Exploring China’s history as seen through his lens, Tie Ying’s solo showcase of 14 photography works traces China’s transition from the Cultural Revolution through to the rapid developments of current modernisation and the political ramifications behind the conflicting interests of an ambitious world power. His works also serve as a semi autobiographical documentation of his personal experience of living through that turbulent and unsettled period.

Through his works, Tie Ying attempts to re-create and reconstruct the optical truth and memory. This is exemplified in Flags & Torches 02, where he created a visual disturbance in the image that China showcased to the world to question the success of the Beijing Olympics in 2008, and the public’s knowledge of what really went on behind the scenes.

Masses runs from 7 October through to 30 October 2011. The gallery is open from 11.00 am to 7.00 pm from Tuesdays to Saturdays, 11.00 am to 5.00 pm on Sundays and public holidays and is closed on Mondays. The exhibition is held at Element Art Space at 140 Hill St. MICA Building #01-10/11/12 Singapore 179369. Contact number: 6883 2001. http://elementartspace.com

One of the most influential genres of contemporary visual arts, pop art’s impact as an interdisciplinary visual language, with globalisation and the proliferation of information technology, continues to be a creative influence that extends across graphic design, video art, graffiti, new media art and photography.

New Pop New World explores the new terms and categories that impact the interconnected global visual art world in a collaborative exhibition of 25 artworks, ranging from paintings to digital prints. Reflecting a change in visual trends influenced by popular culture in Indonesia and Singapore’s contemporary art scenes, the artists explore themes previously regarded as taboo to present their own narratives on politics, religion and tradition, through their depiction of the ironies of everyday life.

Curated by Alia Swastika, the exhibition features established names in the Singapore art scene including: Vincent Leow who through his use of vivid colours that reverberates with pop art explores the idea of kitsch through his paintings, drawings and three-dimensional objects; Lee Wen, a recipient of the Cultural Medallion for his contribution to the local contemporary art scene; David Chan, known for his lurid, part-comic, part-eerie human-animal hybrid paintings that are widely interpreted as a tragicomic take on society’s collective split personality; and :phunk, a contemporary art and design collective that uses a highly skilful display of fresh and exciting images to depict how pop art is very much affected by comic visualisation.

The impressive lineup of contemporary artists from Indonesia include that of Agan Harahap, photographer and digital imaging artist whose works often combine the parody and satire of human life, looking at how religions have become a commoditized object in the mass media and the entertainment industries; Switzerland-based Eddie Hara, one of the pioneer pop artists in Indonesia who has influenced many artists of the following generation whose works display a solid dose of irony and humour, often populated by mutant women and strange animals despite serious themes in his art (politics, sexism, racism etc.); Arief Tousiga, who works with various mediums and probes with realist forms to communicate his ideas through visual illusions and Wisnu Auri, who elaborates intimate personal stories through a semi-autobiographical approach based on his daily experiences.

New Pop New World runs from 6 August through to 6 September. The gallery is open from 11.00 am to 7.00 pm from Tuesdays to Saturdays, 11.00 am to 5.00pm on Sundays and public holidays and is closed on Mondays. The exhibition is held at Element Art Space at 140 Hill St. MICA Building #01-10/11/12 Singapore 179369. Contact number: 6883 2001. http://elementartspace.com.

Using a technique known as scannography, Purbandono explores the dichotomy of Singapore, in a journey of self-discovery as to whether a country that is held up as a model of modernisation and globalisation, is as sterile and boring as its critics make out to be.

Featuring 22 works, TOP POP is Purbandono’s first solo exhibition in Singapore, and is based on observations made during a 15-day residency from January to February this year. His art resists categorization and appears to exist outside any specific culture, yet draws on the revolutionary energies that appear in ‘ordinary objects’ that are often unnoticed to conjure a world of unseen wonders and astounding aesthetic spectacles.

Purbandono employs and explores different images of discarded Barbie dolls – a symbol of popular culture that everyone can relate to – with local elements to portray the nation’s history, postmodern concepts and cultures. He encapsulates the essence of Singapore as an unusual dynamism of monumentalism and claustrophobic close-up, reflecting his increasing familiarity of the country in the progression of his works.

These are exemplified in works such as Little India and Ancestors, where he utilized flowers bought in Little India and jade skulls purchased from Chinatown to depict the Indian and Chinese heritages present in Singapore; Orchard Road which describes the fast-paced movement of Singaporeans depicted through a metal dishwasher scrub; and Phenomenal Mustafa – where dolls are enclosed within plastic bags to depict the popular culture of shopping malls and the plastic age we live in.

TOP POP showcases 22 digital images and runs from 10 March till 10 April 2011. The gallery is open from 11.00am to 7.00pm from Tuesdays to Saturdays, 11.00am to 5.00pm on Sundays and public holidays and is closed on Mondays. The exhibition is held at SBin Art Plus gallery, at 140 Hill St. MICA Building #01-10/11/12 Singapore 179369. Contact number: 68832001. http://www.sbinartplus.com

Categories
Under 12 years old
12 – 35 years old
36 – 39 years old
Above 60 years old

1st, 2nd, 3rd and two consolation prizes will be awarded for each of the above categories.

Closing date: 23 April 2010

Co-organised by Tanjong Pagar Photographic Club.

Download entry form at www.singaporeartsfest.com or register on site at:

Tanjong Pagar Community Club
101, Cantonment Road, Singapore 089774
Tel : 62219898 / 62236847
Fax : 62225859

2.00 pm – 4.00 pm

The POD, Level 16

National Library Building

100 Victoria Street

 

As part of the Singapore Design Festival, SG101 Design will uncover creative works and efforts from our local artists. Fashioning the various facets of design works including product designs, fashion designs, photography and many more. SG101 Design looks into the success stories of local designers who have succeeded in making a mark on the world map and discusses the challenges associated with the production of creative works in Singapore.

 

Due to limited seats, registration is required and can be made via http://golibrary.nlb.gov.sg and surf on to ‘SG101’.

 

Organised By: Design Linguist & Foreign Policy

Supported By: National Library Singapore

 

Visit http://golibrary.nlb.gov.sg for more programmes and exhibitions.