I’ve always held on to my primitive definition of art as something beautiful; an intentional creation for the purpose of delighting and entertaining the senses. But I’m not so sure after visiting Art Stage Singapore 2014.
Having about as much art education as Homer Simpson can do math, I’m never the arty-farty sort. I can neither call out artists by name (except those very famous dead ang moh ones like Leonardo Da Vinci, Monet, Manet, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Shakespeare… you get the drift) nor identify their works. If I’m found at an art event, it’s usually for the free champagne.
No free booze at Art Stage 2014 but I did get a complimentary ticket (which costs S$30) from a friend who knew I’d have fun photographing the installations and works of art.
Entrance to Art Stage 2014 held at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre from 17 – 19 Jan 14.
I wasn’t so sure I would enjoy the exhibition initially as I know nothing about art and don’t want to look stupid by not knowing why that name on a label is such a big deal, but I actually had fun.
The 4th edition of the annual art event attracted more than 40,500 visitors, 600 artists and 130 galleries from 28 countries.
In terms of photo opportunities, I didn’t find that many as taking photos of paintings felt like rip-offs while snapping pics of installations and sculptures required thick skin to saunter into the space of a participating art gallery, take the photos and walk off without making eye contact with the dealers in case they think I have a fat wallet.
Art above as it is below.
Art Stage is Asia’s global art gathering where artists and collectors are brought together.
My aging Samsung Galaxy S3 also ran out of juice quickly so I missed capturing some of the impressive pieces later into my visit. So here’s a glimpse of Art Stage 2014 and some of the pieces that had me amused or allowed me to create photographic ‘art’ out of art…
This huge goldfish sculpture with bulging eyes by Yan Ma-Lin greeted visitors entering the exhibition hall. To me, the goldfish looks like a wide-eyed idealist who has swam out of its painted pond (the painting behind) from this angle.
This scene with a huge seashell in front of a photo of a crowd gave me an epiphany about people who came out of their shells to join the world.
Nightmares can be beautiful… Artist Damien Hirst painted with insects in this visually extravagant piece that is one of my favourites.
Close up of the ingenious bugs mandala featuring jewel beetles, scorpions, atlas moths, leaf insects, Goliath beetles, and many specimens from the forests of South America as well as Asia. It’s a masterpiece from the masterpieces of nature!
Boomz! Deepavali just got kinky?
Bat you love to get some S&M action.
My, what a big mouth you have.
Yue Minjun’s Contemporary Terracotta Warrior No. 10′s laugh is infectious. I can’t help but smile looking at him.
Freedom is letting it all hang out.
她真的看得很开。。。Absolutely hilarious comment by one of my Facebook friends!
Two eras of China.
Consumerism is the new communism?
This oil on canvas by Akiko Kinugawa is Untitled but I think a fitting name would be Sourpuss. LOL.
A slice of eroticart… an interesting piece composed by many layers of print on plastic sheets laid in sequence to achieve a fantasy effect of the nude torso. The effect doesn’t quite show in photo and best seen in person.
Looks like a simple installation but getting each piece of acrylic sheet to be at the same precise height must be backbreaking work.
Hello, Kitty… We decided to create art of our own.
Sometimes in life, we just have to bend over and take it from behind.
人与人的杂乱关系。
Show your true colours.
Life imitating art.
Toshio’s sister found! Toshio is the ghost child from Jap horror movie, The Grudge.
This lonely and cold painting sure could use some fire to keep warm.
Is this art?
Many of the art pieces had been eye-opening in their creative techniques and executions. While the definition of art is subjective, some of the pieces were rather trashy to my commoner eye. Yet, their unartistry provoked a response as much as the stunning works made the heart gasp.
Transcending beauty, my Art Stage foray reminded me that art and the appreciation of it should go beyond the realm of sensory pleasure and embrace the provocative emotional dialogue brought on by art that makes one uneasy.
If I have to explain what is art to someone now, I would say it is the language of the soul.
Tagged: Arts, Exhibitions
