Documentos de Académico
Documentos de Profesional
Documentos de Cultura
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AUGUST 2010 / 3
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Malaysia Contemporary
Art Tourism Festival
July 1 – September 30, 2010
Just like Malaysia, a nation whose historic sites, towers of modernity and
glimpses of nature promise surprises and memories on every visit.
For the rst time ever, Malaysia’s Ministry of Tourism hosts the 1Malaysia
Contemporary Art Tourism Festival.
Whether it is abstract works that channel artistic soul, mixed media art that
shows off artistic ingenuity or gurative works that display artist prowess,
Malaysia has it all.
Fatamorgana #2 The State of Confusion > 2006, oil on canvas, 244 x 150cm
The 1Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism Festival is not to be missed. Visit
Malaysia and take part in history.
Events in Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Johor and Penang | JUL 1 – SEPT 30, 2010 |
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CONTENTS
Williamcho@Flickr
22 COMING UP
ART AUCTION MALAYSIA - The 1st Henry Butcher
31 COVER STORY
Strawalde
Auction of Malaysian Modern and Contemporary Art
Collection
Classes at DreamSpace Art Studio
Walasse Ting: A Commemoration 38 FEATURES
The Man Behind the Merlion
Yayoi Kusama
Top 30 Public Artworks
Kumari Nahappan: A solo exhibition
From Cheo Chai-Hiang’s Concepts
Singapore Art Wave in Art Expo Malaysia 2010 to Singapore’s Contemporary Art?
A Walk Down Memory Lane
28 SPOTLIGHT
Gallery in Focus – Pop and Contemporary Fine Art
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AUGUST 2010 / 15
CONTENTS
57 GLOSSARY
59 POSTSCRIPT
Post-It Notes
61 SINGAPORE
ART MAP
66 DIRECTORIES
Singapore Art Guide
For Tourists
Malaysia Art Guide
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AUGUST 2010 / 17
Issue #9 (August 2010)
ISSN 1793-9739 / MICA (P) 183/02/2010
www.confabmag.com
Cover
Anna Chron I (Fontainbleau möglicherweise) 1/1/2002 / Anna Chron 1 (Fontainbleau possibly) January 2002,
Oil on Canvas 162 x 130 cm
CONFABULATION MAGAZINE
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AUGUST 2010 / 19
Published monthly, complimentary copies of CONFABULATION
are available at several places around Singapore including the
National Library, Singapore Tourism Board’s Singapore Visitors
Centre at Orchard (junction of Cairnhill Road and Orchard
Road), MICA Building on Hill Street, leading art galleries
(Opera Gallery at ION Orchard, Galerie Joaquin at The Regent
and Sunjin Galleries in Holland Village), art groups and venues
(The Luxe Museum on Handy Road and Sculpture Square on
Middle Road), museums and lifestyle shops (STYLE: NORDIC
on Ann Siang Road and Lai Chan at Raffles Hotel).
20 / CONFABULATION
AUGUST 2010 / 21
COMING UP
1. Datuk Ibrahim Hussein The Dream, 1969 Acrylic on canvas 121 x 121 cm
2. Chia Yu Chian Paris Street Scene, 1960 Oil on board 58 x 44 cm
3. Khoo Sui Hoe Lovers’ Dance, 1988 Oil on canvas 90 x 90 cm
4. Dato’ Chuah Thean Teng Mother With Children, 1986 Batik 85.5 x 85.5 cm
22 / CONFABULATION
COMING UP
Auction artists such as Khoo Sui Hoe, Cheah Yew Saik, Tew
Nai Tong, Lim Kim Hai, Tan Choon Ghee and Lee Long Looi
were trained by the best masters in what is regarded the
institution’s Golden Years.
For instance, when Cheah Yew Saik and Khoo Sui Hoe
studied at Nanyang from 1959-1961, it had some of the best
teachers such as Cheong Soo Pieng, Georgette Chen, Lai
Foong Mooi and Tan Tie Chie.
Kuo Juping (198-1966) was there for a year (1941) before the
war broke out, Datuk Ibrahim Hussein had a short stint there
before moving on to work at an advertising company where
he developed his signature style and eventually ended up in
the Byam Shaw School of Drawing and Painting in London
(1959-64).
AUGUST 2010 / 23
COMING UP
Baimu, who persuaded him to switch to a career- Batik Painting founder Dato Chuah Thean
changing practice in oil painting. Thean and Khalil Ibrahim had given batik art
demonstrations in Singapore.
Khoo Sui Hoe even opened a gallery there called
Alpha Singapore which operated for several years Academician-artist Dr Jolly Koh was born in
after 1972, and later had had several solos there, Singapore in 1941, before moving back to Malacca
including one at Outram Park in 1990. It was at where he grew up in, and then to Australia, and
Alpha Gallery that Dato’ Sharifah Fatimah Zubir held now back to Malaysia. He had recently gone back
a solo in 1972 and later in other group exhibitions to Singapore in his latest two-man show with Choy
such as with the Utara group of artists. Weng Yang at Sunjin Galleries (Singapore) from 8
- 29 July 2010.
Of all the Nafa alumni, the one who most represents
the so-called Nanyang Style until today is perhaps Latiff Mohidin, too, has long and rich ties with
Tew Nai Tong, who studied there in 1957-58 before Singapore. Born in Malaysia but grew up in
continuing his studies at the Ecole in Paris. Singapore, he stayed with his parents at No.
15 Java Road and studied at the Kota Raya
Yong Mun Sen spent two years in Singapore, Malay School and the English School Mercantile
working in a bookshop while painting, before being Institution in the early 1950s.
posted to Penang, where he remained permanently
until his death. But he had then decided to set up Also featured in the auction is an unusual and
photo studios which doubled as his gallery cum large 1989 work of Latiff Mohidin, who launched
painting studio. the book, Latiff Mohidin: Journey to Wetlands and
Yong Mun Sen was also given a rare Memorial Beyond at the Singapore Art Museum last year. In
exhibition in 1966 besides a solo exhibition at the its press release then, the Singapore Art Museum
Victoria Memorial Hall in 1948. acknowledged that Latiff has long and rich ties
with Singapore. Born in Malaysia in 1941, Latiff
In this auction, Yong Mun Sen had painted a de spent his early years in Singapore, living with
rigeur work on the Singapore River in 1953. his parents at Java Road, where he attended the
Kota Raja Malay School and the English School
Another pioneer, Dato Hoessein Enas (1924- Mercantile Institution in the early 1950s. The artist
1995), fleeing political persecution, had a stopover also held his first exhibition at the former in 1951,
Singapore where he eked a living as an artist and wherein he was hailed as a ’wonder boy’ by the
beca rider, before moving to Penang, and then local press then. It was also at the same school
Kuala Lumpur. that his drawing first drew the attention of his
schoolmaster who then advised his parents to
Even the Sunday painter, A.B. Ibrahim (1925-77), nurture his manifest artistic talents.
was an early member of the Singapore Malay
Artists Society, joining its second exhibition in Malaysia’s National Art Laureate Datuk Syed Ahmad
1951 (the society was formed in 1949). Jamal also had an exhibition at Takeshimaya
Singapore while most of the artists featured in the
Artist-playwright John Lee Joo For had a solo auction, including Zulkifli Yusoff have their works
there in 1972, at the Mandarin Hotel, and also in the collection of the Singapore Art Museum.
gave a demonstration in Chinese calligraphy in
1989. Chang Fee Ming had a major “graduation” (Ooi Kok Chuen)
exhibition after an experimental workshop at
Singapore’s Tyler Print Institute in November
2009.
24 / CONFABULATION
COMING UP
Visit www.hill-ad.com.sg or call +65 9168 7785 for class and exhibition
schedules.
创立于2006年,主要是以艺术创作,销售艺术品和绘画教育为
主,现在开始引进中国的年轻画家,并为他们提供策划和举办画
Classes at DreamSpace Art 展。
Studio 同时,还为绘画爱好者和学生,开设了创作和绘画培训中心,发
Ongoing / DreamSpace Art Studio /
掘和培养年青的艺术人才,
+65 9168 7785 (Leo)
欢迎艺术爱好者来参观我们的Art Studio
www.hill-ad.com.sg
AUGUST 2010 / 25
COMING UP
Singapore galleries will be making a big wave in this year’s Art Expo
Malaysia slated for October 28 - November 1 at the Matrade Exhibition
and Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur.
The galleries lined up are Art Facet; Cape of Good Hope Art Gallery,
which will also manage the Singapore Artists Pavilion; MAD Museum of
Art & Design managed by Jasmine Fine Art; Collectors Contemporary;
S.Bin Art Plus; Sunjin Galleries; The Gallery of Gnani Arts, Y2Arts and
Yisulang Art Gallery. Art Trove of Germany has also set up base in
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COMING UP
Singapore while Summit Arts Collection, once based in Singapore with its
stable of Myanmar artists, has relocated to Yangon. Valentine Willie Fine
Art which started in Malaysia has expanded to Singapore, Indonesia and
the Philippines.
What is most interesting about the Singapore galleries is that they have such
a diverse buffet of artists not only from Singapore, but also China, Tibet,
the United States, India, Indonesia, England, Australia and Germany.
Collectors Contemporary, with its base at Pedro Centre, will be using the
Art Expo Malaysia 2010, to test the regional market for prints of American
Pop Art pioneers Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. S.Bin Art Plus, a
contemporary offshoot of SooBin Art Gallery, will plumb for Malaysian
hotshot artist Ahmad Zakii Anwar and Indonesian/Singaporean Lee Man
Fong with a host of thirty-something Indonesian artists such as Putu
Sutawidjaja (40-years-old), Jumaldi Alfi, Farhan Siki, M. Irfan and Wayan
Kun Adnyana.
Art Facet, from International Plaza, will parade India’s Raju Mehta, the New
York-based surrealist artist Shay Kun and Berlin-based Cornelia Renz,
while the Gallery of Gnani Arts will have several Indian artists headed by
mechanical engineer-turned-artist P. Gnana, who is based in the island
republic.
Y2Arts will parade several China artists such as Liu Gang and Bai Yao
while Yisulang Art Gallery has Singapore sculptor Han Sai Por and Tibetans
Benba and Jimei Chilei.
Cape of Good Hope Art Gallery, which will also be helming the Singapore
Artists Pavilion, has also a stable of China artists besides Malaysia’s
Nanyang stalwart Tew Nai Tong. Its Singaporean representatives will
include Lim Yew Kuan, the son of Nanyang Academy of Fine Art founder
Lim Hak Tai and who headed the institution from 1963-79, Choy Wen Yang,
the owner Terence Teo, collagist Goh Beng Kwan and politician-artist Dr.
Ho Kah Leong.
Jasmine Tay’s MAD Museum of Art & Design will offer a double-barreled
Pop Art fare in China’s Song Wei and Singapore’s Taipei-based Jahan
Loh.
Art Trove will present German artists Ewald Platte (1894-1985) and artist-
film director Strawalde (Jurgen Botcher).
Singapore galleries entry into the Art Expo Malaysia 2010 promises to bring
greater excitement and prestige to the art expo, now in its fourth year.
Image credit: Zhang Tongshuai Stand with You, 2009 Woodblock monoprint 150 x 200
cm at Sunjin Galleries
AUGUST 2010 / 27
SPOTLIGHT
Andy Warhol Campbell’s Soup I - Black Bean, 1968 Screenprint 88.9 x 58.4 cm (Edition of 250)
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GALLERY IN FOCUS
AUGUST 2010 / 29
SPOTLIGHT
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COVER STORY
Strawalde
AUGUST 2010 / 31
STRAWALDE
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COVER STORY
AUGUST 2010 / 33
STRAWALDE
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COVER STORY
to the West to develop his artistic career: “I a living by sifting through the rubble of
am not a philanthropist who helps everyone bombed out cities in Germany, earned
like Jürgen has … he likes people and wants him international fame. In 1982, the
them to succeed in life ... (he) is not that National Gallery of Berlin acquired one of
interested in business ... he does not want his paintings, thus giving him the national
to become rich”. recognition that was long due.
Within the confines of East Germany, Strawalde´s renown began ascending with
Strawalde continued to keep a positive the reunification of the two Germanys.
outlook and remained optimistic that Here are some of his achievements in
his contributions would one day make a chronological order:
difference. He was not deterred by being
unable to exhibit his works. In a studio at 1989
home, he continued tirelessly to paint and Elected a member of the Arts Academy of
sculpt, experimenting with different media, Berlin.
materials and ideas.
Invited to lecture at the Art Academy of
For the rest of the time the East German state Hamburg.
remained, Strawalde focused on producing
films. His films, totally more than 40, were 1990
highly successful, and a number of them are Strawalde’s works featured in exhibitions in
still being sold in DVD format. Beginning Toulouse, as well as in the prominent East
1962, he began producing documentary German Arts festival in Paris. Among other
films. That same year, he was awarded things, he held art workshops at which he
the “Silver Grape” at the International composed large paintings as the public looks
Documentary Festival in Liepzig. Once on.
again, despite the national and sometimes
international success of his films, he found 1991
himself the target of political persecution. Becomes guest professor at the Summer
Four films were banned – “Drei von vielen”, Academy Salzburg, a post still held.
“Jahrgang 45”, “Der Sekretaer”, and “Barfuss
und ohne Gut”. In 1965, Strawalde directed His film “The Wall” (1991) is awarded the
his first, and what turned out to be his last, European Film Academy in the category for
feature film. The film was halted while in “best documentary film” at the European
production for being cynical and nihilistic. Film Awards (Felix)
It was not until 1990, within re-unified
Germany, that the draft version of this film 1992
had its first screening - at the Berlinale. Receives the Art Award of Darmstadt
and the “Filmband in Gold” for lifetime
With a slight relaxation of the political achievement.
environment, the first comprehensive
exhibition of Strawalde took place in 1994
Berlin, Dresden and Karl-Marx City (now Awarded “Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et de
Chemnitz). At the same time, Strawalde’s Lettres” for his artistic work by the French
film, “Martha”, featuring a lady who makes President François Mitterand.
AUGUST 2010 / 35
STRAWALDE
1997 2006
Receives the Art Award of Dresden. Honored at the Berlinale Camera for lifetime
achievement.
1998
Wins the Art Award “From the occasion ...” On the occasion of his 75th birthday, a
in the Sprengel Museum, Hanover. retrospective is dedicated to him.
2001
Strawalde is awarded the First Class Service
Cross of Germany.
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CONFABULATION wishes Singapore
a very Happy Birthday and dedicates
this issue to the lesser-known artists
behind some of the nation’s icons
such as the Merlion and takes A Walk
Down Memory Lane to revisit some of
the best public sculptures that have
unfortunately been removed and kept
in storage. We explore contemporary
art in Singapore and follow the traces
of Post-it notes left behind all over
town by a litterbug.
Cheers!
AUGUST 2010 / 37
The man behind the Merlion
The Man
behind
the Merlion
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FEATURES
AUGUST 2010 / 39
The man behind the Merlion
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FEATURES
Merlion
Artwork Lim Nang Seng (Singapore) The Merlion, 1972 Cement 8.6-metre tall
Patron Singapore Tourism Board
Location There are five Merlions in Singapore which are recognized by STB.
By 1997, although STB has acquired a new corporate logo, the Merlion
was still protected under the STB Act and use of the symbol required their
permission.
On 1985, the Merlion Week was initiated by STB which included a week
of celebrations, including dance and carnival events. Unfortunately, in
recent times, the Merlion do not get to have a whole week that revolves only
around him anymore.
AUGUST 2010 / 41
The man behind the Merlion
In November 1971, Lim Nang Seng began sculpting the Merlion statues,
one larger than the other. The actual Merlion to be built was so large that it
had to be built on location and required the enlistment of all eight of Lim’s
children, in particular Pee Nee and Pee Boon.
The Merlion and its cub were finally completed in August 1972.
Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew was again the guest of honor for the official
launch of the new site which took place on 15 September, 2002, exactly 30
years since it was built.
The Merlion is an imaginary creature with the head of a lion and the body
of a fish. This half-lion, half-fish sculpture rests on undulating waves.
The lion head alludes to the legend of Singapore’s founding by Sang Nila
Utama, a Palembang Prince who, on his arrival on the island, saw what he
thought to be a lion and thereafter renamed Temasek, Singapura or “Lion
City”.
It sits facing the East, aligned in the most auspicious feng-shui position as
advised. An inscription reads “The Merlion has been erected as a symbol to
welcome all visitors to Singapore”.
42 / CONFABULATION
FEATURES
which Thumboo (as Yeats before him, in the Irish context) has wanted to
sustain as a fruitful rather than a tense relation between the personal and
the public.” Among the poems of this nature are “Merlign” by Alvin Pang
and “Love Song for a Merlion” by Vernon Chan.
The Merlion was featured– or, depending on point of view, not featured–
during the 51st Venice Biennale (2005) in the controversial work “Mike”
by artist Lim Tzay Chuen. He had proposed taking the sculpture in the
Merlion Park to the Singapore Pavilion at the exhibition, but was refused by
the authorities.
Said art critic Lee Weng Choy: “Tzay Chuen’s work is important precisely
because he addresses this very Singaporean problem of ‘can’ versus ‘cannot’.
A personal comment by Eugene Tan, the curator of Lim’s exhibition:
“After the failure to move the Merlion to Venice for the Biennale, I was
apprehensive that Tzay Chuen’s intended installation might perhaps be
too subtle for the context of Venice and overlooked. However, I was proved
wrong, judging by the positive reception to Tzay Chuen’s work. The strength
of the work lies in the way it engages with different audiences through
various levels. Some viewers became aware and fascinated by the artist’s
intention to move the Merlion, while others were simply pleased to have
found clean and functional washrooms at their disposal. In the latter, this
led to long queues to use the washrooms, which attests to the success of
the Tzay Chuen’s intention to challenge and break down the boundaries
between the experience of art and life in a particularly pertinent and
poignant way.” //
AUGUST 2010 / 43
30 Public Artworks
Top 30
A selection of the
best of Singapore’s
iconic public
artworks worthy
of an art trail on
a good-weather
day (listed in no
particular order).
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FEATURES
AUGUST 2010 / 45
30 Public Artworks
18. Harmony
Artist Yu Yu Yang 26. Flower Tree
Year 2001 Artist Choi Jeong-Hwa
Patron Collection of City Developments Limited Year 2006
(CDL) Patron VivoCity
Location In front of Republic Plaza Location VivoCity
(entrance facing HabourFront Centre)
19. Homage to Newton
Artist Salvador Dali 27. Snowman
Year 1985 Artist Ignes Idee
Patron Collection of United Overseas Bank (UOB) Year 2006
Location UOB Plaza 1 (ground floor) Patron VivoCity
Location VivoCity (The Promenade)
20. Bird
Artist Fernando Botero 28. I Was Here
Year 1990 Artist Francis Ng
Patron Collection of UOB Year 2005
Location Along the Singapore River
Location In front of the University Cultural Centre
(next to UOB Plaza II)
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FEATURES
From
Cheo Chai-Hiang’s
Concepts to
Singapore’s
Contemporary Art?
Text: Yvonne Low
Cheo Chai Hiang, And Miles to go before I sleep, 1976, Wash board, hinges, stenciled letter, latch
AUGUST 2010 / 47
Contemporary Art
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FEATURES
Donna Ong, Secret, interiors: chrysalis (21), 2006, Mixed media installation
that State agencies had commissioned her to English language, a ‘common’ language that
make such art. Conceptualism, as shown, is has following Singapore’s independence
possibly a precondition to the generic and gradually become the people’s default lingua
canonizing category of Contemporary Art. franca. A close examination of Cheo’s work
shows that he is often less interested in
On this note, it is important to remember providing a name for his aesthetic practice –
that terms such as ‘Conceptualism’ or whether in his Mother-Tongue or in English
‘Performance’ are names given to art – than in pushing all boundaries (including
practices and they need to be re-defined his own) circumventing his practice. The local
and examined from a local perspective; in language issue – being uniquely Singapore’s
brief, Conceptualism in Singapore is in all – has pressed it upon us to remember that
likelihood quite different from Conceptualism much as Conceptual Art is determined by
in Japan or China (for example) in terms of an artist’s own terms, unique and specific
how it has developed and how it has been to his national-cultural identity, so too is
interpreted and received. The difficulty of Singapore’s Contemporary Art a unique
recognizing such issues lay implicitly in how phenomenon developed in accordance to
such practices have been represented in the local conditions and local responses. //
AUGUST 2010 / 49
Walk Down Memory LANE
A Walk Down
Memory Lane
- Revisiting the forgotten
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FEATURES
Public art is art that is specifically In the recent years, LTA has been actively
commissioned for a particular site and encouraging the incorporation of art into
its community in mind. The works can be their train stations (in what came to known
intended to be permanent or temporary and as Art in Transit), a practice common in
its form can range from mosaics, paintings, Europe and North America.
sculptures, lighting, landscape designs,
textiles, glassworks, video installations, In 2007, a National Heritage Board survey
ceramics and performance art. estimated that there were over 300 public
artworks on display. The earliest surviving
Introducing the artwork into the local work of public art in Singapore is a statue
environment creates a significant impact of an elephant, a gift from King Rama V of
in terms of encouraging regeneration and Thailand in 1871 that is currently located
enhancement of the space and creates at The Arts House (side entrance facing
opportunity for social and educational the Padang). Sadly, over the years, not all
interaction and can even promote tourism. sculptures stood the test of time and many
have come and gone from our public spaces.
Before, Singapore was earnest about public
art and endeavored to build monuments and A Walk Down Memory Lane takes us through
artworks that reflected national aspirations a handful of these works of art; some which
and struggles. However, by 1970-80, the task have been removed and placed in storage,
proved taxing and this gave way to private and others permanently destroyed in the
and corporate commissioning of artworks. pursuit of the newer and better.
AUGUST 2010 / 51
Walk Down Memory LANE
Athletes in Action
Artwork Brother Joseph McNally (Singapore) Athletes in Action, 1979
Patron Housing and Development Board
Location Previously at the Town Centre
Description The Town Centre was originally built in 1973 and the sculpture
was added in 1979. It survived a few different redesigns of the
Town Centre, but not the rebuilding in 2004 and is currently not
accessible by the public.
Breakthrough
Artwork Chern Lian Shan (Singapore) Breakthrough, 1990
Patron NTUC Income
Location Previously at the NTUC Income building
Description Breakthrough is a golden sculpture of a horse leaping out of an
egg, commissioned to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of NTUC
Income. The Golden Egg depicts the essence of life as all forms
of life begin with an egg while the Golden Horse is a symbol of
hardwork, dedication and reliability.
Dancer
Artwork Sun Yu Li (Singapore) Dancer, 1993
Patron Wing Tai Land
Location Previously outside Park Mall
Description The work is a liberation of the body and soul. The sculpture
evolves itself into ever-changing symbols following the rhythm
of nature. The curves twist gently, achieving greater balance and
rhythm through the asymmetrical design. The swaying posture looks
as if it is inviting you to dance to the music of life.
Joyous Rivers
Artwork Elsie Yu (Singapore) Joyous Rivers, 1987
Patron Singapore Airlines
Location Previously located at the Marina Bay. It was moved during
the redevelopment of the Esplanade waterfront.
Description A sculpture to commemorate the successful completion of the
cleanup of the Singapore River/Kallang Basic Catchment. It
epitomizes the eternal flow of live-giving water. Meandering and in-
terlocking patterns of rivers and catchments are captured on its base,
whilst joyous, dancing waves, frozen in motion, portray the abstract
form of mass celebration of a happy event. The waves surge forward
in one direction, at a 60 degree angle in one direction, symbolizing
Singaporeans striving with one common purpose towards a better
tomorrow. Lights at night enliven the liquid forms with an animated,
shimmering glow. At the time, it was the most expensive work com-
missioned to a local artist.
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FEATURES
LOVE
Metamorphosis I
Artwork Obie B. Simonis (USA) Metamorphosis I, 1986
Patron Marina Centre Holdings
Location Previously along Marina Bay
Description John Portman and Associates was developing a large architectural
project in Singapore and commissioned Simonis to create the work
for the project.
Musical Fountain
Artwork Tan Teng Kee (Malaysia) Musical Fountain, 1974
Patron DBS for Plaza Singapura
Location Previously placed at Plaza Singapura and later moved to
the Marina City Park (and then removed)
Description Tan mentioned in a catalogue for his retrospective show held at
Sculpture Square in October 2001 that, “the commission was
sponsored by the Development Bank of Singapore (DBS). It was to
be displayed in front of a shopping centre called Plaza Singapura. I
studied the environment, measured the size of the proposed pool and
used metal to build an abstract form, using straight lines to build a
model. My concept was to join two clusters of forms: one in front of
the other. From a distance, the two forms appear like natural forms,
like a mountain, summits high and low. It can appear as a landscape,
as a scene that seems to be changing. I wanted to convey a sense
of change and development. I sent it in for the competition and the
judges selected my work.”
AUGUST 2010 / 53
Walk Down Memory LANE
just want to mention about the first project which I did in 1974. At
that time it was a closed competition and I was lucky to win the first
one organized by the Development Bank. The judges selected my
submission, but the managers of Plaza Singapura could not believe
that my entry could be the winner; but they had to accept it as the
judges had decided on it. So, the manager decided to test the entries
on his own staff. Everyone including the clerks and the janitors were
asked to view the first three winners and to select one from their
own judgments. They were asked to cast their votes. Guess what!
They still chose mine to be the overall winner. Is that not amazing?
This work stood for 20 years in front of the Mandarin Hotel but
little remained after a remodelling of the hotel in the late 1990s.
Remnants included two white stucco structures pictured.
Rainbow
Artwork Chern Lian Shan (Singapore) Rainbow, 1994
Patron Pidemco Land
Location Previously outside Pidemco Center (later developed into
One George Street)
Description The sculpture was intended to reflect the business goals of the now
defunct Pidemco Land.
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FEATURES
Soaring Visions
Artwork Elsie Yu (Singapore) Soaring Visions, 1992
Patron Donated by Mr Albert Hong
Location Previously at the Marina City Park
Description A symbol of our society’s aspirations and progress. Its components
symbolise the spiralling development of a people working together
for a common cause. Each layer of the brass units represents bursts
of energy of individual effort. The units are moulded together in a
fluid movement emphasising the co-operation between individuals.
The brass units are attached to the shaft by stainless steel pipes
which signify the unifying and stabilising strength of the people.
The volcanic base emerging from the earth portrays both the
dynamism of the Nation and the solid roots which form the basis for
advancement.
Surprising Singapore
Artwork Leo Hee Tong (Singapore) Surprising Singapore, 1987
Patron Singapore MRT
Location Previously leading to the entrance of Orchard MRT station
Description Measuring 2.2 x 37 metres, it was a painting that was translated
into a mosaic mural featuring the tourist icons of Singapore. It was
destroyed in the construction of ION Orchard.
Taichi
Artwork Ju Ming (Taiwan) Taichi, 1984
Patron Donated to the National Museum by the Trade Mission of
Taiwan
Location Previously in front of the Singapore History Museum
(now known as the National Museum)
Description The twin of this sculpture is located at the HDB Headquarters office.
AUGUST 2010 / 55
Walk Down Memory LANE
Wings of Victory
Artwork Ramon Orlina (Philippines) Wings of Victory, 1986
Patron Wisma Atria
Location Previously displayed in the Wisma Atria atrium
Description A S$300,000 work made up of 67 suspended steel birds weighing
35kg each. It is presumably destroyed during a change of the mall’s
ownership and management.
56 / CONFABULATION
GLOSSARY
Glossary
This glossary contains terms that commonly arise in the discussion of art,
especially in 3D art. (Ed’s note: Commit selected vocabulary to memory
to suitably impress people the next time you find yourself engaged in an
arty-farty conversation.)
A Content
The subject matter, narrative or G
thematic concerns of an artwork
Abstract Geometric Shapes
Art that either distorts or Cubism Shapes which are defined in terms
transforms its subject matter so that A school of painting and sculpture of science and mathematics
it is no longer clearly recognizable, developed in Paris in the early
or is art that resists representation
of anything concrete or realistic
20th century, characterized by
the reduction and fragmentation I
of natural forms into abstract,
Applied Arts often geometric structures usually Icon
Refers to crafts (pottery, weaving, rendered as a set of discrete planes A famous or instantly recognizable
stitchery, jewelry-making, etc.), image that embodies certain
industrial design, fashion design, positive values or characteristics
advertising design, and architecture. F
The applied arts are functional and
their products are intended to fulfill Integrated Art
some practical purpose. Fauvism Art that takes the place of materials
A style of painting introduced in that would have been used on
Paris in the early 20th century, location, such as wall finishings,
B characterized by areas of bright,
contrasting colour and simplified
seating and other functional objects
shapes. The name les fauves is
French for “the wild beasts” Impressionist /
Biomorphic Shapes Impressionism
Shapes which are irregular and A style of painting that originated
resemble the freshly formed shapes Figuration / Figurative in France about 1870. Paintings
of Nature, e.g. a leaf, your body, Representations of the world based of casual subjects were executed
clouds on resemblance and association outdoors using divided brush
with real forms, but these references strokes to capture light and mood
are not based on realism, figurative of a particular moment and the
Bronze
art can be heightened, exaggerated transitory effects of natural light
Any mixture of alloys of copper
and stylized and color
and tin in various proportions,
often with traces of other metals
Bronze Disease
Fine Arts
Refers to drawing, painting, M
sculpture, music and dance
When mineral salts in the surface
of the bronze react with air to form Matte
acids that erode the bronze and Focal point A non-glossy or shiny surface
produce a green powdery residue An object, artwork or design coating
element that is the main point of
focus in a given space
C Mixed-media
Artwork created with more than
Form/Formal concern one type of art material
Cast The characteristics of an artwork’s
To give shape and form, often used visual elements, not subject matter
or content
Modernity
to describe the process of forming Pertaining to the set of political,
material (liquid metal, for example) social, economic and aesthetic
into a particular shape by pouring Free-standing art ideas that charaterize the modern
into a mould Art that has been placed in the world in the 20th Century
space, but which is independent of
that space, such as a sculpture on
its own plinth
AUGUST 2010 / 57
GLOSSARY
N Stylized
Made to conform to some style;
represented according to some
Negative Space convention, rather than in a realistic
Areas of an artwork which are or literal manner
unoccupied by shape or color
(see Positive Space) Surrealism
A 20th-century literary and artistic
movement that attempts to express
P the workings of the subconscious
and is characterized by fantastic
imagery and incongruous
Positive Space juxtaposition of subject matter
The space in a composition that
is filled with form
Symbolic
An artwork is symbolic if it, or a
Process part of it, stands for or represents
The methods or techniques through something else
which an artwork is created
Public Art T
The practice of involving artists in
the conception, development and Tympanum
transformation of a public space The surface enclosed by the arch
and lintel of an arched doorway,
R frequently carved with relief
sculptures
Relief
Artwork that projects out or above
the surface plane where it is
presented or made
Representation
A tangible or recognizable image or
likeness of something or someone
S
Sand Mould Casting
When a model is encased in a
sand mould which is then split,
the model removed and molten
metal poured into the reassembled
mould
Sculpture
The art or practice of shaping figures
or designs in three-dimensions
58 / CONFABULATION
POSTSCRIPT
Location: Forum
Location: Upper
East Coast Road
Location: Tanjong Pagar
AUGUST 2010 / 59
Mercedes-Benz Center
61 / CONFABULATION
Pop and Contemporary
Fine Art
Art Trove
51 Waterloo Street #02-01/2/3
Singapore 187969
Opening hours:
Wednesday - Sunday,
11am - 6:30pm.
Foundation Oil
Painting
Art Trove,
The Private Museum
Lai Chan,
Chan Hampe Galleries
Art Trove
AUGUST 2010 / 64
Sotheby’s Institute of Art,
DreamSpace Art Studio
DIRECTORIES
33 Auction www.33auction.com C
72-13/TheatreWorks 72-13 Mohamed Sultan Road
2902 Gallery 11 Mount Sophia Block B #B2-09
Cape of Good Hope
140 Hill Street
#01-06 MICA Building
A Singapore 179369
+65 6733 3822
Alliance Française de Singapour 1 Sarkies Road www.capeofgoodhopeartgallery.com
Antiquaro
19 Tanglin Road
#02-42 Tanglin Shopping Centre
Singapore 247909 Chan Hampe Galleries
+65 6737 4822 328 North Bridge Road
www.antiquaro.com #01-04 Raffles Hotel Arcade
Singapore 188719
+65 6338 1962
AndrewShire Gallery 5 Swiss Cottage Estate www.chanhampegalleries.com
Asian Civilisations Museum www.acm.org.sg
Aratong Galleries 26 Mount Pleasant Drive
Art Forum 82 Cairnhill Road Chieu Sheuy Fook Studio
Art Galleries at NAFA 80 Bencoolen Street Studio 102
Art Glass Solutions 30 Kuo Chuan Avenue 91 Lorong J
Art Retreat (Wu Guanzhong Gallery) 10 Ubi Crescent Telok Kurau Road
#01-45/47 Singapore 425985
Art Seasons 7 Kaki Bukit Road 1 #02-12 +65 96690589
Art Tree Gallery 333A Orchard Road #04-11 chieusf@gmail.com
Art-2 Gallery 140 Hill Street #01-03
artcommune 133 New Bridge Road #02-77 Changi Museum 1000 Upper Changi Road North
Artesan 793 Bukit Timah Road #02-01 Collectors Contemporary 5 Jalan Kilang Barat #01-03
Artfolio 328 North Bridge Road #02-25 COMBINART 27 Woodlands Industrial Park E1 #01-08
ArtGoGo 402 Orchard Road #02-08
ARTSingapore www.artsingapore.net D
Art Trove d’Art 5 Westbourne Road #02-03
51 Waterloo Street
#02-01 to 03 DaTang Fine Arts Singapore
Singapore 187969 177 River Valley Road,
+65 6336 0915 Liang Court , #02-09A
www.art-trove.com Singapore 179030
+65 9846 2098 / +65 9721 3718
www.9911art.com
ArtSpace at Royal Plaza Hotel 25 Scotts Road
Arty Art Gallery 686A Woodlands Drive 73 #15-52
Aryaseni 10A Bukit Pasoh D’Peak Art Space Kaki Bukit Road 1 #01-07
DreamSpace Art Studio
B 艺术创作,专业绘画教育。
19 China Street
#03-04/05 Far East Square
Benaka Art Conservation
Singapore 049561
Private Ltd
+65 9168 7785
64 Taman Warna
www.hill-ad.com.sg
Singapore 276386
+65 9105 4377 / +65 6100 2707
www.benakaartconservation.com Dynasties Antique & Art Gallery
18 Boon Lay Way
#01-136 TradeHub 21
Black Earth Auction Singapore 609966
367 Joo Chiat Road +65 67383268
Singapore 427559 www.9911art.com
+65 6346 3767
www.blackearth.com.sg
DLR Gallery 22 Marshall Road
66 / CONFABULATION
DIRECTORIES
E
Impress Galleries
Esplanade 1 Esplanade Drive 1 Kim Seng Promenade
Eagle’s Eye 39 Stamford Road #01-01 #02-07/08 Great World City
Echo Art Galerie 19 Tanglin Road #02-59 Singapore 237994
Emily Hill 11 Upper Wilkie Road +65 67362966
www.impressgalleries.com
F
fill your walls Impress Galleries
21 Tanjong Pagar Road 429 East Coast Road
#04-02 Singapore 429016
Singapore 088444 +65 64404533
+65 6222 1667 www.impressgalleries.com
www.fill-your-walls.com
G Ketna Patel
35 Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Gajah Gallery 140 Hill Street #01-08 Chip Bee Gardens, Holland Village
Singapore 278057
Galerie Joaquin +65 6479 3736
1 Cuscaden Road www.ketnapatel.com
#01-03 The Regent Hotel
Singapore 249715
+65 6725 3113
www.galeriejoaquin.com
Koeh Sia Yong 许锡勇
Galerie Belvedere 168 Robinson Road #36-01 10 Kampong Eunos
Singapore 417774
The Gallery of Gnani Arts +65 9671 2940
1 Cuscaden Road www.yessy.com/koehsiayong
#01-05 The Regent www.koehsiayong.artfederations.com
Singapore 249715
+65 6725 3112
www.gnaniarts.com
K
AUGUST 2010 / 67
DIRECTORIES
68 / CONFABULATION
DIRECTORIES
Public Art Space (Pan Pacific) 7 Raffles Boulevard Utterly Art 229A South Bridge Road 2nd Level
R V
Level 3 Y
Singapore Contemporary Young Artists www. Yang Gallery 19 Tanglin Road #02-41
contemporaryart.sg Your MOTHER gallery 91A Hindoo Road
Singapore Navy Museum 32 Admiralty Road West
Singapore Philatelic Museum 23B Coleman Street LIFESTYLE
Soobin Art International 10 Ubi Crescent #04-90/92/93/95
Sotheby’s Institute of Art 82 Telok Ayer Street Lai Chan 1 Beach Road #02-10
Sun Craft 19 Tanglin Road #02-08 STYLE: NORDIC 39 Ann Siang Road
Papa Palheta 140 Bukit Timah Road
T
AUGUST 2010 / 69
DIRECTORIES
- Police 999 Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall 12 Tai Gin Road +65 6256
- Traffic Police 1800 547 1818 7377
Haw Par Villa (Tiger Balm Gardens) 262 Pasir Panjang Road Supreme Court 1 Supreme Court Lane +65 6336 0644
+65 6872 2780 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve 301 Neo Tiew Crescent +65
Hospitals 6794 1401
- Alaxandra 378 Alexandra Road +65 6472 2000 Taxis
- Changi General 2 Simei Street 3 +65 6788 8833 - Comfort/YellowTop +65 6552 1111
- Gleneagles 6A Napier Road +65 6473 7222 - CityCab +65 6552 2222
- KK Women’s and Children’s 100 Bukit Timah Road - Premier +65 732 2516
+65 6293 4044 - Smart +65 6485 7777
- Mount Alvernia 820 Thomson Road +65 6347 6688 - Tibs +65 6555 8888
- Mount Elizabeth 3 Mount Elizabeth +65 6737 2666 - Transcab +65 6555 3333
- National University 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road +65 6779 5555 Thian Hock Keng Temple 158 Telok Ayer Street
- Parkway East 321 Joo Chiat Place +65 6344 7588 Touristline 1800 736 2000
- Raffles Hospital 585 North Bridge Road +65 6311 1111 Underwater World 80 Siloso Road +65 6275 0030
- Singapore General Outram Road +65 6222 3322 Universal Studios 8 Sentosa Gateway +65 6577 8888
- Tan Tock Seng 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng +65 6256 6011 War Memorial Park Bras Basah Road & Beach Road
Information intersection
- Directory Assistance (Local) 100
- Directory Assistance (International) 104 MALAYSIA ART GUIDE
- Flight Information 1800 542 4422
- IDD 001 +Wondermilk Art Gallery www.theclickproject.com
- Immigration Enquiries +65 6391 6100 12 (Art Space Gallery) www.12as12.com
- Postal Enquiries 1605 A2 Gallery www.a2artgallery.com
- Time 1711 Annexe Gallery www.annexegallery.com
- Weather +65 6542 7788 Art Case Galleries www.artcase.com.my
Johore Battery Cosford Road +65 6546 9897 Art Expo Malaysia www.artexpomalaysia.com
Jurong Bird Park 2 Jurong Hill +65 6265 0022 Art House Gallery www.arthousegallery.biz
Kranji War Memorial 9 Woodlands Road Art Loft www.artloftgallery.net
Lim Bo Seng Memorial Esplanade Park Art Salon @ Seni www.theartgallerypg.com
Malay Heritage Centre 85 Sultan Gate +65 6391 0450 Artseni Gallery www.artseni.com
Malay Village 39 Geylang Serai +65 6748 4700 CHAI (Instant Cafe House of Arts and Idea) www.
Mandai Orchid Garden 200 Mandai Lake Road +65 6269 1036 instantcafetheatre.com
Marina Barrage 8 Marina Gardens Drive +65 6514 5959 City Art Gallery
Marina Bay Sands 10 Bayfront Avenue +65 6688 8868 Edi.A Art Gallery www.ediarts.blogspot.com
Masjid Sultan Kampong Glam Galeri Chandan www.galerichandan.com
Merlion Park Fullerton GALERI PETRONAS www.galeripetronas.com.my
Mount Faber +65 6270 8855 Galeri Shah Alam www.galerisa.com
National Archives of Singapore 1 Canning Rise +65 6332 7909 galleriiizu @ Shangri-La Hotel www.galleriiizu.com
National Library Singapore 100 Victoria Street +65 6332 3255 House of Matahati (HOM) www.matahati.com.my
National Parks Board 1800 471 7300 Islamic Arts Museum www.iamm.org.my
Night Safari 80 Mandai Lake Road +65 6269 3411 Lookiss www.lookissgallery.com
Parliament House 1 Parliament Place +65 6336 8811 Lost Generation Space www.lostgenerationspace.blogspot.
Raffles’ Landing Site North bank of the Singapore River com
Reflections at Bukit Chandra 31K Pepys Road +65 6375 2510 Malaysia National Art Gallery www.artgallery.gov.my
Resorts World Sentosa 39 Artillery Avenue +65 6577 8888 MERAH: Mansion for Experimentation, Research, Arts and
St. Andrew’s Cathedral 11 Saint Andrew’s Road Horticulture www.facebook.com/pages/MERAH/148050170487
Science Centre Singapore / Omni Theatre 15 Science Centre Metro Fine Art www.metro3gallery.com
Road +65 6425 2500 NN Gallery www.nngallery.com.my
Sentosa 1800 736 8672 Pace Gallery www.pacegallery.net
SIA Hop-on +65 9457 2896 Pelita Hati www.pelitahati.com.my
Singapore Botanic Gardens 1 Cluny Road +65 6471 7361 Pinkguy Gallery www.pinkguymalaysia.com
Singapore Cable Car +65 6270 8855 Richard Koh Fine Art www.rkfineart.com
Singapore City Gallery 45 Maxwell Road +65 6321 8321 Rimbun Dahan www.rimbundahan.org
Singapore Discovery Centre 510 Upper Jurong Road +65 RougeArt www.rogueart.asia
6792 6188 Shalini Ganendra Fine Art www.shaliniganendra.com
Singapore Expo 1 Expo Drive +65 6403 2160 The Gallery @ Star Hill www.starhillgallery.com
Singapore Flyer 30 Raffles Avenue +65 6734 8829 Valentine Willie Fine Art www.vwfa.net
Singapore Turf Club 1 Turf Club Avenue +65 6879 1000 Wei-Ling Gallery www.weiling-gallery.com
Singapore Zoo 80 Mandai Lake Road +65 6269 3411 Y 2 S Art Space www.y2sart.com.my
SKI360° 1206A East Coast Parkway +65 6442 7318 ZINC www.zinc.com.my
Snow City 21 Jurong Town Hall Road +65 6560 2306
Sri Mariamman Temple 244 South Bridge Road
70 / CONFABULATION
AUGUST 2010 / 71
72 / CONFABULATION