ENSEMBLE abstract art exhibition, 19-21 July @ The Arts House

An upcoming exhibition with 7 other fellow NAFA abstract art class alumni, where we had a wonderful one year journey together under the guidance of teacher-mentor Mr Raymond Yap, who is also our curator. For this exhibition, it is yet another exciting sojourn into unexpectedness as I ventured into the world of abstractism and found myself going back to the basics of colours, shapes and lines that drew me to loving making art in the first place. Starting with something or beginning with nothing, it gets somewhere, somehow, disappears, gone and then comes back again. And that is the beauty of it all. Come discover something within you, and in us :)

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EXHIBIT DETAILS:

WHERE:       The Arts House Gallery 1, 1 Old Parliament Lane S 179429

MRT:            City Hall, Raffles Place

WHEN:        July 19, 6pm-9pm (Fri opening night);

                    July 20, 11am-9pm (Sat);

                    July 21, 11am-6pm (Sun)

WEBSITE:    https://www.facebook.com/ensemble.abstract/

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DREAMembrance art exhibition, 3-5 Aug @ That Spare Room

An upcoming exhibition with 2 other artists whose works I love very much. It's been a wonderful meandering journey from the coming together more than a year ago, the initial ideas, the enjoyable discourses, the brainstorming, the theme, the planning, the venue, the slow but surely coming to fruition of the exhibition, and of course the painting, the exhilaration, the sharing, the learning, and yes, now finally the last lap to d-day on 3 August. Do join us :)

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DREAMembrance

journey into the wistful and wishful world between dreams and memories…

DREAMembrance presents the collective works of three artists as they explore the interplay between dreams and memories, creating a rich and colorful realm that bridges the past with the present, realities with aspirations. The artworks depict the artists’ emotive connections to places, people, objects, and experiences that transport the viewer to a deeply intimate space. 

Ong Hwee Yen offers a fresh take on local landmark scenes through a series of forget-me-not art vignettes of the place she grew up and dreamt in. Chris Lim’s paintings are a mix of reminiscences of landscapes, cityscapes, animals, and still life objects, conjuring a dream-like effect that evokes mystery, disorientation, and nostalgia. Using a semi-abstract approach, Arlyn de Jesus creates a series of social commentaries through whimsical mindscapes about living in a hyper-connected world.

EXHIBIT DETAILS:

WHERE:       That Spare Room @ The Fabulous Baker Boy, 70 River Valley Road #01-15, S 179037

MRT:            Fort Canning

WHEN:        August 3, 11am-5pm (Fri);

                    August 4, 11am-9pm (Sat);

                    August 5, 11am-5pm (Sun)

WEBSITE:    https://www.facebook.com/events/624970771220288/

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Artscape Exhibition, 1-3 Dec @ SOTA

Participating in Artscape 1st edition with my fellow artists at the studio, it's gonna be fun with some over 50 artists at SOTA and over 300 artworks.   

The common thread of my paintings this round is travel. Travel in time, travel in whimsical dreams, travel to foreign lands.. wherever my brushstrokes take me.. 

"Yesteryear", a juxtaposition of the present Capitol Theatre morphing into the charming Capitol Cinema of old,

"Paper Planes", a little girl's whimsical flight of fancy at Changi airport, 

"Lanterns" and "Marina Lights", abstract depictions of the red lanterns and night lights that thread the magic at Chinatown and Marina Bay,

"Cape of Hope", "Icelandic Houses" and "Brilliance", faraway dreams of fond places remembered.. Capetown (South Africa) at dusk, Reykjavik (Iceland) in winter, and Mont Tremblant (Canada) woods in autumn.  

Sneak peek of the first painting here, visit the exhibition to see the rest :)

Date: 1 ~ 3 Dec 2017, 12pm-10pm
Venue: SOTA Art Gallery
1 Zubir Said Drive, Level 2, Singapore 227968
Tel: 8192 4122 
Website: www.artscapesg.com
MRT: Dhoby Ghaut, Exit B

Homesick Singaporean Series

Ask an overseas Singaporean what he or she misses most about home, and inevitably the answer is food. Indeed some are already missing it on short trips away, such is the national obsession that bonds us all. 

The Homesick Series is originally inspired by a personal experience of being away from home for a year of studies in London, with Homesick I featuring many of my favourite foods, especially fried carrot cake, my all-time favourite that also featured in Homesick II. I was staying in a hall that catered, ahem, food that doesn't quite meet the standards, or asian palate, of Singlish-speaking ones, even for a poor student. It was hard to get by without a night of jokes at what we had to ingest, and scrimping to save for the occasional visit to a chinese restaurant, and rarer still then, a xingzhou restaurant that charged a dear pound for a stick of satay. Even the humble maggi noodles, which had to be specially scoured from a trip to chinatown, tasted of home. And chilli, I have never missed it more for my entire life! But I am digressing.

When I was asked to paint on the theme of food, an intrinsic part of our culture, and very much the DNA of a true blue Singaporean, whether Chinese, Malay, Indian, Eurasian or other race, the “hunger agony” of my London days came vividly to mind. As well as a comment from our very own PM on what he hears most from overseas Singaporeans about missing home. 

Underlying the pining lies the fabric that glues us all together over the years since independence, and became a given to generations like myself, growing up loving the sweetness of Malay food, the heavenly peranakan cuisine, and oh Indian curry prata.. the list is just endless. Just as it was perfectly natural to have playmates of multi races and fun learning how to write tamil 1-2-3 from a classmate. 

This Series is thus a tribute to our special trait, our unique yearnings, our rare fortune and blessing as Singaporeans to have peace and harmony amongst different races and ethnicities, a rarity these days. And to celebrate it all over our mutual love of food, whether yours or mine, we can't tell often and really don't care for the difference, because when it comes to eating, we are one :)

Titles:  Homesick III, I & II (A56, A54 & A55) 
Description: Homesick Series of the typical overseas Singaporean missing her or his favourite foods back home while in a foreign land, whether studying or travelling. Very much a part of our multi-racial culture, the love of our colourful local food is ingrained in our DNA and a national passion that binds us all. 2016. 
Medium: Acrylic on Ready-to-Hang Canvas. 
Dimensions: 76 x 76cm.

Exhibition: Sudah Makan? (Have you eaten?) Exhibition @ Fullerton Hotel, East Garden Foyer Gallery, 2-29 Aug 2016.
Purchase of paintings:  Please contact Baey Sock Hoon at baey@artstou.com.

"Exchange" Alfresco Exhibition, 18Apr - 18May

It's been a while since I participated in an exhibition, an alfresco exhibition at myartspace studio, this time with a group of  fellow art members who meet regularly to critique each others' works. And of course, eat, drink and be merry while at it :)  

Pretty diverse styles we have here in the group, which should make for an interesting viewing for art lovers.  

Plus it's a lovely venue with plenty of art-making action going on, a cosy atmospheric cafe, by beautiful waters opposite the President's place to boot.    

And oh yes, featuring my festive piece "Tian Zi Fang" from my China series, peek preview at the top left hand corner of the poster.   

Date: 18 Apr - 18 May 2014, 10am-6pm
Venue: My Art Space
Istana Park, 31 Orchard Road, Singapore 238888 
Tel: +65 6222 1662
Website: http://www.myartspace.com.sg
MRT: Dhoby Ghaut, Exit C