Scout Singapore: Emerging Art Practices

This exhibition is held from 20th January 2016 till 24th January 2016 over at Gillman Barracks.

It is a short exhibition which is part of Art Week 2016. It was initiated/curated by Patricia Chen and Joanna Lee with the support/funding of NAC. It was held in 16 containers in car park b of Gillman Barracks. The lay out was a social sculpture by Jennis Li Cheng Tien.

24 artists were featured. Initially 25, but Zen Teh pulled out. Dunno why, but from hearsay it was due to the dissatisfaction with the container wall for the presentation of her art works. But she was at Art Stage with Gallery 2902.

Anyway the advantage of such a programme is the promised exposure to some people from various arms of the art industry including some collectors (Joanna Lee's connections I guess). But with the clash of Art Stage, Singapore Contemporary Art fair amongst others, foot fall might be limited. And I think exposure to most collectors will be very limited. Further, most of the shows at Gillman have already had their opening, so less spill over of the collectors. Art after dark this friday, will bring in alot of general public for them, I'm very sure. In short, Scout will find it difficult to pull in collectors. Most of the people who are most keen on it are industry people. The organisers should plan the dates of the exhibition to clash with the opening of significant shows at Gillman to catch the spill over of collectors. I haven't any data to back me up, but that's what I feel.

I have no problems with Scout. I really really enjoyed myself and meeting those artists who were present and talking about their practice. Would be great it if came round again next year as it made a difference to Art Week 2016.

Anyway back to the meat of the write up.
Artists which stood out for me (not in any order):
Check out their bio's here.
1. Allison M. Low - Drawing and painting. Really really nice woks.

Allison's works

Allison's Dorothy

Allison's Frog Prince

2. Ashley Yeo - Drawing but in this exhibition she showed paper cuts. The ones that were shown at FOST gallery. Really superb and well executed.

Ashley Yeo's Arbitary Metrics II 

Ashley Yeo's I'm Here

3. Yap Soke Kee- Really young artist just fresh out of SOTA, and awaiting to go on to do her BFA in UK. Abstract artist. Showed a really nice painting which was done over someone elses's painting so as to recycle. She also presented Gel Wax works. One was indoor and fixed. Another was outdoor and melting each day and changing form/shape.

Yap Soke Kee's Innards

Yap Soke Kee's Untitled - Gel wax painting

4. Wilfred Lim - Photographer. Presented photos of abandoned buildings and intervention of fish/seafood parts to form mutants/chimeras.

Wilfred's photographs of abandoned buildings

5. Fyerool Darma - Presented his Moyang series.

Fyerool Darma's Portrait No.8

6. Ezekiel Wong Kel Win - Presented his political/ social statement series of the black and white male figures. You can refer to my post on AAF young talent programme in 2015.

Kel Win's Works

Kel Win's Works

7. Antz - together with Zero whom he shared the container with, transformed the entire container into an installation. Painting/ tagging/ bombing the outside of the container. And transforming the inside of the container to a white half/legal half of Zero who was awarded the Young Artist Award by the government and a black half of Antz who was arrested and charged as an accomplice in the SKLO/ sticker lady case.

8. Jennis Li - didn't present much except some sculptures as part of the study when coming out with the arrangement of the containers.

Please catch this if you can. Not many days left.

Points for collectors: Allison Low - possible buy rating. Need to research more on her, but really like her works. Ashley Yeo - Buy rating. Yap Soke Kee- too young to give a buy rating, but definitely very talented. Wilfred Lim - possible buy rating. Fyerool Darma - Buy Rating (will be featured in this years Singapore Biennale). ANTZ - Strong Buy if you are into street art. Smart guy going places. Ezekiel Wong Kel Win - Buy rating. Jennis Li - Buy rating. 

Arc of Uncertainties - Melissa Tan

This exhibition is on from 18th January till 30th January 2016 at the Richard Koh Fine Arts Pop-up at Helu-Trans.

This is a follow on from her previous exhibition in 2014 where the focus was on comets, and now the focus has shifted to lost stars and asteroids. This series differs in that it is now monochromatic. There is a metal plate in the works as opposed to previously being only paper (a draw on from her 2015 Art Stage sculptural works of paper and metal). It is now mounted directly onto the wall without any frame. Must say they are really nice works based on an interesting concept. It shows her progress from studies of crystal formation and toying with 'music boxes'. Very meticulous cut out of the paper too. The layering of each piece was also nicely done.

Points for collectors: Buy Rating. Think almost all have been sold on opening night. Congratulations to Melissa Tan. She is definitely a good artist to watch.

Freely, Freely - Jane Lee

This exhibition is on at Singapore Tyler Print Institute at Robertson Quay from the 16th of January till 5th March 2016.

In this series, Jane Lee had a lot of fun. Not touching any paint at all. Mainly working with Paper augmented with plastics, video, sound, lights and mirrors to create very creative works of art. She really stretched the boundaries and herself. Really nice pieces so you should go down and catch the show. Really showcases her creativity and meticulousness. Not her signature works which you will automatically associate with her, but the works really have a Jane Lee feel to it. Really liked the Set Me Free series, although they are the smaller works, but the nest with its string of birds looks really nice, appealing and balanced.

Set Me Free II (Artling Website)

Points for Collectors: Not a sell out show. But she has her patrons who will follow and acquire her works. Some of the collectors have stepped back because of the concern of how paper will keep in our humidity and weather, although one collector quipped that mould on paper can be treated. Heard that some of the patrons are encouraging SAM to get one of the bigger institution size pieces. Definitely a strong buy, especially if you have the means to maintain/conserve the work. Jane Lee is considered by some as the only Singaporean contemporary artist who has true global demand. 

Art Week 2016

Really going to be a crazy week! Missed many things and going to miss some more.

Here's a list for you of all that's opened so far.

1. Death by a Thousand Cuts - Vertical Submarine at Lorong 24a Shophouse - OPEN till 14 Feb.
2. Undescribed - Various photographs - curated by Robert Zhao at Deck - OPEN till 24 Jan.
3. One by One Metre space - Various artist at Flaneur Gallery - OPEN till 21 Feb
4. My Forest has no name - Donna Ong at FOST - OPEN till 28 Feb
5. Balancing the World - Belinda Fox  at ChanHampe till 14th Feb
6. Delicate Being - Yigal Ozeri at Kato Art Duo till 14th Feb
7. Freely, Freely - Jane Lee at STPI till 5 Mar
8. PPC - a public living room - Various artist at People's Park Complex till 29 Jan
9. From Koyasan to Borobudur - Nasirun and Tanada Koji at Mizuma Gallery till 28 Feb

That's all. Have to run!

Joy/ Fear - Heri Dono

This exhibition is held from 14th November 2015 till 10th January 2015 at Mizuma Gallery over at Gillman Barracks.

Here he presents his usual politically charged works. Very typical Indonesian art with lots of Indonesian/ Javanese symbolism. Presented were 5 installations which had moving parts that you can activate by stepping on a pedal. Also on show are his cardboard wayang kulit figures, paintings and a brilliant video.

Its an exhibition which you shouldn't/mustn't miss.

Points for collectors: Buy rating. With Heri Dono's stature in the art world, you can't go wrong. Just get the right piece of good quality.