A group of Singaporean and Chinese artists, at the behest of a Singapore group focused on international issues, came together to put on an art show with the theme of city living and sustainability. Both Singapore and China are no strangers to life in the city. Living in housing projects and cramped apartments is one issue of congestion. Putting so many people together in such a small space inevitably leads to challenges. One of these challenges is overconsumption and producing too much waste because of it.
The artists of this group — eight in total, with half from China and half from Singapore — visited cities in each other’s countries and discussed what issues were facing urban dwellers. With themes of being sustainable in the city and engaging people who might live in big cities and attend the art show, a number of different thoughtful works were on display.
One Singaporean artist visited a group of children with special needs and taught them how to weave recycled paper. This paper became part of a larger work on display as an installation in the art exhibit. Other pieces of the installation incorporated used clothes and old plastic bottles to take the shape of cave formations. The art involves reused offal to create familiar shapes in nature, but it also calls to mind the harm that the medium, in the form of pollution, can do to the environment. Caves are such delicate places, and if garbage gets into them, it can destroy the sites for future generations.
The involvement of the broader community in the art exhibit was even more special. By leading residents in the creation of art and the exploration of sustainable practices like recycling and reducing the waste they produce, community members can better understand the importance of putting such habits into regular practice.
A Chinese artist involved with the project used water ink painting to reproduce historical and antique buildings in Singapore. It was the perfect marriage between Singapore sites and Chinese art, as the technique is traditional in China. The artist said she hoped to show that there is still warmth and beauty even in cold-looking buildings, and wishes that people can learn to use what they already have available to them rather than wasting resources on building newer buildings.
You can also participate in sustainable practices in art by signing up for a class today via SGArtClass.com. There are a number of different classes that explore these themes, such as recycled art, found art, and assemblage art. A teacher will lead you in the thought that goes into collecting used and old items and converting them into art. They might even challenge you to make an art piece using an unconventional item of their choosing. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never tried to create art before. Students of all levels can learn from taking a class on sustainable art.
To read more about the cooperative art show on sustainability, go to http://china.org.cn/arts/2016-09/20/content_39333451.htm.