The 5 selected artists are Debbie Ding, Hilmi Johandi, WeiXin Quek Chong, Chen Yanyun and Zarina Muhammad.
Debbie Ding showed Soil Works. It had to do with soil and its relationship to Singapore. And she set up her works to appear like research stations. Interesting play on the concept but aesthetically could be better.
Hilmi Johandi showed An Exposition. Think it's his continued research on amusement parks of the past. The place is set up like an amusement park. But with a lot of void spaces and you can feel the loneliness of the place, much like abandoned ghost towns. Nothing too fantastic about the installations. Paintings were hung to complement, juxtapose or oppose the objects. Nice idea. But the paintings could have been more powerful since his main media is painting.
Chen Yanyun showed The Scars that Write Us. The works really showed her skill. She is a brilliant charcoal / graphite artist. As mentioned in an earlier post, we really like her nudes and figure portraiture. And as expected, she delivered with the drawing of figures on steel plates. The soldering/ melting of metal onto the steel to represent keloids was aesthetically great too.
WeiXin Quek Chong showed sft crsh ctrl. She showed materials presented in a vague manner or in which they weren't meant to be. She being a printmaker showed some photos and prints too. It was meant to stimulate us tactilely and also to jog the brain to associate or dissociate the expected tactility and what we see and perceive from what is expected or learnt previously. And if that wasn't enough, the sound in the gallery was also meant to stimulate us, like the crinkling of plastic.
Zarina Muhammad showed Pragmatic Prayers for the Kala at the Threshold. This is about mythology, rituals and things that people of old used to practise. Some found / acquired works and some works which were made by the artist. Interesting but nothing too outstanding or refreshing.
Points for collectors: Zarina Muhammad and Debbie Ding really not sure. Haven't seen anything by them that is collectible. Chen YanYun and WeiXin Quek Chong - strong buys. Hilmi Johandi - Buy rating. Love his older works but not sure about where he's going with his current practice.
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