X Ray: Spatial Approaches and Processes

NEWS RELEASE

Five local artists explore space at Earl Lu Gallery

Monday, March 29, 2004

Five of Singapore’s most promising young artists investigate space as part of the latest group exhibition at Earl Lu Gallery at LASALLE-SIA College of the Arts. Featuring the artworks of Abdul Rashid Gapur, Khiew Huey Chian, Tang Ling Nah, Sawn Hwang and Lim Shing Ee, X-Ray: Spatial Approaches and Processes aims to examine both the artists’ developmental processes as well as their personal engagements with spatiality. It also intends to highlight these processes as a significant and integral aspect of contemporary art practice.

Says Lawrence Tio, the curator of the exhibition: “X-Ray: Spatial Approaches and Processes highlights the often-overlooked significance of process in contemporary art. In particular, it examines the processes involved in the creation of a spatially-oriented work. This exhibition takes as its premise, the processes and approaches of five Singaporean artists to their engagements with space.”

For instance, Khiew’s work seeks to question the functions of particular spaces. By installing a ‘house’ within an interior space of a gallery, he problematises the relationships between interior and exterior spaces. On the other hand, Abdul Rashid’s Rear View features unappealing laundry hung in a random yet organised manner – shadows and colours within the congested yet organised space.  After simplification of these complex aesthetics using lines on aluminium sheets, they are repositioned and presented in a gallery – a space far removed from its origin. Hwang’s work, however, does not deal with spatial concerns on an aesthetic level – he aims to epitomise the concept of the artwork as a pure artistic form.  His work, 88 Branded Pedestals shows 88 white Formica shelves fixed onto the entrance walls of the gallery. They are empty shelves with no objects or artwork on them – just empty spaces. Immediately viewers are challenged with the questions “what makes art?”, art and “if absence can be accepted as art?”. Meanwhile, Tang deviates from her usual methodology for this exhibition by leaving parts of her urbanscape drawing ‘incomplete’ and by continuing to develop the image throughout the duration of the exhibition. Lim’s work Sealed Medley, on the other hand, is an installation consisting of two ‘buildings’ – a smaller, organically-shaped ‘building’ made of clay, bringing to mind an earthiness that exudes a sense of being out in the open, natural landscape, as well as a larger wall-like structure that resembles an industrial power plant or factory.

Says Tio: “The dominating urban landscape of Singapore and its social implications has revealed itself to be a prevalent preoccupation among artists in Singapore. While this is an unquestionably significant issue, my concern is with the various processes and approaches through which local artists engage with space and spatiality. This exhibition will examine not only the results of these approaches but also reflect upon the processes taken along the way.”            

Abdul Rashid Gapur, Khiew Huey Chian, Tang Ling Nah, Sawn Hwang and Lim Shing Ee wiill each deliver a talk on their works and their underlying themes. This session will enable members of the public as well as art students to gain a greater insight into the modus operandi of the artists. The talk will conclude with a casual Question and Answer session with the curator and artists.

The Sunday Art Trolley is a series of drawing sessions tailored for children between the ages of seven and twelve. Children are encouraged to express themselves through drawings and craft in response to the X-Ray exhibition by using a variety of drawing materials provided by the gallery. Participants will be guided by an art instructor and each session is 3 hours in duration. Admission and participation is free-of-charge.