by Michele Adriaens, 11 Feb 2012 |
“Wipe clean the cracks on your palms and watch where you tread. That comforting familiarity of skin, one most intimate and dear, could be the earth that hold down the wood, for the gaps in those fissures are deep, unforgiving, and stained. Focus in the periphery and gain colour. Immerse and submerge into the ambience, the backdrop of paintbrush strokes and the echoes. So put aside your palms and read the sky, the grass, the sheer life of things, and breathe.”
This is the description of Porcelain Lenses, a four track debut EP by local indie-pop outfit Pleasantry.
Conceptualized in late 2010, the members of Pleasantry are derived from a variant of different established bands in the local underground music scene such as Amateur Takes Control, Lunar Node and Postbox. The quintet’s diversified musical interests and knowledge have influenced the manifestation of resounding tones, strung harmoniously with the use of various instruments such as the ukulele and melodica. The band feeds on eclectic music cultures and draws inspiration from dreamed-up scenarios based on real-life scripts.
The release is now up for digital download at their bandcamp page . Pleasantry will also be playing a show at the Esplanade Waterfront on the 17th February as part of the +65 indie weekend.
by Michele Adriaens, 9 Feb 2012 |
Alvin Chua primarily works with computational tools and techniques, creating physical or visual representations of data and the systemic processes which produce them. He also likes to experiment with algorithms that produce abstract graphics. In a nutshell, Alvin operates at the intersection between the arts and science. “Formally I work in the area of urban data visualisation, processing and analytics. At the same time, I am also very much interested in other experimental practices such as generative, parametric and interactive design.”
“As the use of computers become synonymous with day to day activities, I find it compelling, as a designer, to not only be able to consume but to also create through such technology. Understanding the potential of computational and systemic methods affords me the freedom to work outside of convention, for instance, develop purpose specific tools which can make manifest complex structures or engender life like visual environments.”
Alvin is a PhD student at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in the department of Architecture. He previously worked as a research assistant at the Multimodal-Analysis Lab, Interactive Digital Media Institute at the NUS, where he participated in multi-disciplinary research work.
by Michele Adriaens, 7 Feb 2012 |
Public Logbook of Ideas (2003-2013) by Vertical Submarine aims to document vertical submarine’s unrealised ideas and failed projects mounted up collectively in a publication format. Apart from ideas listed on the ‘Inventory of Ideas’ (containing both ideas archived, since the group was formed in 2003) the publication will also contain unrealisable ideas and unsuccessful projects to be consolidated from 2011 to 2013.
Comprising three volumes, this book project will feature writings and visual documentations, of which the first volume will be launched and displayed in The Substation Theatre. The texts will be presented in various forms – ranging from visual art proposals, notes, poems, short stories, ‘biographies’ and transcripts to immaterial forms such as conversations, rants and dreams. The visual documentations shall include traditional forms like sketches, photographs and readymade images.
10 February till 12 February, 12pm-9pm at The Substation Theatre. Admission is free.
by Michele Adriaens, 6 Feb 2012 |
Singapore’s only art walkabout, OH! Open House, visits Tiong Bahru on 18, 19, 25 and 26 February. This year’s event expects to take 1500 strangers on tour into the heart of Tiong Bahru. Fifteen artists have installed their artworks – spanning a range of sculpture, photography, video, installation, interactive media – in six real life homes in the conserved and postwar apartments.
The tour will be touching on some of the issues there like gentrification, the clash of old and new, Eastern and Western through both the tours and artworks. For example, one of the artists is tackling the Speak Mandarin campaign, which has created a barrier between dialect speaking generation and the young. There will also be unique photo opportunities into private and intimate spaces of Tiong Bahru. Some highlights also include a reconstruction of an artist’s bedroom and life in its entirety using only plastic tape, an interactive light installation that will track 1500 OH! visitors, a site-specific project with Singapore’s first Monkey God temple, a scientific lab located in a bathroom dealing with what else – waste management and a social sculpture to create a new Tiong Bahru food court.
Confirmed artists are Ang Song Nian, Cindy Salim, Dilys Ng, Gilles Massot, Green Zeng, Isabelle Desjeux, Jying Tan, Lavender Chang, Marc Gabriel Loh, Mark Wong, Patrick Storey, Race Krehel, Sokkuan Tye, Stephen Black and Zhao Renhui.
OH! will be open from 4pm till 9pm on 18, 19, 25 and 26 February. The tour starts at Tiong Bahru Community Ctr, 67A Eu Chin Street. $15 tickets are sold at the door, and the last tour leaves at 8pm. Visit the website for details.
by Michele Adriaens, 3 Feb 2012 |
Photographer Farhan Adenan is an Advertising Communication major from LASALLE, currently working as a copywriter for the McCann Worldgroup. Farhan started off his craft by doing independent projects for school with random people and friends who were keen to collaborate.
“It would always be a pizza party. The collaborations though became so much fun that it became somewhat of a lifestyle. We tried our hands at pretty much everything. I guess nothing’s more fun than good company, great food and an awesome idea.”
by Michele Adriaens, 2 Feb 2012 |
Jeff Sia is launching his first solo show today at the ION Art Gallery. Jeff is a self-taught artist and after three years of intricate planning, eighteen works -mainly acrylic on canvas- were selected for a contemporary splashy Lego Art exhibition. The paintings blend the artist’s attraction to Lego with a reference to Pop Art.
“Each work is a creative expression of juxtaposed grooves, caps, shapes , depth and striking colours. I am using this method for the expression of scenery, architecture, robotics, Lego works, cartoon characters and portraits.”
When not painting, Jeff works in his frame workshop. He is an avid fan of fashion, photography, music and -you guessed it- Lego.
Lego Art by Jeff Sia runs till 5 February at the ION Art Gallery.
by Michele Adriaens, 1 Feb 2012 |
Choong is an illustrator and digital artist based in Malaysia and Singapore. “Knowing that saving the world from destruction is not my destiny, I chose to remain an artist so I can create beautiful things that make both my family and friends happy.”
by Michele Adriaens, 31 Jan 2012 |
Kokoro came from an idea shared by its co-creators, Shuxia and Jessie, to put together a community arts collective for people to come together to express and (re)connect with their emotions and sentiments. This became especially important after what had happened to Japan in early 2011. Saddened by the news, Shuxia and Jessie felt the need to do more than donations. Hence, the Kokoro postcard project.
“In 2011, Kokoro focused on the postcard project, producing encouragement cards that can be mailed to family and friends while proceeds went towards long-term reconstruction efforts in nations affected. Moving into our second year, we bring the idea of (re)connection with the self forward and 2012 spells a series of memory box workshops with children, migrant workers and fellow enthusiasts.”
To know more about Kokora and to stay updated with their events, visit their Facebook page.
