Press release from Sculpture Square: xs -> XL, Expanding Art
Sculpture Square
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
xs -> XL, Expanding Art
An Exhibition of 5 Contemporary Filipino Artists
Venue: Sculpture Square, 155 Middle Road, Singapore 188977
Date: 26 July to 25 August 2002
Time: 11am to 6pm (weekdays), 12pm to 6pm (weekends)
Admission: Free
If you think bringing in a sculpture exhibition to Singapore means
importing huge and heavy blobs of bronze or marble - think again. A group of
contemporary Filipino artists, including Cecilia Avancena, Gerardo Tan,
Katya Guerrero, Sid Hildawa and After Liwayway Recapping Co., prove that
sculpture can be conceived and practised otherwise - creating art works that
are small and light, but capable of expanding once installed in the
designated space. When the exhibition is over, these works can then be
packed and shipped again in a small container 110cm x 110cm x 92cm to the
next destination.
According to curators Judy Freya Sibayan and Matt Price, the idea and title
for the exhibition came out of a very practical concern - how to transport
works of art from on country to another at low cost. General Manager of
Sculpture Square, Tay Swee Lin, set one basic restriction for the artists:
that they should find their own funding to ship the works from Manila to
Singapore and then back again. "Working within these logistical and
financial constraints, artists are challenged to come up with creative
solutions without contradicting or compromising their practice," Tay notes.
The result? Art that though visually small, embodies complex ideas. Sibayan
elaborates: "Each of these pieces questions the system of production,
circulation, distribution and reception of art, and ultimately, expands the
boundaries of art and the imagination."
Take for instance, how Katya Guerrero transforms four items - a cheque worth
90,000 pesos, a wishbone, and two video tapes - into Interest and Token, two
works of art exploring the concept of value. Guerrero will send over the
cheque, which will be cashed into Singaporean one-cent coins, and assemble
the coins into a pyramid. Throughout the exhibition, a video projection of
the artist, sphinx-like, watches over her "precious" work. Her second piece
documents a meal with friends. In addition to a video recording, she will
display a wishbone salvaged from the meal. Coated in semi-precious metal,
the object now becomes a token of their friendship and time shared.
Inspired by the Egyptian myth in which Osiris is killed by his brother Seth,
and his corpse scattered all over Egypt, Sid Hildawa will send a painting of
his own body that is cut into many pieces. When it arrives, the various
parts of the painting are to be scattered all over the gallery. Hildawa will
also link up many chokers in his Expanding Choker Project, reversing the
idea of chokers constricting the neck by letting them "expand" around
Sculpture Square.
As part of his ongoing dust painting series, Gerardo Tan has been working
with Manila-based art restorer Helmuth Zotter in collecting dust removed
from the works of renowned Filipino artist Juan Luna and Italian painter
Canalletto. For this exhibition, Tan will also work with dust collected from
Sculpture Square's gallery. In these dust paintings, the physical evidence
of the passing of time itself assumes the status of a work of art.
Cecilia Avancena's Gypsy Mood Thermometer draws on the tradition of the Cale
communities in France and Spain in which elders would give an empty glass
jar to engaged couples. Depending on his or her mood, either of the couple
would place a different-coloured bean, grain or pulse into the jar. At the
end of the engagement, the jar would be examined to determine the success or
failure of the marriage. Through her interactive piece, the artist likewise
invites visitors to express their emotions as they experience the
exhibition.
After Liwayway Recapping Co., newly-formed anonymous artist group committed
to revisiting and responding to contemporary works, will install three
works. One of them - Imagine Pieces: Homage to John, Yoko, and John - fuses
Yoko Ono's instruction book, Grapefruit, with the lyric structure of John
Lennon's song Imagine, while infusing this new work with each artist's
sentiments.
Price remarks: "This project is a great opportunity to continue to develop
links and strengthen the friendship between the Philippines and Singapore."
Closely following this exhibition is Manila's first Children's Sculpture
Carnival, co-organised by ArtPostAsia (Philippines) and Sculpture Square.
Later, Sculpture Square and University of Philippines will respectively host
a Filipino and Singaporean artist as part of their Artist Residency
Programme.
xs -> XL, Expanding Art also marks the launch of Sculpture Square's global
touring initiative. After its run in August, the exhibition will continue to
tour various international venues. Sculpture Square is in negotiation with
various arts venues on the tour itinerary for the exhibition. This move
represents Sculpture Square's development as an international arts space and
its commitment to promoting 3-D art across the region.
Ms Minda C. Cruz, Minister and Consul General of the Philippines, will
inaugurate xs -> XL, Expanding Art on Friday, 26th July 2002.
- ends -
For curator/artist profiles and more information, contact Michelle Low at
(65) 6333 1055 or mich...@sculpturesq.com.sg
ABOUT SCULPTURE SQUARE
Sculpture Square - a non-profit, independent arts organisation - is
Singapore's first and only art space dedicated to the promotion, development
and regional exchange of contemporary 3-dimensional art. Since 1999,
Sculpture Square has been a key player in recognising and nurturing artistic
talent through its exhibition of works by local and international artists,
its regional artist exchanges and artist residencies, its symposiums and
events, as well as its publications. To make art and enjoyable and engaging
experience for the public, lively community programmes are also run
throughout the year at Sculpture Square. These include talks, informal
meet-the-artist-sessions called Square Fridays, a popular annual children's
Sculpture Carnival and a children's sculpture exhibition, and frequent
sculpture workshops for students. Sculpture Square also provides
comprehensive art consultancy services which are backed by curatorial
expertise and a rapidly-growing resource centre.
Sculpture Square, 155 Middle Road, Singapore 188977
Tel: (65) 6333 1055
Fax: (65) 6333 1655
E-mail: ar...@sculpturesq.com.sg
Web: http://www.sculpturesq.com.sg