Hermes is a luxury retailer best known for its highly sought after scarves and bags. With art merging with high fashion on a regular basis for Hermes, it makes sense for the company to commission an art installation as a part of an inaugural exhibition for its newly remolded retail space in Singapore.
Singaporean artist Dawn Ng was the perfect choice for the commission. She created a thoughtful, cerebral, immersive, and beautiful installation for visitors to get lost in. The artwork itself seems straight forward — large, monochromatic panels positioned in different ways throughout the gallery — but much thought went into the planning and execution of the exhibit. First, Ng tested out and selected nearly a dozen different colors that would work together as a part of the installation. No one color could overwhelm the others, and they all had to blend together cohesively even though they were different shades and hues. Once the high-gloss paint was rolled onto the panels, Ng and her team had to transport them to the art space and adapt to unforeseen challenges — like some portions of the ceiling being lower than what was expected. One might say that the real work of the exhibit started once the art was in the gallery, which could be true for most installations. Ng worked hard to shape the gallery into a world apart, making people forget why they were there, if only for a few fleeting moments. The effect of the positioning of the canvases, as well as the lighting and the mirrored edges of the panels, allows viewers to become lost within the space, drifting around, relaxed and completely at ease in the installation.
The end result of the installation is almost that of a maze, winding pathways for visitors to disappear into, enchanted by the play on color, shape, and visualization. Ng said the gentleness of the exhibit was important to her message overall: that, in today’s world, so full of brightness and distraction, we should take care of ourselves more often by submerging into relaxing atmospheres. The art installation commissioned by Hermes is the perfect place to do that, getting away from the bustle of the city with all its shopping and work demands, if only for a little while.
Installation art is an exciting artistic genre that allows for an artist to explore art in the context of a specific space. Many artists get a chance to let their creativity flow within a room or gallery. What is distinctive about installation art is that it can never be replicated from place to place. It is unique to each physical location of the exhibit. Installation art is just one of many exciting art genres that you can explore by signing up for an art class via SGArtClass.com. Even if you’ve never taken an art class before, a teacher will help you explore and embrace your specific creative goals.
To read more about the Hermes commission, go to http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/lifestyle/arts-entertainment/disappearing-into-a-rainbow.