Taking CENTRE STAGE
We reveal which artists will be capturing your imagination at this year’s Art Stage
JUSTIN LIM
Malaysian artist Justin Lim will bring a sense of drama to Art Stage with his project There Is No Other Paradise. He will be playing on the idea of the traditional cleansing ritual of the flower bath—mandi bunga. Lim will project a video behind a fiberglass bathtub filled with white resin flowers. Lim is represented by Richard Koh Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur.
JANE LEE
Jane Lee is one of Singapore’s most well-known contemporary artists. She is known for her use of innovative techniques and materials. Not only are her artworks tactile, but these 3-D objects seem to slide, unravel or move down the walls. Jane Lee is represented by Sundaram Tagore Gallery, Singapore, Hong Kong and New York.
YIGAL OZERI
Ozeri’s dramatic rock ‘n’ roll images, mix reality and fantasy in one fell swoop. Shooting anyone from real women to rock star’s daughters, his work always shows them surrounded by nature. He shoots women on set, then returns to the studio to paint from the photographs. Ozeri told the Newfound Journal that when he’s shooting he’s looking for “her first interaction with her setting. Her initial timidness, embarrassment, her openness… ” Ozeri is represented by Zemack Contemporary Art Gallery, Tel Aviv.
CHUN KAIFENG
Glasgow School of Art graduate Chun uses his sculptures and installations to convey waiting, boredom, melancholy and longing. And he didn’t have to wait for long before he was noticed by the art world. In 2009 he was awarded the Singapore Art Exhibition prize. Chun is represented by Fost Gallery, Singapore.
SAM JINKS
If there is one exhibit at Art Stage that is guaranteed to make you look twice, it’s the work of Australian sculptor Sam Jinks. The former prop maker for film and TV now creates Überrealistic sculptures of people out of silicon. Jinks told Art Collector that he hopes that the viewer will be moved or touched by his realistic sculptures rather than wowed by their technical expertise. We say be prepared for both emotions to rush around your head. Jinks is represented by Sullivan+Strumpf, Sydney.
YOSHITAKA AMANO
The cartoon characters that played a large part in your childhood, were drawn by the hand of Japanese artist Yoshitaka Amano. This famed illustrator, set and costume designer is the man behind the anime adaptation of Speed Racer and the Final Fantasy series. Amano is represented by Mizuma Gallery, Singapore.
MARK JUSTINIANI
Justiniani is one of the most sought-after artists in the Philippines. His paintings or sculptures can feature anything from canvas and coffee stains, to stainless steel and mirrors. While Justiniani is now based in the US, his love for his homeland is pretty clear as his artworks often include references to Pinoy culture, history or language. Mark is represented by The Drawing Room, Singapore.
HUANG ZHIYANG
Huang is loved by the fashion world as much as the art world. His application of Chinese techniques mixed with abstract expressionism has been a source of inspiration for French fashion designer Anne Valerie Hash, and in 2011 he collaborated with Etro on a collection of silk scarves. Huang is represented by Longmen Art Projects, Shanghai.
JEAN-MICHEL OTHONIEL
Othoniel’s sculptures have been said to have an “almost haute couture quality to them,” which is probably why he became a fast favourite with the big luxury houses. Both Chanel and Louis Vuitton have commissioned him and Fondation Cartier held a solo show for him in 2003. He is now working on three foundation sculptures, due to open this year, for the gardens of Versailles. Othoniel is represented by Galerie Perrotin, Paris and Hong Kong.
SOE NAING
Burmese artist Soe Naing will bring a further twist to Art Stage 2014. He plans to line the inside of a blackedout box with sketches he made during decades of censorship under Myanmar’s military regime. During Art Stage Singapore, Soe Naing will create a series of reverse paintings, by dissolving the black paint and revealing his diary sketches to the public for the first time. Naing is represented by Yone Arts, Miami.