A former director of an art retreat is saying that Singapore’s classic ink artists require much more recognition than they have been receiving. Ink art is an important stage of Singaporean art history, and while all kinds of art has enjoyed a recent resurgence in the country, ink art might have fallen by the wayside.
As the former director writes, many might argue that ink artists have enjoyed recognition. One of Singapore’s most famous ink artists has enjoyed recent retrospective shows in several different art venues. He even has two pieces involved in National Gallery Singapore’s popular “What’s My Name?” exhibit. His family has also organized and published a book about his life and work.
However, while this artist’s legacy has seen the type of recognition that many artists deserve, other ink artists have been forgotten. This very famous artist inspired a host of first-generation Singaporean ink artists who have done notable works. However, these works have not had as much prominence as others, leading to the former director’s concerns that the contributions of these artists have fallen by the wayside.
Another Singaporean ink artist, calligrapher, and poet has a remarkable body of work, but it could be easy to overlook. One of his most prominent works is a gorgeous and enormous calligraphy piece on display in the Singaporean housing authority offices. However, since the area is highly trafficked and full of busy people looking to complete their business there and move on to the next task they have to complete in the day, the wonderful piece is overshadowed. The poet chose to write a fragment of a poem by a man talking about how important it is to have a roof over his head. A storm blew the roof of the man’s house off, and as he went out in the storm to retrieve it, it was taken from him again. The piece is a beautiful and meaningful way to pay tribute to the importance of housing, but rare is the person who actually looks up to the wall and appreciates the piece of calligraphy. This piece of important ink art should be elsewhere, or perhaps the housing authority office could include a plaque talking about the artist, his work, and the importance of that particular piece in connection to the office.
It’s important not to forget important artists and the periods and genres of art they represent. Pay tribute to their legacies by signing up for an art class today. SGArtClass.com offers your choice of multiple types of classes, including calligraphy, Chinese ink art, and many more. You might be surprised at the different skills you will gain from taking these classes, including relief from stress, relaxation, and a development of creative problem solving. You could even discover a passion for a hobby you might have never known you had otherwise.
Learn more about recognition for Singaporean ink painters by visiting http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/are-singapore-ink-artists-getting-enough-recognition.