Folklore can be defined in a number of ways, including the desire to make sense of the part of the world that resists explanation by logic and reason. For generations and hundreds of years, nearly every culture has engaged in its own unique brand of folklore, including storytelling and art making. Now, a Singaporean gallery is hosting a large group show in which each of the artists are exploring their own personal stories through folklore. What is emerging with the special exhibit is that folklore touches each and every one of us in ways that many might find both beautiful and surprising.
In one hyper-realistic oil painting, an artist depicts a silver altar with cast figures in relief. The altar would be resplendent in a church, temple, or other holy place. However, at closer examination, there are a number of disquieting things happening on the altar. Figures are being captured, persecuted, tortured, and even killed. And instead of a holy place, the altar stands out even more sharply in a jungle clearing, verdant plants bordering it.
In another resplendent painting, surrealism merges with abstraction. The centerpiece of the richly detailed and colored painting is a ball of plumage, or perhaps petals. The colors are repeated in blossoms and puddles of colors around the canvas. These colors and interesting shapes are what holds the attention of the viewer, but upon closer examination, the soft shape of a horse emerges in the background, along with some letters of words that have lost their meaning by the new paint over the old image. Could the artist be examining the effect new beliefs have on traditionally held understandings? It’s up to the viewer to decide.
Another wildly engaging painting features two large figures with cubist features engaging with each other. There are too many limbs for the figures to be human, though each has a human-like figure in their mouths, which appear to be smiling and waving at each other rather than screaming in terror at being kept in such a perilous state. Another pair of figures engage with each other below, the viewer’s eye being drawn to pick up all kinds of fine and entertaining details.
An intricate installation that will be on display is an entrancing floor piece made out of paper collage and acrylic paint. The maze-like structure is composed of bell- or temple-like structures, all shaped and colored in the exact same orange — almost a pottery color. The end result is mesmerizing and meditative, and many viewers will likely gaze upon the work for a long time.
Consider bringing more art into your own personal story by enrolling in an art class today. Visit SGArtClass.com to view a listing of the different classes you can sign up for — from 3-D sculpture to oil painting and everything in between.
To read more about the upcoming show, as well as to see a slideshow of some of the works that will be on display, go to http://www.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/2744189/group-show-folkloristics-at-mizuma-gallery-singapore.