"Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life" — Oscar Wilde,
The Decay of Lying (1889)
In the year 1959, Singapore had just gained full internal self-governance, leading to the establishment of the Ministry of Culture to focus on the “creation of a sense of national identity”.
How far have we come in achieving this goal today?
The common refrain art imitates life bears serious implications for the use of art in nation-building. If such a statement holds true, art would simply reflect the non-presence of a Singaporean identity. Art must introduce something into the realm of everyday life, one that is not already present in lived experiences, so as to effect a change. For art to have any impact on life itself, life must necessarily imitate art.
For the House; Against the House looks at the evolution of Singapore's arts and cultural landscape through a unique debate format where art illustrates the arguments. Let curator John Tung take you through the propositions and oppositions as artworks from private collections and new commissions chart the path towards a "cultural renaissance". You get the final vote on the role art has had to play in shaping our national identity today.
Free Admission via Registration
foragainstthehouse2022.eventbrite.sg
List of Artists: Jimmy Ong (SG), Agan Harahap (ID), Anthony Chin (SG), Fyerool Darma (SG), Kentaro Hiroki (JP/TH), Dennis Tan (SG), Nila Choo (SG), Dusadee Huntrakul (TH)
From Collections: Chen Wei Hsi (SG), Chuah Thean Teng (MY), Tew Nai Yong (MY), Ian Woo (SG), Eddy Susanto (ID), Kanchana Gupta (IN/SG), Yee I-Lann (MY), Lavander Chang (TW/SG)
Exhibition Advisory 16 (Some Nudity)