Recently, the arts scene in Singapore has come under scrutiny for a number of reasons. Several bastions in art events, including previously successful art shows, have recently been scaled back due to lack of interest and dips in attendance and sales. This has led to a number of pieces examining the viability of Singapore’s art scene. Was it too much, too soon? Did it outgrow residents’ taste for the arts?
In one Singaporean teenager’s opinion, in a letter she wrote to a media outlet, it comes down to a single simple concept: Singaporeans just aren’t appreciating the arts enough.
The letter writer said that she was recently afforded the opportunity to attend two fine arts events — theater and performance art opportunities. It was her first real experience with the Singaporean art scene, and the dual performances left their mark on her. She wondered why, after seeing such displays of incredible creativity, more Singaporeans didn’t go out to see the arts. She also dispelled the notion that many critics say the nation’s art scene is stale. The only reason that the art scene should fail in Singapore is if the nation’s residents don’t give it a proper chance to thrive. People must go to galleries and museums and shows in order to help the scene be successful. Without the participation of visitors and spectators, it’s hard to imagine an art world creating solely for itself.
Through the letter writer’s eyes, establishing a foothold in the art world was still a viable option. Many students today still seek out creative careers — whether it’s as a fine artist or working as a curator in a museum or gallery. Perhaps Singapore should make more of an effort to instill art appreciation into the youngest members of its society — students. There have already been great strides in including more comprehensive art education at the earliest levels, taking simple crafts activities that one might expect in early school years and transforming them into analytical opportunities to grow. Many students also have access to discounted tickets and seats in exhibitions and shows in order to enable them to gain exposure to such performances.
In the end, the letter writer posits that Singapore has a wealth of creative talent that is simply waiting for the right audience. Instead of staying home on a lazy weekend, becoming bored, and eventually binging on something completely numbing on television, Singaporeans should seek out new experiences in the form of attending theater or musical performances, gallery openings and museum exhibitions. They might just see something they really enjoy.
Explore art in your own life through SGArtClass.com. Read informative articles, browse affordable art supplies, and scroll through a ton of art classes you can easily enroll in. From acrylic painting to mural painting and everything in between, there is sure to be lessons that will ignite your creative curiosity and help you start your journey into the art world.
To read the complete opinion letter, go to https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/arts-scene-depends-on-local-support.