Wong Jing Wei, Queenstown Cinema & Bowling Centre.
From the series, Temporary States (2012).

Geraldine Kang, in collaboration with Benjamin Cheah.
Film still from Chemical Head (2012).

Tan Peiling, Soundtracks for an unknown landscape (2012).
Videostills from Multimedia Installation.

A Crisis of Confidence features new work produced by three recipients of the Kwek Leng Joo Prize of Excellence in Still Photography. Graduates of NTU ADM, they have each been engaged in efforts to expand their individual practices beyond conventions of the printed image. Between these artists is a shared uncertainty towards their understanding of prevailing cultural constructs that are often left unnoticed or unquestioned. The following describes their attempts at probing deeper and deconstructing three areas of interest:

In “Temporary States”, Jing Wei expresses a condition of detachment and loss in the fast changing local landscape and reflects on our sense of belonging to these increasingly temporary landscapes. Inspired by her anxiety condition, Geraldine’s “Black As Waves, Half As Light” is a collaborative project with individuals suffering from mental illness. She hopes that the project will lead people to consider varying perceptions of mental illness and what they may entail. Peiling’s interest centers on visual media and the way it informs our perceptions of ideas and environments. “Soundtracks for an unknown landscape” draws from accumulated archives of film footage to examine how visual and aural contents construct an understanding of reality.

The show opens today at 2902 Gallery, and runs through 26 May. The Artists will be present on week-ends.

“Love & Daydream is a video inspired by the daydreamers, and the artwork aims to bring “fun” back into fashion, to encourage its wearers to experiment, and to make a statement with a personal style that is uniquely theirs. Keeping with the exhibition’s theme -Kaleidoscope- we would like this work to encourage the viewers to be free to express themselves creatively through their dressing.”

Apprentice Teo Jia En (Creative Direction) is a Fashion Management student at LASALLE. Having cultivated an interest in the arts since young, she continued with art studies for her ‘O’ & ‘A’ levels, and decided to pursue fashion. “With a deep appreciation of the arts and cultures found in fashion, I aspire to become a leading trend maker in the fashion and luxury industry.”

Collaborating artist, Gilda Su (Fashion Designer and Make Up Direction) attended Bunka Fashion College. After graduating with a specialist degree in dress-making, she continued her studies at Parsons, the New School of Design in New York City. Gilda is a full-time daydreamer and joyseeker. Her designs show her love for color and pattern manipulation, a playfulness that comes with self-confidence and an original personal style.

Collaborating artist, Nicole Lee (Videographer, Lighting, Editing) is a jack of many trades, who aspires to become a master in photography and videography. Nicole’s passion started with music, shooting at concerts and club events. While she has expanded into other aspects of photography, Nicole hopes to continue with this mantra of capturing the essence of moments on image. “The journey hasn’t been easy, but I am very grateful for everyone who has helped, inspired and taught me.”

You can watch the video at the Transmission: Kaleidoscope exhibition which opens on 12 May at 188-8 Tanjong Katong Road.

Dépaysement is a collaborative artwork between Nguyen Le Thuy Duong (Zoey), Sachin Teng and Chang Poo Hee, exploring the dichotomy of Chaos and Order that stems from the sense of deconstruction of a Kaleidoscope.

“There are two major parts to the idea; the deconstruction of the original mass, followed by the chaos and the scattering. The installation is a bridge between these two states where one half of the project represents the construct which is presented as final still images projected onto the other half which represents the deconstruction, or the chaotic part presented in 3D format. The artwork is an interactive installation constructed from electronic wastes juxtaposing technology (e-waste) with nature (still images) and the presence of the audience – a reminder of the disassociation with social and physical interaction that comes from the constant integration into digital media and technology.”

Apprentice Nguyen Le Thuy Duong is currently pursuing her Bachelor in Fine Art, at LASALLE.  Duong’s favorite medium is pencil drawing and her current body of work touches on the notion of “Depaysement” while she explores an entirely new language of installation.

Collaborating artist, Sachin Teng is an artist living and working in New York City. He attended Pratt Institute for his BFA in Illustration. Though he’s an illustrator he thinks more like a designer. “Art is a means of visual communication, a kind of aesthetic discourse. They can tell you whatever they want; art is the original subliminal message.”

Collaborating artist, Chang Poo Hee is currently pursuing his Bachelor in Computer Engineering at Nanyang Technological University. With an interest in interactive art, computer vision and machine learning, he has recently been working with several Fine artists to produce highly technical new media art pieces, including an interactive installation with Kerui Chen exhibited at the recent Winston Oh Travelogue 2011.

Dépaysement can be viewed at the Transmission: Kaleidoscope exhibition which opens on 12 May at 188-8 Tanjong Katong Road.

“Dreams are composed of numerous pieces to become stars in the sky. The star in the sky has fallen onto the earth and shattered into countless small fragments. For one to pursue his/her dream, he/she has to find the different fragment pieces to form the one and only unique shining star in his/her heart.”

The Dream Seeker, a collab between Joyce Lee and Michael Ng – uses the kaleidoscope metaphor to address one’s dream-seeking journey. The falling star / meteorite contemplates the supreme motion of creation. As a composition, meteorites exist seed-like in form, complete in it’s beginning, that in turn, evokes immense possibilities arising at the moments of it’s ending. The installation comprises of a pentagonal flower origami and a modular star origami in the middle. The pentagonal flower origami symbolizes the dream-seeking journey, the different layers of the flower petals symbolize fragments of the falling star / meteorite, and the star in the middle symbolizes one’s dreams.

Apprentice Joyce Lee is a young illustrator/designer who is strongly influenced by Western culture and media. With an ardent love for folk art, mythological tales and street culture, Joyce believes in rediscovering her heritage through the beauty of traditional Chinese art, and tries to visually express both her Chinese roots and Western influences in her creations.

Collaborating artist Michael Ng aka Mindflyer‘s whimsical and playful paintings evoke a familiar innocence with a dose of twisted humor. Besides painting, exhibiting his work and teaching, he is also a founding member of the OIC Singapore where he is actively involved in engaging and challenging young illustrators and promoting illustration as an artform.

The Dream Seeker will be part of the Transmission: Kaleidoscope exhibition which opens on 12 May at 188-8 Tanjong Katong Road.

Mural by Trupti Dorge. 

Mural by Cara Ng and Yvonne Chang.

“SAY IT WITH COLOURS” POST-IT® Wall Mural Exhibit is a collaboration between Doodle! and Orita Sinclair School of Design, sponsored by Post-it® Brand.

Featuring expressive and stunning murals made using over 7,000 pieces of Post‐It®Super Sticky Notes, the exhibition is the culmination of Doodle’s desire to make a difference to the arts and design world and Orita Sinclair’s aim to encourage its students towards greater creativity and innovation.

The works were created with the guidance of Orita Sinclair’s talented Illustration lecturer and Art Director, Farizwan a.k.a SpeakCryptic, and the exhibition will run from today to 30 April, at Doodle!.

Lost Objects is a collaborated project between ceramic artist Chua Soo Kim and graphic designer Soh Jin Ping. Peering into the kaleidoscope is akin to looking into a deconstructed labyrinth stuck in a time-warp. It deconstructs the everyday scene and objects, creating new perspectives of the otherwise mundane and familiar. With reference on concept of deconstruction, we decide to recreate a traditional everyday object, ie the medicine claypot, by deconstructing the functionalities and visuals related to the object, and re-presenting them in new light through simplified graphics and experimental glazing techniques.

Apprentice, Jin Ping is a recent Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Communication) graduate from Nanyang Technological University. To him, the design process is tantamount to storytelling: from the research-driven ideas, to the marriage of ideas and form, and finally down to the technicalities of construction. “My practice aims at communicating stories through the re-presentation of forms and languages. I enjoy a multitude of design ranging from environmental to experiential, from publication to branding.”

Collaborating artist Chua Soo Kim started pottery as a profession at the age of 15. At this young age, he trained and worked in the Glaze Research Department at Sam Mui Kuang Pottery, the Dragon Kiln, also known as Hwi Yoh. Soo Kim joined Studio 106 in 1986. In 1990, he was invited to be a part-time lecturer at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, followed by National Institute of Education of Nanyang Technological University in 1991. The potter became one of the Ceramic Committee member and Tutor at Centre for the Arts at Centre for the Arts in National University of Singapore in 1999. Soo Kim has been actively participating in exhibitions, both Solo and Group, since 1987. He started pottery classes in Sam Mui Kuang Pottery in 1986. In 1994, he formed the Hwi Yoh Ceramic Group.

Lost Objects will be on display at the Transmission: Kaleidoscope exhibition which opens on 12 May at 188-8 Tanjong Katong Road.

Nature’s creations and beauty are often left unnoticed. Many times in this hectic concrete jungle, people hasten through their surroundings, overlooking its beauty. In contrast with the man-made psychedelic characteristics of the kaleidoscope, ‘Notice Unnotice’ – a collaboration between  Yeo Wanqi  and  Kumari Nahappan- aims to bring out the organic forms and soothing personality of the nature, accentuating the wonders of the creations. Slow down your footsteps, free your imaginations and embark on a sensual experience.

Apprentice Wanqi is a part-time dessert maestro, part-time human magpie and full-time graphic designer. She gets her eureka moments from the simplest things: the quiet nature, radiant cultures and even from her vast nest of collectibles and small toys. As an avid nature-lover and explorer, Wanqi believes in using a combination of her daily experiences and radical concepts to influence her works. These are translated into creative and surprising visuals that are brought to life by hands-on experimentation and other versatile methods. On the moments away from her Macbook and design, Wanqi also takes much joy delving into craft, photography and conjuring up the next confectionary delight.

Collaborating Artist Kumari Nahappan is a conceptual artist who has built an artistic practice of over twenty years, developing an extensive body of work, including paintings, sculptures and installations, which have been exhibited in Asia, Europe and the United States.  She has been collecting many accolades as a practicing artist – recipient of the United Overseas Bank Painting of the Year Award (1998). She was the first woman and foreigner to be awarded the Ksatria Seni Award in 2004 by the prestigious Museum Rudana in Ubud, Bali and more recently, nominated and awarded the Sculptor of the Year at the 15th edition of the Shanghai Art Fair. Kumari is noted for her signature and iconic, monumental public art sculptures at prominent locations in Singapore and around the region, working with museums and galleries, curators, property developers and private collectors.

This and more impressive work from young creatives will be on display at the Transmission: Kaleidoscope exhibition which opens on 11 May at 188-8 Tanjong Katong Road.

“When looking into the kaleidoscope, it looks like a pathway, with another place in the end so colorful and intriguing, our imaginary utopia. Yet no matter how pretty, it is unreachable.”

“The Escape”, a collaboration between Kimberly Ong and Sun Lee Siew Loo depicts just that. With Sun Lee’s expertise in creating beautiful art using ink and pen, and Kimberly’s manga style illustrations, the piece shows a girl who is tied, unfree. Being in the midst of all these very beautiful patterns, yet unable to do anything about it. The contrast of being so close, yet unable to reach. Her greatest wish, is that she would escape, and plunge into the beauty which was around her all the while. The final artwork shows the image in pure line art simplicity, focusing on the complicated patterns created by the mirroring concept of a kaleidoscope.

Throughout the journey of making the artwork, Sun Lee not only acted as a collaborator, but also as a mentor for Kimberly, guiding her and sharing her experience and her way of thinking. After going through a few sketches and ideas, it all comes down to “simple is better”. This line art of a girl was the first step towards creating the artwork.

Collaborating Artist Sun Lee Siew Loo is a graphic artist, illustrator and photographer. She started illustration early 2009, using unique pen and ink drawing techniques. She draws inspiration from evolution, space, patterns, animals, humans and nature. Sun is passionate about typographical illustrations and her art has been featured on our site, RojakSite, RYZ, Shirtlog, tkyo, kult magazine and more. She is also one of the 9 Fountains Founding 15 – Singapore’s premier on-line t-shirt store and design community. In April 2010, Sun created the winning shoe design for the RYZ footwear contest. As part of the TKyo community, Sun has created an iPhone artwork in support of the relief efforts for the Japan earthquake.

The collab will be part of the Transmission: Kaleidoscope exhibition which opens 11 May at 188-8 Tanjong Katong Road.