WHEN WALLS SPEAK
This art exhibition is one of a kind as it has one thing in common, Walls!
The art as a subject in itself is as vast as it is a method of human expressions and feelings. It could be seen in the form of sculptures, paintings, pottery and many more. It was hardly thought earlier that it could ever be experienced in the streets and on the walls. But, It has been possible. To celebrate such street art, an art event titled "Singapore Weekende", a combination of two separate exhibitions, was organised by Singapore Tourism Board ( STB) in collaboration with St+ art Foundation at Jor Bagh, New Delhi. The exhibition showcased works of various Singaporean artists on the walls.
"We share the passion of bringing art and some entertainment to public spaces, engaging a wider audience in innovative ways," G. B. Srithar, regional director, STB, said in response to why this exhibition was organised. He added, "By presenting Singapore in a different light through the passions of Singaporeans, we are welcoming travellers from India to live up to their passions - be it art, music, travel, adventure or food in our city."
"Walls are great canvases. They are like larger than life and are also integrated into the fabric of a city," said Giulia Ambrogi, cofounder, St+ Art. She added that some people might not feel comfortable to go to art galleries. "Whereas for a wall, one just has to pass by it," she said. She said that social media has played a huge part in making people able to access art. "It ( social media) is also the reason why street art became so popular these days," she added.
The first exhibition at the Lodhi Art District featured a special Singapore Lane, where Singapore artists would be part of the transformation of walls between Khanna market and Meherchand Market into a public art gallery of wall murals. The artists included Sam Lo, Yip Yew Chong, Yok and Sheryo. The second exhibition, Atypical Singapore Showcase at F( r) iction at KONA, was a three floor exhibition which featured a walk- through of multimedia artworks by national and international artists. The temporary exhibition invited the public to dig into the complexities of lives entangled in dichotomies and cross- pollinations between technology, art and nature. The exhibition also featured virtual reality setups, video arts, gif animations and AR effects. Sajid, an artist, described his works as a discovery and an inquiry. "I don't bifurcate between colours that I like and I don't like," he said. When asked about whether he feelt that art is for the privileged, he said, "If you really understand what art is, it is not subjected to a privileged class or a lower class or anyone. Art is for everyone." He said that the exhibition revolved around walls because walls allow the artists to exhibit their work in a different manner. He added that generating ideas for art is a process and ideas come out of meditation and drawing.
Artists, Yok and Sheryo, showcased their works titled "The Temple of Self Indulgence". They depicted the people's depedence on social media and virtual reality networks in the contemporary world. "It's a comment on how the Internet consumes us and how we consume the Internet…. And how the corporations use technologies to invade our lives," they said. When asked about how the idea came to them on this theme, Yok said, "I think it is something we see everyday." He added that it was a response to the time one lives in today. Sheryo said that all their artworks were based on observations.
When asked about whether responses mattered to them or not, Sheryo said that it was important that art has a response but however they both were unfazed when it comes to people liking or disliking their work. At the same time, they said that the responses received were a mixed bag. On the subject of artists facing a mental block, Yok said that he observers his partners work, takes inspiration from it and add his own spin to it. "I think by spending time with other artists they look up to and visit their studios. I think studio visits are very important for artists," Sheryo said.
Walls are great canvases. They are like larger than life and are also integrated into the fabric of a city — GIULIA AMBROGI