“Abstract art offered a new visual language which could express this spirit of modernisation and independence – a sharp distinction from the reductive and essentialising beautiful and exotic depictions of before.”- Dr. Charles Merewether, In The Mind's Eye - Thinking About Abstraction
39+ Art Space unveils Part II of the two-part exhibition, Thinking About Abstraction. Welcoming all back for another round of exploration on abstraction through the lens of contemporary Singaporean artists across three generations.
We proudly showcase a new line-up of 8 Contemporary Local Artists:
Genevieve Chua (1984), Ian Tee (1994), Jane Lee (1963), Kanchana Gupta (1974)
Keith Teo (1992), Luke Heng (1987), Valerie Ng (1974), Wyn-Lyn Tan (1974)
Part II plays to the touch of tactility on paintings, adding upon layers of intentions through gestural movements, materials and mediums. Together in the gallery, the group show highlights various compositions, each beckoning the eyes of viewers to examine the whispers of an element. Inch closer to discover the tradition of abstraction presented in ways more than one. The multi-generational vibrancy of abstraction in Singapore flows through high energy, high impact impressions.
Trailing in the same curatorial direction by Dr Charles Merewether, former Director of the Biennale of Sydney (2004-2006) and Institute of Contemporary Arts, Singapore (2010-2013), the exhibition aims to promote the recognition of the vibrant and broadly-based tradition of abstraction in Singapore.
The two-part exhibition showcases a total of 17 Singaporean artists.
Part I debuted with 9 artists: Adeline Kueh (1971), Aki Hassan (1995), Ashley Yeo (1990), Cheong Kah Kit (1976), Hazel Lim (1975), Ian Woo, Jeremy Sharma (1977), Milenko Prvacki (1951), Wei Leng Tay (1978), showcasing a variate of paintings, works on paper to work with textiles and sculptures. Some of these artists are rightly preeminent, having been honoured with a Singaporean Medallion or exhibited internationally.
There have been very few exhibitions about the tradition of abstraction in Singapore. By showing a full range of abstraction in Singapore, this broad-ranging exhibition will offer the opportunity to appreciate the correspondences and ongoing dialogue with artists from Southeast Asia and Europe.
