SINGAPORE BIENNALE 2016 "An Atlas of Mirror"
SINGAPORE BIENNALE 2016 "An Atlas of Mirror" is an art contemporary exhibition. Singapore Biennale 2016 presents a constellation of artistic perspectives that provide unexpected ways of seeing the world and ourselves.
This exhibition has showed more than 60 artists from Southeast Asia, and East and South Asia. The Atlas map represents of the whole of the world, whereas the mirror represents the reflecting of ourselves.
When the Atlas and The Mirror are combined, this exhibition tries to bring the visitors to enjoy the journey of the world which has different cultures and also to show the journey of ourselves.
These are 5 artworks and artists that I like and become as my inspiration.
1. HARUMI YUKUTAKE "Paracosmos 2016"
Harumi Yukutake is an artist who comes and lives in Tokyo, Japan (1966). Paracosmos is a mirror collection that shape following the space that is given. In every mirror represents a paradoxical device.
I like this artwork is because it is unique and give different feeling when people are standing to reflect themselves on the mirror. However, it is because the position of these mirrors in the stairs, it can give different effects when people go up using the stairs.
2. NI YOUYU "Dust (Singapore Galaxy) 2016"
Ni Youyu is an artist who comes and lives in Shanghai, China (1984). Dust is one of his artwork which is using chalk and glue on blackboard. In my opinion, this is one of unique and different way to create a new artwork. He does not use any paint to create this artworkk, but he uses the dust of white chalk to illustrate a galaxy.
It is simple because there is only a galaxy, but what make this different is the technique of creating this galaxy. Moreover, the galaxy looks like real and can give an effect of outer space.
3. PATRICIA PEREZ EUSTAQUIO "The Hunters Enter the Woods, 2016"
Patricia Perez Eustaquio is an artist who comes and lives in Manila, Philippines (1977). She creates this artworks by oil on aluminium. The right artwork is an orchard flower. She gets the inspiration by Botanic Garden which is one of famous attraction in Singapore. Whereas, the left artwork is Paphiopedilum flower which also an endangered wild orchid that can be found in the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
The reason why I like her artwork is because, not only beautiful, she can apply what she experience into her artwork. Although, it is quite abstract, it looks like unique and interesting.
4. DENG GUOYUAN "Noah’s Garden II, 2016"
Deng Guoyuan is an artist who comes and lives in Tianjin, China (1957). Noah's Garden II is a garden of artificial flora and a labyrinth of mirrors. Artificial plants, referencing classical Song Dynasty representations of particular flora, but coated in vibrant colours, assault the senses and blur the lines between the real and the artificial.
The reason why I like this artwork is because this artwork was made by Aluminium alloy steel frame, mirror glass, LED lighting, real and artificial plants and rocks. By mirror surrounding the artificial plants looks having 3D dimension. Moreover, the colors in every artificial plants give colorful effects for the garden itself and the visitors can feel the real garden inside the mirror.
5. TITARUBI "History Repeats Itself, 2016"
Titarubi is an artist who comes and lives in Jogjakarta, Indonesia (1968). History Repeats Itself is a meditation on the history of power, seeking to make visible the legacies of colonial conquest in Southeast Asia. The burnt-out ships in this installation recall the ominous appearance of European armadas on the horizon during the early centuries of European colonialism.
This wonderful artwork was made by gold-plated nutmeg, copper-plated wood, nickel-plated wood, burnt wood, sampan, wood, aluminium, copper, soil, light and nutmeg perfume.
The reason why I like this artwork is because it is unique with the story behind. By doing this artwork, people can know little bit about Indonesia history before Indonesia can get their freedom. However, the light from the statue is very bright in the dark room. The gold light can give beautiful effect to the statue itself.
Overall, I really enjoy this big art contemporary exhibition. By seeing more than 60 famous artists' artworks, it can inspire me more in design and art itself. Moreover, I can learn that an artwork is not about paints, but can be anything, as long as it can give good impact to other people.
Beside that, I also like and agree with the theme of this exhibition, that mirror is not only a mirror for reflecting ourselves everyday, but mirror can represent our journey itself. By going through this world, we can enjoy our adventure and journey, but we should always remember to see how long we have taken our steps.
