Just like Singapore itself may be considered to be a place full of rich cultural collisions and international dealings, art in Singapore shares many of the same roots from around the world.
In the 1950s, a group of artists traveled abroad. When they returned, they brought with them the Nanyang style of art, which became formative to Singapore’s art style and history. Though art in the country since then has changed dramatically, all of it sprang from this singular style, which remains important and significant to this day.
This theme of taking inspiration from other places has persisted in Singaporean art. In the 1980s, Singaporean artists started incorporating experiences and learned techniques from their time in other countries into the art they developed in Singapore itself, inspiring both viewers of the art and other artists to continue thinking outside the box of their own understanding and experiences. In the next decade, the Singaporean government began to promote artists and fund them to help them grow and create more prolifically. The art boom took off, and continued to blossom throughout the 2000s and beyond. This has enabled Singaporean art to be seen and sought after on an international scale, including highly lauded art show and world-renowned auction houses.
Even though art in Singapore is always reaching outward into the world, Singapore has been promoting artists from the inside. Multiple fairs and festivals around the year seek to promote Singaporean artists’ works. There are many venues that celebrate both homegrown creative minds and young and emerging artists, providing them with the platforms they need to be seen and grow as artists. At the same time, art organizers in the country have been bringing in experts and festivals from around the world. This means that established Singaporean artists can enjoy a brand new international audience and show their works in festivals attended by prominent art dealers and collectors — people willing to invest capital into their masterpieces.
Singapore itself is ideally located in Asia to be a hub for international travelers and businesses. This has also become an advantage for artists, galleries, and museums. Experiences and dealings with other countries in the Southeastern Asian region and beyond have worked to inspire and steer artists’ creations, adding highly valuable collaborations to the repertoires of people who previously only had art experience within their own minds.
If you’ve always wanted to experiment with art but weren’t sure where to start, visit SGArtClass.com. SGArtClass.com is a highly comprehensive website that compiles a vast list of art classes you can quickly and easily sign up for. Whether you’re interested in 3-D art, acrylic painting, or pastel drawing, you will be matched with a teacher well suited to take you through whichever projects are most interesting to you. It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned artist or if you’ve never drawn anything since your childhood.
To read more about the history of Singapore’s most recent art scene boom, go to http://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/arts/national-day-special-2016-home-not-always-where-art.