In a recent snafu over a public art installation displayed in a transit station, a plaque naming a mural as “Jingapore” — a play on the artist’s name and his views of Singapore — has been removed. One writer crafted an argument against this move — and the public fallout that accompanied it — that was published on a news website.
In the argument, the writer says that by automatically jumping to being offended, people who viewed the title of this art display instead demonstrated a close-mindedness toward art. In fact, many of the people who saw the plaque instantly assumed that it was an embarrassing and disrespectful error. In a social media post, the artist fought to dispel this notion, explaining that the name “Jingapore” was a play on Singapore as well as his own surname, Jing. Further, the word “jing” can mean scenery. However, since so many people did not stop to question whether the name might actually be written like that on purpose, the writer proposed that there might be a greater problem at work. Since children were taught not to consider the world in grays, and instead to adhere to beliefs in black and white, adults might be unable to consider all the various shades the art world comes in.
For example, as the writer put it, children are encouraged to color in the sky as blue in early school age drawings and paintings. Children who do not include blue for the sky are discouraged, told that their thinking is wrong. However, we know that there are a great many colors available for the sky. On overcast days, the clouds can be bright white or dark gray. At sunrise and sunset, there can be every color of the rainbow present. And in the night, inky blacks and indigos speckled with bright stars are the norm. Learning about art from an early age, then, can help people to analyze such instances as the one in the transit station in different ways. Instead of automatically being offended by a perceived mistake in an artwork’s title, people can think critically, using their creative problem solving skills to consider the play on words present in the name. The writer promotes the idea of how important it is to teach art in schools. Regular education can make an intelligent and work-ready populace, but adding an artistic component can add another facet to citizens’ intelligence and experience.
Expand your own mind by enrolling in an art class via SGArtClass.com. Browse the numerous art classes available on our website to find a lesson that inspires you. From mural painting to art installations, watercolor painting to comic drawing, there is sure to be a class that you will be passionate about. Art classes impart knowledge that goes beyond simple brushwork. Art can reduce stress and boost creativity in school and the workplace.
To read the complete opinion piece examining the “Jingapore” art installation in Singapore, go to http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/commentary/outrage-over-jingapore-exposes-unimaginative-rigid-singapore-9435176.