A new Singaporean art exhibit will examine the work of four local artists who have been heavily influenced by New York City art and culture throughout their careers.
Several of the artists recently sat down to discuss their work, as well as the different influences they adapted, were inspired by, and consequently made their own. One artist even went as far as to say that no visual artwork is completely unique. The artist didn’t meant that artists necessarily copied off of each other, but rather that trends and creative practices were inspired by an art and cultural collective. Much in the same way a creative incubator works, bringing together people from all different walks of life to work in the same building and bounce ideas off of each other to become even more inspired, so does working in the art world. Everyone derives inspiration from existing artworks and artists they admire. It isn’t copying, it’s taking inspiration from others, which is completely acceptable.
Especially since the four artists had spent formative time in New York City, one of the biggest cities for art in the world, each one has derived inspiration from artists who worked in the Big Apple, cultural trends there, and even the city itself, its own melting pot of culture. Every creative mind, one artist said, has a creative path they follow, and for these four individuals, their path led them directly through New York City.
One artist attended art school in New York City, meaning that the teachers and fellow students there helped drive his creativity. At the formative period of attending art school and learning some of the techniques that would make him a successful painter, the artist crossed paths with numerous American visionaries. It opened his vision and scope, being exposed to this new culture and the new ways of thinking. Keeping himself firmly rooted in Singapore, though, caused his art to take on its own unique statements. Prior to leaving Singapore for school, he studied under two famous Chinese ink painters, and that experience led him to examining the meeting of Eastern and Western art for the remainder of his career.
Another artist had a similar experience in New York City, opening himself to the possibilities of cultural collaborations in his art. Because of this exposure to new ideas, the artist, to this day, is much more open to different genres and styles of art, recognizing that the creative world is a constantly evolving process.
Open your mind by signing up for an art class via SGArtClass.com. SGArtClass.com is a comprehensive website that offers discounted art supplies, informative art articles, and numerous art classes anyone can enroll in. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never picked up a paintbrush before or if you’re already an established artist. There’s sure to be a class for you.
To learn more about the artists displaying their masterpieces influenced by life in the United States, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/singapore-artists-who-took-a-bite-of-the-big-apple.