Who is Very Small Exhibition?

Artist Wei, the creative mind and soul behind Very Small Exhibition. You might have seen, heard or interacted with his colourful pop-up artworks display. My first experience with Very Small Exhibition was the Malay Heritage Centre x Very Small Exhibition supporting World Mental Health Day in 2021, followed by Bring LOVE Everywhere in Singapore at East Coast Park, the prelude to his huge personal project bringing LOVE around Singapore. 

As I continued to follow and document Very Small Exhibition through their Bring LOVE Everywhere in Singapore, I began a new artistic visual storytelling journey. If you to know more in detail on this, this story “How I Met/Follow/Support Very Small Exhibition & Bring LOVE Everywhere” would reveal more. 

Oh yes, you might have heard of this pretty recent viral contemporary arts exhibition that they worked and collaborated with Japanese artist Yui Ozaki, where they explored and discovered your inner “Chin-Chin” world.

Your Artist Neighbour Exhibition

“Your Artist Neighbour Exhibition” is a new series of public space art exhibition by Artist Wei from Very Small Exhibition. They are going around Singapore at different neighbourhoods, collaborating with different artists at the respective neighbourhoods that they lived in. This is a pop-up artworks exhibition, just one night only each time. 

Just one night only, just a few hours, catch it if you can! With this “Your Artist Neighbour Exhibition”, it marks the start of another creative arts visual storytelling journey for me, I just hope that I am able to document and photograph all (if not most of them) of this ongoing Your Artist Neighbour Exhibition series artistic journeys by Very Small Exhibition. 

Your Artist Neighbour Exhibition 1

Your Artist Neighbour Exhibition 1 took place in the Mountbatten heartlands, at a small alley walkway in a private residential estate. A series of different coloured illuminated stones placed together in a wavy form, lighted up by the light emitting umbrellas, formed by artist Wei vision and feel. 

When you view the wavy colourful artworks, what could be story behind it? What does it mean to you? How does the various colours and artworks join from one to the other? Is it therapeutic for you to feel and connect with, by placing yourselves in between the two artworks and connect them together with you?

Your Artist Neighbour Exhibition 2

Your Artist Neighbour Exhibition 2 took place in the Simei HDB heartlands, with artist Joanne Lim from Joanne Lim Studio collaborating with artist Wei. 

The light emitting umbrellas came into play again, lighting up the drawings with chalk on the floor. This is Arts in Your Neighbourhood, it’s fun, interactive, letting people (from young and old) unleash their creativity and artistic talent in drawing with chalk. For some of us, it’s back to school days, for a younger generation, this might be the first time playing with chalk. 

Drawing and painting, whether with chalk, not only is it fun for the children, it’s also fun for the adults, that we saw when we were there. Arts can be a form of therapy, something that we might need it more than we ever know, in our stressful and pressure cooker living environment, swarmed by digital media and social media sharing.

It was more than just fun drawing, we met new people, make new friends, chatting and sharing a common interest in interactive arts and craft.

Since I am pretty bad at drawing, I will use my photography and visual storytelling talents instead, to bring out my creative arts visuals stories to the world. 

Is Your Artist Neighbour Exhibition coming to my neighbourhood?

That’s a very good question! I don’t have an answer to this question, I am just as curious as you, on when and where would Your Artist Neighbour Exhibition is going to visit, and is there any artist that is going to collaborate with Very Small Exhibition? 

Do remember to follow Very Small Exhibition on Instagram and Facebook Page, for their updates, where they are going to pop up with their bright, colourful and interactive artworks. 

Collaborate with Very Small Exhibition in my neighbourhood?

Should I collaborate with Very Small Exhibition as a collaborating artist, combining my photography + light painting with artist Wei’s bright and colourful artworks?

* A TGH Photography x Canon EOS R6 Mark II Explorer Series Production *

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Excitement and Anxiety

I am excited and anxious at the same time when you hold your work in a physical book format. In a world whereby so much things/work are intangible, digital and online, having a tangible form of your work on hand brings me immense pride and joy. 

I am anxious too, the pressure and stress that I imposed on myself to produce and deliver quality work in my photography and writing. This personal work/zine/book of mine might be a blessing to some, it might also not meet the standards and views of some. Nevertheless, that’s the kind of life we are currently living.

My second photography zine meant something deep, unique and special to me, I would share more when I officially announce and launch this photography zine when it goes into full printing mode.

Review, Edit and Amendments

I made a decision to print out mock up copies of my second photography zine, making it easier for review, editing and making final amendments. This would also make things easier when I bring it to local printing house Grenadier Press for discussion.

This mock up is estimated to be 90-95% ready, just some final editing and amendments and it’s good to go for official printing.  

Estimated Timeline – Local printing and International printing

I am arranging to meet and catch up with a few friends, I would seek their views on how I am able to improve my layout, font selection. I estimate all these would take about 2-4 weeks, meanwhile during this period, I would be having a chat with local printing house Grenadier Press. I have previously engaged their printing services for my first photography book in 2015.

Once my final reviewed, amended and edited photography zine is ready, I would upload it to MagCloud platform for my international supporters/followers/readers to purchase. As for those in Singapore, I would share more in detail once finalised how I would go about doing it.

Thank you to those who believe in me

In my earlier paragraph, I mentioned about excitement and anxiety, on meeting expectations and standards that others might imposed on me. 

To those who choose to believe in me, thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

Stay tuned and keep a lookout for my official announcement and launch of my second photography zine / playbook! 

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Prior to this “bring LOVE everywhere” test walk 2 on 6th November 2021, I recently visited Malay Heritage Centre recently to photograph an earlier light artworks by VSE on display. Malay Heritage Centre had collaborated with Very Small Exhibition to light up the facade of its main building in different hues of blue in support of World Mental Health Day on 10th October 2021, while Malay Heritage Centre’s annex buildings were lighted up with the art collective’s signature neon colour lights.

After photographing a beautiful sunset at East Coast Park, Belinda and myself waited for Very Small Exhibition to arrive at East Coast Park White Jetty. From a distance, you can’t miss the bright and colourful 4 letter words “LOVE” making its way into the East Coast Park heartlands. 

This marked the start of an hour of interaction with the LOVE light artwork, doing light painting around the LOVE artwork, bringing them into a new dimension and realm, with supporters coming down to pen their love messages on the LOVE sticker and pasting them on the LOVE light artwork. 

Those moments were bright and colourful, spreading love, and asking ourselves, what is love, what does it mean to you, what are the messages that you would like to write down and send to your family, loved ones, relatives and friends? It was a quiet moment for me, and for some of us too, as we reflect on LOVE, its importance, relevance and how we can spread the message of LOVE, especially during this past close to two years (and counting) of great difficulties to our daily living and work due to the ongoing global pandemic. Many of us suffered in many different ways or another, some more than others. How can LOVE plays a part to help people in whatever ways possible during this great difficulty period that has affected us mentally, emotionally and financially? 

During a quiet moment inside me, I was immersed in creating the light painting while Belinda was photographing my light painting artworks, my heart was thinking about this topic too. As I was penning down my message for “bring LOVE everywhere”, I asked myself:

Q:What is Love? 

A: Love is of Fate and Time.

Love is of Fate and Time, I wrote and published a photo story article “Fate and Time” back in June 2021, my article title and the story inside speaks for itself, my heartfelt answer to the question above. That period of time, coupled with other situations happening concurrently, was a very down period. For those who wish to know what could have happened, this paragraph would shed more light.     

While Belinda and myself were at East Coast Park White Jetty, we got to know supporters who were also waiting for Very Small Exhibition “bring LOVE everywhere”. Nice to meet cheryllovescake and dototo13! They joined us in our light painting photography shoot too! We connected via Instagram later, after Very Small Exhibition continued with their journey along East Coast Park. 

Through Belinda and cheryllovescake sharing on their Instagram posts and stories, their sharing of love messages as well as from classic love songs, they are heartwarming, positive and encouraging, something that is very much needed during this time for many of us out there facing our own unique challenges and difficulties, in our ongoing battle against this global pandemic. Love can give us great hope, warmth and confidence, love can also hurt us and affect us. 

Spinning out some love ballads from my Spotify, these classic LOVE rock ballads pop into my mind, “All You Need is Love” by Beatles, “More Than Words” by Extreme, “Love is not the Way” by Saigon Kick and one of my favourite songs by Queen “Love Of My Life”. Not forgetting, “温柔”, ”擁抱“, “心中無別人” from another of my favourite rock bands 五月天!   

Do support local artists whenever possible, Pay-It-Forward and Pass-It-On, spread the word for them, giving them more publicity and awareness. I would give them a shout out, cover their stories and artworks as and when I am able to do so. Throughout the years writing and publishing photo stories here on my TGH Photography and Travel portal/blog, I met a number of creative, talented and passionate local artists through various events such as i Light Singapore and Singapore Night Festival. 

In January 2022, Very Small Exhibition is challenging themselves to their limit, bringing LOVE one round around Singapore in 6 consecutive nights. Let’s all help to spread some LOVE, warmth and friendship together with Very Small Exhibition. 

Very Small Exhibition

Website: www.verysmallexhibition.com 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/verysmallexhibition/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/verysmallexhibition 

What is Love? Love is everywhere, it’s around us, from our family, loved ones or friends, sometimes we just lost it because we are too close deep inside that we don’t realise it. Love, however, sometimes it’s about fate and time as well. 

No matter what level and stage of Love you are at right now, that’s something we can all do together for a common good, let’s bring LOVE everywhere and unite together stronger, closer, care and help one another as we are still battling this global pandemic situation, a common goal as we seek the light at the end of the tunnel filled with love, joy and a return to a more normal life.

Let’s #BringLoveEverywhere!

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S.E.A. Focus 2021 has twinned offerings being presented for the first time – S.E.A. Focus Curated and S.E.A. Focus Digital.

S.E.A. Focus Curated

This would be an immersive, physical showcase taking place in Tanjong Pagar Distripark, where works of art from participating galleries are presented in a space designed by architect Randy Chan of Zarch Collaboratives. The show, titled hyper–horizon, is a response to the waves of change and possibility seizing Southeast Asia as it seeks to spur urgent focus on the place and vitality of art in testing times. The showcase can also be experienced virtually through the S.E.A. Focus website, seafocus.sg.

S.E.A. Focus Digital

This would be an online platform staged exclusively with Artsy, leading online fine art marketplace and Main Online Partner of S.E.A. Focus 2021.

S.E.A. Focus 2021 will feature leading Singapore and international art galleries, including A+ Works of Art (Kuala Lumpur) and Gallery Side 2 (Tokyo), which will be taking part for the first time. The returning galleries include: Art Porters (Singapore); Art Seasons (Singapore); CUC Gallery (Hanoi); FOST Gallery (Singapore); Gajah Gallery (Singapore, Yogyakarta); Mizuma Gallery (New York, Singapore, Tokyo); Nova Contemporary (Bangkok); Richard Koh Fine Art (Kuala Lumpur, Singapore); ROH Projects (Jakarta); Silverlens Galleries (Manila); Sullivan+Strumpf (Singapore, Sydney), The Columns Gallery (Seoul); The Drawing Room (Manila); Wei Ling Gallery (Kuala Lumpur) and Yavuz Gallery (Singapore, Sydney).

Project director of S.E.A. Focus and executive director of STPI Emi Eu says: “Pulling off a major showcase of contemporary art in these unprecedented times is challenging, but with the support of the art community in Southeast Asia, we are thrilled to be able to launch a new edition of S.E.A. Focus that pushes boundaries. The integrated onsite and online art experience allows S.E.A. Focus to become a global meeting place where collectors, artists, galleries and the public can engage with one another. We look forward to welcoming visitors, online and in-person, to S.E.A. Focus 2021, and celebrating the best of contemporary art in Southeast Asia with them.”

S.E.A. Focus Curated and S.E.A. Focus Digital will also be complemented by an engaging line-up of VIP programmes, public talks, and a series of panel discussions that will be made available online for audiences from all over the world to attend and access.

Information and details on S.E.A. Focus 2021

S.E.A. Focus Curated

Date: 20th to 31st January 2021

20th and 21st January 2021 (VIP Preview)

22nd to 31st January 2021 (Open to all)

Venue: #01-55, 39 Keppel Road, Tanjong Pagar Distripark, Singapore 089065

S.E.A. Focus Digital

Date: From 20th January 2021

For more information and details on S.E.A. Focus 2021, please visit the following links below:

Website: https://seafocus.sg

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seafocus/

YouTube: S.E.A Focus

For arts and contemporary arts lovers in Singapore, do share this event information with your fellow arts and creatives friends! Pay-It-Forward and Pass-It-On! Sharing is Caring!

* Information and pictures courtesy of S.E.A Focus and Ogilvy *

The post Coming soon! S.E.A. Focus 2021 in January 2021! appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

How did this name “Proposals for Novel Ways of Being” come about?

Go back a few months back in time, do you remember the initial name of the global pandemic that is now universally known/classified as COVID-19? Proposals for Novel Ways of Being bears reference to the earlier name of the virus “2019 Novel Coronavirus”, a sombre yet hopeful reminder that this COVID-19 is not the world’s first global pandemic or the first crisis the world has encountered, nor will be it be the last. This would be a reminder for the human race, the society, to seek, adapt and adopt new ways of being.

National Gallery Singapore and Singapore Art Museum have come together to launch a new local initiative of unprecedented scale and scope, a project that see museums joining forces with 10 other local art institutions and independent art spaces and collectives to present a series of exhibitions and programmes, in both physical and online environments, featuring the works of over 170 local artists and cultural workers. Presenting “Proposals for Novel Ways of Being”, a united response by the visual arts community to the changes brought by the global pandemic COVID-19, a wide range of art experiences exploring new ways of living in a world forced to change by this pandemic and imagining new possibilities for the future.

Elaborating on the compelling reasons behind the development of the Proposals for Novel Ways of Being initiative, Dr Eugene Tan, Director, National Gallery Singapore and Singapore Art Museum says, “As we grapple with the “new normal”, we consider how art can respond to the global pandemic and propose new possibilities for our changed world, as well as how it can inspire hope in these times. As national art institutions, we ask ourselves how we can show solidarity with the local network of independent art spaces, institutions and collectives to engage and support members of the art community, and how we can highlight the role that art can play in times of crises such as the current pandemic.”

The Programme Partners of Proposals for Novel Ways of Being include seven institutions: ADM Gallery, NTU School of Art, Design and Media; LASALLE’s Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore; National Gallery Singapore; National Museum of Singapore; NTU Centre for Contemporary Art Singapore (NTU CCA Singapore); Singapore Art Museum; STPI, and five independent art spaces and collectives: Coda Culture; Grey Projects; INTER-MISSION; soft/WALL/studs; and The Substation.

To support the wider network of art professionals and practitioners, Programme Partners have invited independent guest curators to each propose projects that involve up to 15 artists based in Singapore. The projects presented can include new commissions or existing works, and may take the form of physical or digital exhibitions, and include programmes such as talks, performances and community engagement events.

Audiences can look forward to

• Coda Culture’s exhibition, which brings together artists who produce works using found objects;
• National Gallery Singapore’s range of works by a diverse group of emerging contemporary artists, which embody poetic contemplation;
• National Museum of Singapore’s series of digital works created in collaboration with artists and creatives, which respond to the pandemic;
• NTU CCA Singapore’s showcase of experimental works by artists who engage with sound, bodily movements and performances;
• Singapore Art Museum’s presentation of contemporary artworks that reflect on the passage of time and various acts of care-taking; and
• soft/WALL/studs’ suite of interconnected activities and projects that navigate the themes of (dis)repair, maintenance, and cultivation by artists and curators, presented on digital platforms and at their physical site.

For more information on Proposals for Novel Ways of Being, please visit novelwaysofbring.sg and keep a lookout for the various exhibitions and programmes taking place soon between August 2020 and February 202.

As a fellow creative in the photography circle, I am able to relate the situation that other arts and creative industry folks are going through. Let’s give them the support and encouragement during this difficult time arising from the global pandemic situation.

We are all in this together as a nation. The journey ahead is still going to be more turbulent and choppy. Let’s all be #SGUnited together facing this global crisis and overcome it!

* Information and picture courtesy of National Gallery Singapore and Singapore Art Museum and Ogilvy Singapore *

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Taking place in eight locations around Bukit Panjang, AYN 2020 programmes and events include street art trail brought to life with Augmented Reality, interactive dance performance that is inspired by a lost kampung game of the past. There are also photo-worth installations for your Instagram and social media sharing.

With a wide variety of programmes taking place during AYN March 2020, I would highlight some of the programmes on offer that might be of interest to you folks!

The Outer Space

NaturEscape: 139 Petir Road | Wisdom Tree: 257 Bangkit Road | Shadows & Scars: 133A Cashew Road (Ramps) & 139 Petir Road (Void Deck) | Holland-Bukit Town Council (Playground/Open Space Outside)

A street art trail around Bukit Panjang from 12-29 Mar, curated by homegrown street artist ZERO, featuring 4 distinct outdoor works by SPAZ (in collaboration with The Super System), SYCO, TraseOne and Atomick. In an attempt to view and embrace the unknown as a form of play and exploration, the artists engage with the community in Bukit Panjang through various activities, discovering interesting narratives unique to the neighbourhood!

Bound

Bedok Town Square, 15 Mar, 3pm | Toa Payoh HDB Hub, 21 Mar, 6pm | Hillion Mall, 28 Mar, 5pm

An interactive dance performance inspired by “Zero Point”, a lost kampung game of the past. Using rubber bands, BOUND explores the theme of boundaries, how they can restrict, confine and yet also define the body and space.

Rolling On

Pang Sua Pond Boardwalk & Outdoor Amphitheatre | 28 & 29 Mar, 4.30pm-6pm

This dance performance and parade raises awareness of Earth Hour, with the performance co-created between children and artists. In finding cyclical patterns in their bodies and in nature, they create specific dance moves to be performed together with audience-participants and animate the values behind the expression “what goes around, comes around.”

Floral Trails: Reading the Garden City

Bukit Panjang Public Library | 12-29 Mar, 11am-9pm

Marrying literary texts inspired by nature with this floral installation, visitors are transported through sensory engagement with the textures, scents, and visual aesthetics of flora and fauna.

Back of the Bus (ticketed)

Bukit Panjang Hawker Centre and Market (meeting point) | 14, 15, 21 & 22 Mar, 9.30am & 11.30am, 19 & 20 Mar, 5pm & 7pm

Ride on a bus through the streets and sights of Bukit Panjang! Dancers propel themselves along the aisles and hang from the ceiling. Physical comedy, pure kinetic energy and outrageous scenarios combine to create a magical mystery tour of the unexpected.

For more information on AYN March 2020, visit Arts in Your Neighbourhood to download their program booklet!

Time to bring your family and children out for an experiential arts weekends at AYN 2020, bask in the sunshine, take in the fresh air of the outdoors, enjoy and have a bonding time over the different genres of arts experiences on offer during AYN 2020.

I would be planning to visit AYN March 2020, going to check out the various programmes and schedule, keep a lookout for my posts and updates on my Instagram! Do share your photos and experiences with the hashtags #ArtsInYourNeighbourhood and #AYNMarch2020 when you are visiting Arts in Your Neighbourhood (AYN) 2020!

*** Update 25th March 2020 ***

Due to the ongoing and evolving COVID-19 situation, in line with MOH’s advisory on Tighter Measures to Minimise Further Spread of COVID-19 issued on 24 March 2020

The following Arts in Your Neighbourhood programmes are cancelled:

• A Collection of Things, all Sat 28 March and Sun 29 March shows
• Podscape Pop-up & Fringe Activities: 9am—12pm, 28 March; Installation will also be removed
• BOUND, 5pm, 28 March show
• Rolling On, 4.30pm–5.20pm, 28 & 29 March Performance & Parade
• The Mighty Mousedeer of the Forest, 4pm & 6pm, 29 March shows
• Melodic Flowers, 5pm, 29 March show
• Kembara Kelana, 6pm, 29 March show
• The Outer Space*’s Pag-Ahon + Meningkat artwork at the open space outside Holland/Bukit Panjang Town Council
• Character Clash art installation
• Floral Trails: Reading the Garden City installation
• Poems on Air exhibition

Here’re programmes that you can still catch or enjoy online:

• The Outer Space*: These street art murals can still be viewed all day, until 29 March.
  • NaturEscape at 139 Petir Road
  • Wisdom Tree at 257 Bangkit Road
  • TraseOne at 133A Cashew Road (Ramps) and 139 Petir Road (Void Deck)
• Podscape: Podcasts of the stories and sounds of Bukit Panjang will still be aired online at https://www.shophouseandco.com/podscape.

• Poems on Air: Recordings of poems selected and retold through voice, music, and sound will still be available online at https://artwave.studio/poemsonair.

Arts in Your Neighbourhood (AYN) 2020

Dates: 12th to 29th March 2020

Website: https://artsforall.sg/initiatives/arts-in-your-neighbourhood/arts-in-your-neighbourhood.aspx

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nacsingapore/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/NACSingapore/

Hashtags: #ArtsInYourNeighbourhood and #AYNMarch2020

* Information and pictures courtesy of Arts in Your Neighbourhood and Ogilvy *

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