A&M Small Room
I’m Exhausted,
Where is He
Samuel Xun (b. 1994)
Samuel Xun’s AMSR, ‘I’m Exhausted, Where is He’, reflects on the artist's dating experiences in his early twenties. His highly aestheticised, abstract material compositions dive into self-therapy and collective empowerment. Xun analyses connections between localised queer experiences and the world at large, and its consequences on LGBT culture in Singapore. His practice has been influenced by references from philosophical writings, films and television shows.
Artworks
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Psycho Ornamental Ideal Boyfriend II
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Old Habits Cry Hard
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Everything Reminds Me of Him
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I Hate You THVIIS much
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Maybe That’s What It’s Supposed to Feel Like
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That's the Last Time I'm Watering your Flowers
The exhibition’s title is extracted from the television series ‘Sex and The City’. In an episode, the character Charlotte York exclaims, “I’ve been dating since I was 14; I’m exhausted, where is he?” after a series of unfavourable dating experiences. Her friends follow up with the question, “Who? The white knight?” The humour and tone of such dramatic media representations are reflected in the titles of Xun’s works. The artist was also influenced by philosopher Kuno Fischer, who theorised that humour and artifice can better evoke personal experiences
Samuel Xun, detail of ‘Old Habits Cry Hard’, 2022. Image courtesy of the artist.
Psycho Ornamental Ideal Boyfriend II, 2022
acrylic paint, polyester ruffle trim & glitter ribbon on wood base
80 x 90 x 12cm
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This exhibition focuses on three wood sculptures, ‘Psycho Ornamental Ideal Boyfriend II’ (2022) and ‘Old Habits Cry Hard’ (2022). A departure from his usual mixed-medium soft sculptures, these works are Xun’s first explorations into solid sculpture. They depict skewed realities in the context of romantic social interaction, in an attempt to draw experiential parallels between the audience and the artist himself. The sculptures harbour meditative and tactile components, composed of hundreds of metres of meticulously hand-manipulated iridescent textile material that grace the surfaces of minimalist floral and heart-shaped wood structures.
Samuel Xun, detail of ‘Old Habits Cry Hard’, 2022. Image courtesy of the artist.
Old Habits Cry Hard, 2022
wall paint, glitter ribbon, and polyvinyl acetate wood glue on wood base
70 x 70 x 10cm
Everything Reminds Me of Him, 2021
acrylic paint, glitter ribbon, & polyvinyl acetate glue on stretched canvas
110 x 110 x 3cm
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The AMSR also features two existing works, ‘Everything Reminds Me of Him’ (2021) and ‘That’s the Last Time I’m Watering Your Flowers’ (2021). They are Xun’s first two-dimensional works, and present a starting point for his body of work that continually employs a characteristic sugary palette and ornamented textures. Open-ended in nature, they depict simplified forms, using satirical and suggestive titles that serve as a direction for thought.
“I’ve been dating since I was 14; I’m exhausted, where is he?”
— Charlotte York
Maybe That’s What It’s Supposed to Feel Like, 2022
acrylic paint, glitter ribbon, polyester stuffing, polyester ruffle trim, feathers, lace trim, crystal rhinestone & polyvinyl acetate glue on stretched canvas
31 x 41 x 4cm
Samuel Xun (b. 1994) is a multidisciplinary artist based in Singapore, graduating from LASALLE College of the Arts. His practice explores emblems of culture and identity, often centred around themes of emotion and cognition, aestheticism, and queerness. His work includes soft-sculpture installation, textile compositions, and graphic art informed by film, culture, and personal narratives.
His recent exhibitions include ‘Veneer & Visage’, Supper House (2022), ‘It’s My Party & I’ll Cry if I Want to’, The Projector (2022), ‘Dress/Address’, Grey Projects (2021), and ‘Only Losers Left Alive’, Yeo Workshop (2021). His work has also been published in VOGUE, The Straits Times, ELLE, Female, L’OFFICIEL, MU/SE, MEGA, Nüyou (女友), and Mensfolio.
