June Round-Up

136 GOETHE LAB, National Gallery Singapore, ATTA Gallery, Jamestown Arts Center, Mizuma Gallery, 100 Tonson Foundation, ILHAM Gallery
By Nabila Giovanna W

Alfonse Chiu, 'This Is What We Believe', 2022, exhibition view. Image courtesy of Third Street Studio.

This is What We Believe

136 GOETHE LAB, Goethe-Institut Singapore’s space for the arts presents Alfonse Chiu’s solo exhibition, ‘This Is What We Believe’ for its second phase of open call projects. The title is taken from a statement by former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. In doing so, Chiu indicates the mutual relation between faith, collective beliefs, politics, and economics in the creation of value and worth. Chiu weaves together the elements through various mediums including a single-channel video installation titled ‘Advanced Accumulation’ and archival prints such as 'This Is What We (M) Believe', 'This Is What We (L) Believe', and 'This Is What We (T) Believe'.

‘This Is What We Believe’ is on show from 13 May to 3 June 2022 at 136 GOETHE LAB, Goethe-Institut, Singapore. Click here to find out more.

'Gallery Wellness Festival 2022: Art Restores', 2022, Slow Art Guide programme view. Image courtesy of National Gallery Singapore.

Gallery Wellness Festival 2022: Art Restores

The pandemic and hyper-fast lifestyle of today has increased our stress levels. To address the issue, National Gallery Singapore initiates its first ‘Gallery Wellness Festival 2022: Art Restores’ event. The programmes cater to all ages and are divided into three pillars: movement, mindfulness and culture. The initiative is a part of Wellness Festival Singapore 2022, a government-led effort to promote holistic wellness.

‘Gallery Wellness Festival 2022: Art Restores’ is held from 3 to 12 June 2022 at various venues in Singapore. Click here to find out more.

Kamin Lertchaiprasert, '74 What is Truth?', 2020, acrylic paint on canvas, 195 x 150cm. Image courtesy of Karin Mongkonphan.

Pure Perception? (Her)

‘Pure Perception? (Her)’ is a solo exhibition by Kamin Lertchaiprasert with Vipash Purichanont as curator. The exhibition displays 20 works created between 2019 and 2020. The show forms the second out of four exhibition series to define Kamin’s concept of “Pure Perception”, with ‘Debris’ as the first series. To him, perceiving reality is not only from a physical and emotional standpoint but also through a state of mind that contains love, kindness and no expectation. That belief is reflected in his work, ‘74 What is Truth?’ which depicts a zen master uttering wise words about “truth”.

‘Pure Perception? (Her)’ is on show from 12 May to 12 June 2022 at ATTA Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand. Click here to find out more.

Entang Wiharso, 'American Gothic with Broken Pitchfork', 2022, acrylic, glitter, polyurethane on canvas, 275 x 201cm. Image courtesy of the artist and Black Goat Studios.

Meta Landscape

‘Meta Landscape’, a solo exhibition by Entang Wiharso stitches together the social landscape of both America and Indonesia, the two places he calls home and which inspire him. The show explores the complexity of the human condition such as migration, settlement of land, power of ownership and belonging through the lens of history and family. In works such as ‘American Gothic with Broken Pitchfork’, Wiharso’s ability to convey difficult subjects through his experience and imagination comes through.

‘Meta Landscape’ is on show from 14 May to 18 June 2022 at Jamestown Arts Center, Rhode Island, USA Click here to find out more.

Luke Heng, 'Grid #18', 2021, oil on linen, 49 x 36.5 x 3.5cm. Image courtesy of the artist and Mizuma Gallery.

LHLLL

‘LHLLL’ is an exhibition by two Singaporean artists, Luke Heng and Liu Liling, with Tan Siuli as curator. The artists investigate the limits of painting and the photographic image respectively. The creation of this exhibition sparked a discussion between the artists about the boundaries and conventions of each medium. The works on display oscillate between the two and three-dimensional forms, creating an interesting dialogue between the artists’ chosen mediums.

‘LHLLL’ is on show from 28 May to 26 June 2022 at Mizuma Gallery, Gillman Barracks, Singapore. Click here to find out more.

Phaptawan Suwannakudt, ‘Leave it and Break no Hearts’ (ปล่อยก็ร้าว แตะก็แตก)', 2021-2, 12 panels acrylic on canvas; 6-plexiglass sheets, dimension variable, installation view. Image courtesy of Supatra Srithongkum ©100 Tonson Foundation, 2022.

Leave it and Break no Hearts
‘Leave it and Break no Hearts’ is the fruit of collaboration between Thai artists Phaptawan Suwannakudt and Samak Kosem with curator Patrick Flores. In this exhibition, Phaptawan and Samak touch on the topic of freedom, self-expression and gender through the voices of religious minorities in Thailand. Phaptawan's works amplify issues related to women and Buddhist belief in regional Thailand, while Samak’s works highlight queerness in Muslim culture. Each artist frames their works through narratives that feature non-human forms, making a statement about human beings’ inherent limitations to express themselves. 

‘Leave it and Break no Hearts’ is on show from 7 May to 6 November 2022 at 100 Tonson Foundation, Bangkok, Thailand. Click here to find out more.

Mimi Aslinda, 'Aiyier Di Aiyier Tarjun Lambah Anai Taruih Mangalier (Air Di Air Terjun Lembah Anai Terus Mengalir)', 2022, Fabric. Image courtesy of Kenta Chai.

ILHAM Art Show

‘ILHAM Art Show’ is a group exhibition held by ILHAM Gallery with the purpose of supporting and showing new works of emerging and established artists in Malaysia. For its inaugural show, the selected artists are Azizan Paiman, Azzaha Ibrahim, Blankmalaysia, CC Kua, Chang Yoong Chia, Cheng Yen Pheng, Chong Yan Chuah, Dhavinder Singh, Dipali Gupta, Eddie Wong, Engku Iman, Haffendi Anuar, Haris Abadi, Hasanul Isyraf Idris, Hoo Fan Chon, Ivan Lam, Izat Arif, Kamal Sabran, Kim, Kumpulan Ukir Kite’ Kelab Kebudayaan Mah Meri, Leon Leong, Mimi Aslinda, Minstrel Kuik, Pangrok Sulap, Samsudin Wahab, Sharon Chin, Tan Kian Ming, Tan Zi Hao, Tetriana Ahmed Fauzi, Tin and Theyvapaalan S Jayaratnam and Yeoh Choo Kuan. 

The selections were made by Rahel Joseph, Director of ILHAM Gallery, Shabbir Hussain Mustafa, Senior Curator of National Gallery of Singapore and Zoe Butt, former Artistic Director of The Factory Contemporary Arts Centre Vietnam. ‘ILHAM Art Show’ 2022 displays artworks from a wide array of mediums and themes, including painting, sculpture, installation and sound to explore narratives of history, migration and rituals. Young writers Aminah Ibrahim, Denise Lai, Ellen Lee, Kat Rahmat, Sheau Yun Lim, Samantha Cheh, and Khat Mirzan have also been commissioned to write about the works of each artist.

‘ILHAM Art Show’ is on show from 17 May to 23 October 2022 at ILHAM Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Click here to find out more.