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The Unguarded Moment

Shutterbugs wouldn’t want to miss this exhibition by one of the photographic world’s most celebrated photographer, Steve McCurry. The exhibition offers a rare glimpse into some of Steve McCurry’s unpublished works as well as his most iconic images that have defined photography today. The exhibition will include, among others, the “Afghan Girl”, the world’s most recognized photograph. Jun 19-Jul 19. Shaw Foundation Foyer, 2/F Asian Civilisations Museum, 1 Empress Place, 6332-2982.

FREE Are We Having Fun Yet?

British artist Ann Healey leaves a strong visual impression in this sculptural painting exhibition that mocks the extreme paradoxes presented in mass media. Healey uses contradicting images and words that feature such polar opposites as violence/peace and poverty/wealth, and fuses together into visceral montages. Sep 3-17. Night & Day Gallery, 139 Selegie Rd., 6884-5523.

200 pieces of artwork by children of ages three to 13 will be on display in this exhibition, depicting the children’s artistic and creative expression of the four seasons and how every child envisages it differently. Jul 3-5. Print Gallery, The Arts House, 1 Old Parliament Lane, 6332-6900.

The Cats of the World photo exhibition celebrates our furry feline friends for the third year running. Proceeds from the exhibition will be donated to the Cat Welfare Society. Jul 9-28. Print Gallery, The Arts House, 1 Old Parliament Lane, 6332-6900.

Marc Riboud is best known for his extensive reports of Eastern conflicts like in Vietnam and China. Here, he presents a collection of 28 photographs he took during his extensive travels within China since 1957. Jun 21-Jul 19. Cathay Gallery, 2/F, The Cathay, 2 Handy Rd., 6732-7332

UAE-based artist Tom Baggaley showcases his contemporary artwork in this, his first local solo exhibition that includes etchings, screen prints and drawings. Baggaley shows a fondness for using gaps, lines and numbers, to demonstrate his themes of structure, order and disorder. Jun 27-Jul 6. Forth Gallery, 2/F 69A Pagoda St., 6222-7809.

Anhui-born, China-based artist Li Shuguang engages in a visual language to express a fable-like narrative of his impressions and musings on our solitude. Through paintings of oil on linen, and drawing its influence from bestial imagery, Li Shuguang’s exhibition highlights what life means to him as a whole. Jun 25-Jul 19, ARTS SEASONS Singapore, Eunos Technolink, #02-12 Block 7 Kaki Bukit Rd. 1, 6741-6366.

This exhibition is the development of Heartspace@St Marys where the emotional, mental and physical well-being of individuals is being nurtured through expression in art. Art pieces of a variety of mediums by 20 individuals are on display here, focused on expressing the power of grace. Jun 26-28. Foyer of University Cultural Centre, National University of Singapore, 50 Kent Ridge Crescent, 6516-2492.

In this exciting installation, artist Christine Ay Tjoe dives into refreshing territory – gastronomy, and relates it to our personal make-up and how it can shape our values. In this collection of hers, she focuses her installations on the idea of excess in light of our current global economical turmoil. Jul 18-Aug 8. Singapore Tyler Print Institute, 41 Robertson Quay, 6336-3663.

Inspired by the serenity and natural beauty of the terraces of the Northern Myanmar mountainside, artist Khin Win Kyi improvises new techniques and ideas in this exhibition. Jun 6-7. Gallery, The Arts House, 1 Old Parliament Lane, 6332-6900. E-mail rsvp@artyartgallery.com to register.

Indonesian artist Diah Yulianti draws inspiration from the cultural, social and spiritual richness of her native Kalimantan, and incorporates these traditional symbols into her vibrant paintings that illustrate her connection with the land and its people. Jun 20-Jul 19. Galerie Waterton, #02-01 Tanjong Pagar Distripark, 39 Keppel Rd., 9783-2144.

The third solo exhibition of Singapore-based artist Clare Gaylard, Heaven Above Earth Below is an exhibition of flamework glass and paintings. The exhibition reflects both the ethereal and the celestial, combined with the artist’s passion for the physical act of creating and a love of storytelling. Jun 25-30. Glass Studio @ Emily Hill, 11 Upper Wilkie Rd., 6883-1091.

Utterly Art and Blank Art Space features Philippine painter Melvin Culaba, best recognized through his dark visuals which critique current society. This exhibition, his second in Singapore, delves into the apathy we create among ourselves and strives to bring to mind the ugliness of people, beneath superficial beauty. Jun 11-21. Forth Gallery, 2/F 69A Pagoda St., 6226-2605.

Jeho Bitancor is a Filipino and a migrant observer in the United States. In Lost In Paradise, Bitancos fittingly plunges into his journey as a foreign “Other” and expresses this first-hand experience through this solo art show. Jul 16-26. Utterly Art Exhibition Space, 2/F 229A South Bridge Rd., 6226-2605.

FREE Ngalla Marraaju Wuuju Dulka Kilwanmaruthu (We’ll Show You Our Country)

This show features the very best from a group of the Kaiadilt women who paint on Mornington Island in Australia, using local themes like salt pans, mangroves, mussels, oysters, fish traps, shells and sand from the casuarinas lined beaches, and the ceremonial scars made when someone related dies. Jul 8-Aug 22. ReDot Gallery, 11 Everton Rd., 6222-1039

Self-taught Singaporean artist Martin Loh allows his overactive imagination to take center-stage when it comes to his artworks, and creates pieces inspired by heritage and pa/matriarchal impressions. Richly featuring nostalgia and long gone days, Loh manages to reconstruct the past into a web of paintings and deliver a sense of familiarity along with a renowned admiration for culture. Jul 2-12. Utterly Art Exhibition Space, 2/F 229A South Bridge Rd., 6226-2605.

Ode To Art and the Mercedes-Benz Centre bring you an exhibition by artists Lim Tze Peng, Liu Chun Hai, Gao Xiaowu and Fan Shao Hua, whose works incline towards politics or a mere interpretation of a landscape, Through Jun 30. Mercedes-Benz Centre, 301 Alexandra Rd., 6866-1784.

This initiative between tcc and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts sees 10 student-artists expressing their thoughts via various art forms—focusing on issues like the relationship between man and civilization. Ongoing. tcc-NAFA art boutique cafe, #01-17/18, 80 Bencoolen St., 6334-4380.

Five local artists Choy Ka Fai, Ming Wong, Zulkiflie Mahmod, Jason Lim and Ang Soo Koon bring home works that were previously shown and produced for international audiences. Through Jul 26. 8Q sam, 8 Queen St., 6332-3200. $3 (adult); $1.50 (children and senior citizens).

Frankie Chang’s second series of black and white drawings at The Arts House will showcase famous and influential political figures and individuals. Through Jun 29. Print Gallery, The Arts House, 1 Old Parliament Lane, 6332-6900.

Posing the question “How should one look at the 21st century?” to the viewers, Filipino painter Jose Tence Ruiz reworks the commonplace definition of the ballroom in his new series of artworks. He reconfigures it from the center of celebration and merry-making normally to the symbol a extravagance and artificial glee against a blu-skreen. Jun 19-Jul 10. Artesan Gallery + Studio, #02-01, 793 Bukit Timah Rd., 6469-7818.

Part of Sculpture Square’s annual community outreach initiative, the exhibition of children’s sculptures, targeted at children between the ages of four and 12, aims to inculcate an awareness and appreciation for art in young Singaporeans. Through Jun 28. Sculpture Square, 155 Middle Road, 6333-1055.

Internationally known for his famous Panton Chair, Danish architect and designer Verner Panton is counted among the most innovative designers in the second half of the 20th century. Here in this exhibition, you can expect to see more than 100 of his chairs, lamps, textiles and sculptures, seeking to capture the diversity of his works. Through Jul 12. Exhibition Gallery 2, National Museum of Singapore, 93 Stamford Rd., 6332-3659. $6 at the door.

Constantine Popov’s whimsical oil paintings have long been celebrated for their whimsical and theatrical qualities. Art critics have lauded his compositions as fantastic, inventive and unique. Ongoing. Artfolio, Raffles Hotel Arcade, #02-25, 328 North Bridge Rd., 6334-4677.

Don’t miss this upcoming new solo exhibition by acclaimed artist Namiko Chan Takahashi. Comprising a series of double portraits, it seeks to explore the relationship between parallel lives. In each pair of paintings, two women face each other in a mirror-like reflection, each regarding the other almost as if peering into her life. Through Jun 27. FOST Gallery, 65 Kim Yam Rd., 6836-2661.

One of the world’s great reportage photographers, Francoise Huguier presents her latest series of photographs which raises the question of the process of modernization and the notion of modernity in Singapore. Through Jul 19. Brother Joseph McNally Gallery, Institute of Contemporary Art, LASALLE College of The Arts, 1 McNally St., 6496-5000.

Earth and Water: Mapping Art in Southeast Asia

This exhibition takes the two basic elements of life, earth and water, as a theme unifying the two broad geographical regions of Southeast Asia—the mainland and the archipelago. Featuring works from the best of the region’s artists, the diversity of life in Southeast Asia is showcased in this exhibition. Ongoing. Through Mar 28, 2010. Singapore Art Museum, 71 Bras Basah Rd., 6332-3222. $8 (adult); $4 (children and senior citizens).

This exhibition shows artist Dick Lim’s oil and acrylic paintings that, figuratively speaking, are symbolic and allow each person to draw his own inspirations and hypothesis as to the artist’s intent. Through Jun 30. d’Art Studio, #02-03 Blenheim Court, 5 Westbourne Rd., 6479-7906.

Singaporean artist Ian Woo’s latest work is a psychedelic showcase of colors in seemingly free-form improvisations that belie a highly-disciplined structure. Venture into a realm of imaginary worlds, landscapes and allegories that just might bring you closer to utopia. Through Jun 28. HT Contemporary Space, #02-04 Tanjong Pagar Distripark, 39 Keppel Rd., 9382-1700.

The Kangxi Emperor: Treasures from the Forbidden City

This exhibition brings to life the Emperor’s enduring legacy by exploring the different facets of his personality and reign. Featured in the exhibition are 95 artifacts ranging from imperial robes, armor, paintings, astronomical and scientific instruments, porcelain and snuff bottles. Through Jun 14. Asian Civilisations Museum, 1 Empress Place, 6332-2982. $5 (adult), $2.50 (children and senior citizens).

This solo exhibition showcases artist Yogi Setyawan, well known for his caricatured reflections of day-to-day life and its people. His medium of expression is largely acrylic on canvas combined with joyously bright palettes. Fifteen paintings with humorous angles on our social challenges today are featured in this exhibition in the aim of bringing smiles to viewers’ faces. Though Jul 15. 8/F, National Library, 100 Victoria St., 6332-3255.

Filipino artist Kiko Escora removes the copious layers of life—information access, instant gratification and other modern paradoxes—to reveal the delicately bare essence of life in this solo exhibition. Be reminded of the simple joys of being alone in a thought-provoking exhibition that will surely change your outlook on life. Through Jun 28. Utterly Art Exhibition Space, 2/F, 229A South Bridge Rd.,6226-2605.

Check out some of the latest artworks now at this gallery—including pieces by Luddy, Nellie Crawford and Utin Reni. Ongoing. Red Sea Gallery, #01-10 Blk. 9, Dempsey Rd., 6732-6711.

Indigo Blue Art presents an exhibition that aims to promote inter-religious harmony and a better understanding of Buddhism and Buddhist culture. Featuring an extensive collection of photography and 18th and 19th century Buddhist artifacts. Through Jun 30. Indigo Blue Art, 33 Neil Rd., 6372-1719.

FREE Ochre Dreaming: Stories from the East Kimberley

Catch the natural ochre artworks by Aboriginal artists of the Northeast of Western Australia. Through Jul 27. 11 Everton Rd., 6222-1039.

Pulp Stories II pays tribute to monumental and complex pulp works by American contemporary art giants James Rosenquist and Frank Stella, showing the critical role paper pulp played in the artists’ work with master printer Ken Tyler. Through Jul 11. Singapore Tyler Print Institute,41 Robertson Quay, 6336-3663.

The husband-and-wife team who run the Moo Moo Oink Oink Computer Workshop will be screening their first animated showcase, SuperMoo, which brings to life the popular animal characters from the workshop. Through Jun 29. Foyer, The Arts House, 1 Old Parliament Lane, 6332-6900.

Revel in the works of master pop artists like Roy Lichstenstein, David Hockney and Jasper Johns, among others, in this massive retrospective. Through Jul 26. 8Q sam, 8 Queen St., 6332-3200. $3 (adult); $1.50 (children and senior citizens).

Don’t miss this contemporary art exhibition that explores the use of fabric and fibers in art making. Through Aug 16. Singapore Art Museum, 71 Bras Basah Rd., 6332-3222. $8 (adult); $4 (children and senior citizens)

Centred on the themes of “transport” and “Asia,” TransportASIAN boasts works in mediums such as prints, installations and multimedia by photographers such as Shannon Castelman, Chua Chye Teck, John Clang, Xavi Comas, Mark R. Kauffman, Dominic Khoo, Ko Aung, Tung Mai, Nge Lay, Jun Nguyen-Hatsushiba, Rich Streitmatter-Tran, Samantha Tio, Gilles Massot and students from Lasalle College of the Arts. Through Aug 11. Singapore Art Museum, 71 Bras Basah Rd., 6332-3222. $8 (adult); $4 (children and senior citizens).

An Unbroken Line: The Wu Guanzhong Donation Collection

This exhibition showcases all 113 works that art luminary Wu Guanzhong donated to the museum, representing five decades of the artist’s creative oeuvre. A key significance of Wu Guanzhong’s art is the crossing and synthesizing of the two art forms of ink and oil which represent art historical and aesthetic contexts of traditional Chinese and western art. Through Aug 16. Singapore Art Museum, 71 Bras Basah Rd., 6332-3222. $8 (adult); $5 (children and senior citizens).

Australian artist Tony Twigg, known for his fascination with space and experimental constructions has a solo exhibition at TAKSU featuring over 15 of his artworks. Jun 18-Jul 18. TAKSU Singapore, #02-74 Blk. 43 Workloft@Chip Bee, Jalan Merah Saga, 6476-4788.

Featuring over 200 objects such as ceramics, jades and bronzes from the Lee Kong Chian Collection, this exhibition is a trip into the rich history of Chinese ceramic art. Ongoing. NUS Museum, University Cultural Centre, National University of Singapore, 50 Kent Ridge Crescent, 6516-2492.

FREE... What if I want to water ski? And other questions

This exhibition by Victoria Cattoni is partly a response to contemporary media’s depiction of Islam through the text and fabric of the “hijab.” The works include a selection of photographic portraits of Muslim women in Singapore, documenting the types of tudung worn locally and presenting alternative and personal depictions of the veiled woman. Through Jun 24. The Substation Gallery, 45 Armenian St., 6337-7535.

Utterly Art and Blank Art Space features Filipino painter Melvin Culaba, best recognized through his dark visuals which critique current society. This exhibition, his second in Singapore, delves into the apathy we create among ourselves and strives to bring to mind the ugliness of people, beneath superficial beauty. Through Jun 21. Forth Gallery, 2/F 69A Pagoda St., 6226-2605.

Singapore-trained, professional painter Chankerk’s solo exhibition is drawn from his observation that despite Singapore’s multiculturalism, our understanding of various cultures is in fact superficial. In his series of paintings, Chankerk employs and explores different images of artifacts, fossils, figures and patterns, which represent cultures and their respective beliefs. Through Jun 21. Fill Your Walls, #04-02, 21 Tanjong Pagar Rd., 6356-2830.

 

See double at Namiko Chan Takahashi’s latest show at FOST Gallery.

“When I paint portraits I look for the special moment—a look, a gesture, a flash of insight into the inner world of the person I am painting. I want to connect with that; and I want to portray it,” says Namiko Chan Takahashi. The winner of 25th UOB Painting of the Year Award and self-described contemporary realist’s arresting works are emboldened by her use of the female form to illustrate the human condition, issues and choices faced by modern women. Just take a look at the pair of sy-T and sy-W. Well-coiffed and immaculately dressed, the woman in the painting pensively gazes into her hand mirror and sees her reflection, but she sees not a direct reflection of herself. “Is that me?” or “What would I be in another life?” she asks. It is this self-reflection and the question of self-identity that Takahashi aims to address in her latest series of works called Divergences. She tells us more about them:

Why did you choose “Divergences” as the title for your show? What was the specific inspiration and message for the works?

The show comprises pairs of paintings in which one woman is depicted in a double portrait. The pairs speak of destination, destiny and pre-destination. The millions of choices that we make lead to countless outcomes; hence Divergences. The titles of the paintings are like algebraic formulae showing permutations resulting from “cause and effect.” The inspiration for this show was John Singer Sargent’s portrait of Madam X.

Why women? They seem to have quite a focus on most of your works. Was the use of the female characters in this series somewhat deliberate?

Women are in a unique position in society today—they are both liberated and imprisoned, and often we do not know which state we are in. But just because these are female models does not mean that the themes are gender-specific.

What do these women in the paintings “see” when they “look at each other”?

It is the same woman in each pair of paintings. They seemingly gaze at each other, but they do not look at each other directly. What does this mode of “seeing the self” represent? What does one discover? That’s the question I am leaving to the viewer to decide!

What do you expect viewers to take back with them?

I am simply inviting you—the viewer—to stop for a few precious moments in your busy life. Look through a brief window of lucidity into the lives of these women. Consider who you are, who you are supposed to be and how much time you have to get to where you are supposed to be.—Zaki Jufri

Divergences is on through Jun 27 at FOST Gallery, 65 Kim Yam Rd., 6836-2661.