilities in the region, and will also be publishing a magazine to coincide with “Reframing Modernism.”
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For more on the upcoming show, go to http://theartnewspaper.com/reports/modernism-revisited-in-singapore/.