SB 2011 Young Arts Writers Workshop Programme by Fanny Koh

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Art to a Singaporean


‘Contemporary art’ is a concept that mystifies many who quiver at the mention of this elusive term. What is contemporary art and how does it apply to the life of an average Singaporean?


Looking through the eyes of a teh-o (tea without milk) loving heartlander, I shall now attempt to dissect the Singapore Biennale 2011 and contemporary art in a Singaporean context.


Understanding what traditional art is, is key to understanding what contemporary art is. Traditional art are pieces like paintings, portraits and sculptures, where the viewer is looking at the art piece from the viewpoint of an outsider. Contemporary art on the other hand, promotes audience participation and aims to include the viewer within an art piece.


A simple example would be how if you were staring at the Merlion from the outside, it would be presented as a sculpture and thus a form of traditional art. Stepping into the Merlion Hotel and having the experience of viewing the Merlion as a “hotel patron” gives it a whole new perspective. This inclusiveness that one feels as being part of the art piece is what contemporary art is all about.


The Biennale is a contemporary art event where pieces are executed and displayed every two years in a different country. The pieces vary every year as do the artists. 2011 is the year for the Singapore Biennale where locations such as the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) and Old Kallang Airport are utilised for the major event.


A piece that struck me would be Factum (2010) by artist Candice Breitz, nestled in a SAM at 8Q gallery. Flat screens lined the inner perimeter of the gallery that was lighted only by the images of twins and a set of triplets. With each twin juxtaposed against one another, glaring differences were evident in their mannerisms as they recount their experiences of being in a set from their conception. The eerie similarities in physical attributes were forgotten the moment their mouths opened as their individual thoughts and emotions openly defined them as individuals. And to think that all it took for me to discover this was to sit down and listen to what they had to say.


A thought that occurred would be how many a time we assume that we are homogeneous but we forget how heterogeneous we all are. Given the cultural melting pot that is our world, perhaps we can take a note from a Candice Breitz’ art piece to realise that we need to sit down and listen to each others’ unique viewpoints to understand the world around us a little better.


If I were to say something that I have learnt from the Biennale, it would be that art reflects life and anybody can appreciate art; yes, even a kopitiam (coffeeshop) diner like me.


By Koh Lee Mei Fanny