Zakaria Zainal
7008 (from “Our Gurkhas” series)
2011
inkjet with matt lamination
100 x 66 cm (Edition 3 + 1 AP)
Wei Leng Tay
Integration
2012
acrylic on archival pigment print
50 x 34 cm each (x 4 pcs)
Vivian Lee
Conversations with Brother, Mom, Dad and His New Wife
2012
16:9 HD video with stereo sound
19:32 min, Edition of 5 + 1 AP
Tang Mun Kit
Portrait Series (#10-3)
2012
chinese ink, acrylic, pastel, collage, stencil on Nepalese handmade paper
52 x 38 cm each (x10 pcs)
Jimmy Ong
A Sighting of Singa at Long Ya Men
2010
charcoal on paper
122 x 275 cm
Shubigi Rao
Squaring Off
2012
mixed media on printmaking paper
100 x 70 cm
Michael Lee
Gloves, from "Unconscious Drawings"
2006
digital print on paper
80 x 120 cm (Edition of 5 + 1 AP)
Loo Zihan
Mark of Cane (Cigarette burn on artist's body)
2012
inkjet print on archival paper
42 x 33.6 cm each (Edition of 12 + 1 AP)
Lee Wen
Erasing Self-Portrait
2012
graphite on paper
151 x 121 cm
Kai Lam
Behind Blue Eyes
2012
mixed media installation
180 x 220 cm
Alan Oei
Composition in Red #1
2012
oil on linen
58 x 130 cm (diptych)
Jeremy Hiah (in collaboration with Myra Hiah)
Natures Mortes After Francis Picabia
2010
mixed media (soft toy, oil paint, colour pencil and pastel)
96 x 80 cm
Jason Wee
Symbol for New Black City #1
2012
archival ultrachrome print on Moab metallic paper
48 x 88 cm (Edition of 4 + 1 AP)
Hong Sek Chern
See You Around
2012
oil on canvas
180 x 180 cm
Green Zeng
Sign of The Times
2012
digital print on canvas
60 x 90 cm
Godwin Koay
Notes from a Revolution, part two
2012
watercolour and gouache on paper
Dimensions variable (x 5 pieces)
Genevieve Chua
Foster Children #1 (from the Ultrasound Series)
2012
oil and acrylic on linen
118 x 180 cm
Eugene Soh
The Last Kopitiam
2012
digital print on canvas
140 x 230 cm (Edition of 3 + 1 AP)
Ang Song Nian
SINGAPORE MIXED COCKTAIL - Ingredients: Green Peas 30%, Prawn Crackers 23%, Peanut Cracker 22%, Broad Beans 15%, Chick Peas 10%, Wheat Flour, Salt, Sugar, Garlic, Chilli, Powder and 100% Vegetable Cooking Oil, E102, E133, E110. Manufactured by: MHY Vietnam Co. Ltd. 6 Thong Nhat Avenue, Song Than 2 Industrial Park, Binh Duong, Vietnam. Imported by: Chadha Oriental Foods Ltd. Grace House, Bessemer Road, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire AL7 1HT, England. Warning: E102, E110 may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children. Net Weight: 200g (7oz). Product of Vietnam.
2012
archival piezographic print, diasec
88 x 110 cm (Edition of 3 + 1 AP)
Alecia Neo
地平线梦中 (忍) Resting on the Horizon
2012
digital photography
dimensions variable (Edition of 5 + 1 AP)

Group Exhibition

Singapore Survey 2012 – NEW STRANGE FACES

10 Aug - 02 Sept 2012
Featuring: Alan Oei, Alecia Neo, Ang Song Nian, Eugene Soh, Genevieve Chua, Godwin Koay, Green Zeng, Hong Sek Chern, Jason Wee, Jeremy Hiah, Jimmy Ong, Kai Lam, Lee Wen, Loo Zihan, Michael Lee, Shubigi Rao, Tang Mun Kit, Vivian Lee, Wei Leng Tay, Zakaria Zainal, and Robert Zhao Renhui

Featuring works by

Alan Oei, Alecia Neo, Ang Song Nian, Eugene Soh, Genevieve Chua, Godwin Koay, Green Zeng, Hong Sek Chern, Jason Wee, Jeremy Hiah, Jimmy Ong, Kai Lam, Lee Wen, Loo Zihan, Michael Lee, Shubigi Rao, Tang Mun Kit, Vivian Lee, Wei Leng Tay, Zakaria Zainal, and Zhao Renhui

The word “foreign” has in the past 12 months become the most used and abused word by Singaporeans, whether in private conversation or mainstream printed and online media. Who are the foreigners? Filipino OFWs working as domestic helpers who have been in the country for ten years? Or Western expatriates sitting in corporate offices on three-year contracts? Perhaps, we should ask instead, who qualifies as a Singaporean, or even, can foreigners become Singaporean?

Urging Singaporeans to accept immigrants, even as he acknowledged, “many Singaporeans are not comfortable seeing so many new strange faces”, Lee Kuan Yew, speaking at a Lunar New Year celebration this year said Singapore’s biggest challenge is its aging population in the face of falling birth rates. Continuing, he says, “Less young people means less sales of new cars, new stereos, new computers, new I-phones, I-pads, new clothes and fine dining. It’s a choice Singapore cannot afford to make. Like it or not, unless we have more babies, we need to accept immigrants.”

In this climate of uncertainty, what is the Singaporean response to these ‘new strange faces’? VWFA Singapore’s annual Singapore Survey show asks this complex question aiming to stimulate conversations around ‘the foreign’. How do attitudes of inclusiveness versus that of ‘othering’ effect the changing face of the country?

ABOUT SINGAPORE SURVEY

Currently in its fourth year, the Singapore Survey serves as a ground to expose and promote the works of Singaporean artists. Conceptualized by Mr Valentine Willie, the exhibition explores the different facets of the country’s identity through the coincidence of diverse themes and patriotic ideals. The aggravation of these necessary conversations regarding the past, present and future of this small island, allow audiences to question their own views on the history and development of the nation.

7008 (from “Our Gurkhas” series)
inkjet with matt lamination
100 x 66 cm (Edition 3 + 1 AP)
2011
Integration
acrylic on archival pigment print
50 x 34 cm each (x 4 pcs)
2012
Conversations with Brother, Mom, Dad and His New Wife
16:9 HD video with stereo sound
19:32 min, Edition of 5 + 1 AP
2012
Portrait Series (#10-3)
chinese ink, acrylic, pastel, collage, stencil on Nepalese handmade paper
52 x 38 cm each (x10 pcs)
2012
A Sighting of Singa at Long Ya Men
charcoal on paper
122 x 275 cm
2010
Squaring Off
mixed media on printmaking paper
100 x 70 cm
2012
Gloves, from "Unconscious Drawings"
digital print on paper
80 x 120 cm (Edition of 5 + 1 AP)
2006
Mark of Cane (Cigarette burn on artist's body)
inkjet print on archival paper
42 x 33.6 cm each (Edition of 12 + 1 AP)
2012
Erasing Self-Portrait
graphite on paper
151 x 121 cm
2012
Behind Blue Eyes
mixed media installation
180 x 220 cm
2012
Composition in Red #1
oil on linen
58 x 130 cm (diptych)
2012
Natures Mortes After Francis Picabia
mixed media (soft toy, oil paint, colour pencil and pastel)
96 x 80 cm
2010
Symbol for New Black City #1
archival ultrachrome print on Moab metallic paper
48 x 88 cm (Edition of 4 + 1 AP)
2012
See You Around
oil on canvas
180 x 180 cm
2012
Sign of The Times
digital print on canvas
60 x 90 cm
2012
Notes from a Revolution, part two
watercolour and gouache on paper
Dimensions variable (x 5 pieces)
2012
Foster Children #1 (from the Ultrasound Series)
oil and acrylic on linen
118 x 180 cm
2012
The Last Kopitiam
digital print on canvas
140 x 230 cm (Edition of 3 + 1 AP)
2012
SINGAPORE MIXED COCKTAIL - Ingredients: Green Peas 30%, Prawn Crackers 23%, Peanut Cracker 22%, Broad Beans 15%, Chick Peas 10%, Wheat Flour, Salt, Sugar, Garlic, Chilli, Powder and 100% Vegetable Cooking Oil, E102, E133, E110. Manufactured by: MHY Vietnam Co. Ltd. 6 Thong Nhat Avenue, Song Than 2 Industrial Park, Binh Duong, Vietnam. Imported by: Chadha Oriental Foods Ltd. Grace House, Bessemer Road, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire AL7 1HT, England. Warning: E102, E110 may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children. Net Weight: 200g (7oz). Product of Vietnam.
archival piezographic print, diasec
88 x 110 cm (Edition of 3 + 1 AP)
2012
地平线梦中 (忍) Resting on the Horizon
digital photography
dimensions variable (Edition of 5 + 1 AP)
2012