ASEAN ON PAPER

21 November 2023–18 February 2024

KF ASEAN Culture House
Busan, South Korea

Curated by Lee da un & JANG In-kyeong
Images Courtesy of KONNECT AEAN Foundation


Related Artworks

I’m Not Ready to Be Mortal Again (2023)

Description

Curatorial Note by Curator JANG In-kyeong:

By offering up a new environment and promoting communication between participants, residencies can allow artists to take new paths in their artistic practices. Despite the short term of one month, this residency program, hosted in July, was no different; participating artists acquired new momentum in their career through intense cultural immersion experiences in print studios in Chiang Mai. This exhibition is an occasion to show the results of these endeavors in print, one formation of visual art.

Apart from the print works on display, the exhibition also features short films and a documentary that focus on personal narratives and fictional stories told through the lens of the themes of "Print" and "Paper." These narratives clearly reflect the social, cultural, and political reality of the countries of ASEAN, all while embracing hope for the future.

While creators commonly discover their subjects and methods of expression through long research conducted over time, they can also acquire an unexpected bounty through exposure to new environments or themes suggested by others. I expect that audiences will also find new inspiration for their daily life from this exhibition, just as the artists featured within did from their residency.

Diverse Visions
01 April–22 April 2023

Richard Koh Fine Arts
Singapore, Singapore

Images Courtesy of Richard Koh Fine Arts


Related Artworks

You’re Projecting Again (2022–2023)
Description

Exhibition Text by Richard Koh Fine Arts:

"Diverse Visions” presents a convergence of artists from across Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, providing an opportunity to explore the artistic diversity of Southeast Asia and appreciate the unique visions of some of the region's emerging artists. The exhibition features the works of Phuc Then Hang, Pen Robit, Pachara Piyasongsoot. Eiffel Chong, Harfendi Anuar, Hasanul Isyraf Idris, Samuel Xun, Mengju Lin, Ivan David Ng, and Faris Nakamura.

Each of the artists featured in this exhibition brings their own unique perspective and style to the works on display. Tne works are inspired by a range of sources, including personal experiences, local customs, and contemporary events, providing visitors with a glimpse into the artists’ perspectives. Whether through vibrant colours, intricate details, or abstract compositions, each artist offers a different avenue into the rich cultural and historical context of Southeast Asia. These works are a testament to the region's growing impact on the global art scene, and provide a glimpse into the artistic and cultural richness of the region.
        
KONNECT ASEAN Chiang Mai Print Residency Exhibition

28 July–18 August 2023

Chiang Mai City Arts & Cultural Centre
Chiang Mai, Thailand

Curated by Benjamin Hampe
Co-curated by Gridthiya Gaweewong


Related Artworks

I’m Not Ready to Be Mortal Again (2023)
Description

Press Release by Curator Benjamin Hampe:

The KONNECT ASEAN residency programme was in collaboration with seven print studios in Chiang Mai. The initiative connected young Korean and Southeast Asian artists, fostering a vibrant exchange of ideas and techniques to produce high-quality prints using traditional methods. By preserving and practicing traditional printing techniques, this project serves as a testament to the enduring value of fine art printmaking in the contemporary art landscape.

The fruits of their labor are showcased at the esteemed Chiang Mai City Arts & Cultural Center and ASEAN Culture House in Busan, where the public have the opportunity to marvel at the exquisite and diverse prints created during the residency. Following the exhibition, print editions will find permanent homes in the collections of the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, ASEAN Cultural Center in Bangkok, and ASEAN Culture House.

ASEAN's commitment to fostering people-to-people exchange in the arts sector has been evident since its inception over 50 years ago. This dedication created a unique space for artistic discourse, embracing pluralistic notions of regional artistic identity and aesthetics. It is truly one of ASEAN's great legacies. In the face of the isolation brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, initiatives like the KONNECT ASEAN Chiang Mai Print Residency play a crucial role in bridging nations and cultures, reconnecting us, and paving the way for a brighter future for all. Artists and their artworks serve as tangible and dynamic connections to the world, fostering diplomatic efforts, deepening connections, and promoting mutual understanding and goodwill, vital for the resilient communities that underpin our future prosperity. This project showcases the determination of our region as we navigate these uncertain times together, united by the power of artistic expression.

Serving Thoughts
09 June–18 June 2023

UltraSuperNew Gallery
Singapore, Singapore

Curated by Dylan Chan
Images Courtesy of UltraSuperNew


Related Artworks

We're Always Going in Circles, I'm Tired (2023)
I’d Love to See You Fall Again (2023)
That's Where I Draw the Line (2023)
Description

Press Release by Dylan Chan

Re-centering the male gaze through the queer lens, Serving Thots, is a tongue-in-cheek titled exhibition that unites the works of six emerging artists straddling both realms of art and fashion. Questioning the oppressive mechanisms of the Cisgendered-Hetero male gaze that perpetuates the objectification of marginalised bodies and reinforces other societal hierarchies, we invite viewers to critically examine the power dynamics embedded within the simple acts of looking and perceiving.

In the realm of the queer gaze, the positioning and presentation of the body becomes a crucial line of inquiry. Contemplating the queer figure that dances at the periphery of the everyday, a phantom of our social landscape that reveals itself to those who know where to look, this presentation questions where that queer figure truly stands, between visibility and invisibility, presence and absence. As we move into an age of heightened acceptance in society of queerness, there are still many narratives untold from the sidelines.

Working within this liminal space, the artists question the boundaries of representation, through abstract forms, colours, and textures, queer abstraction disrupts normative frameworks, allowing for a more fluid and nuanced exploration of identity and desire. It invites us to embrace ambiguity, to question fixed categories, and to celebrate the multiplicity of queer experiences.

The show is an exuberant celebration of audacity and self awareness, daring to challenge existing norms. We invite you to experience this vibrant intersection of art, fashion, and identity, in a space where each artist serves their interpretation of the world and their experiences, encouraging viewers to look beyond conventional perspectives.
 
Nature & Now: Asian Art in Focus

18 March–15 May 2023

Friedrichs Pontone
New York, USA

Images Courtesy of Friedrichs Pontone


Related Artworks

Psycho Ornamental Ideal Boyfriend II (2022)
Old Habits Cry Hard (2023)
Description

Press Release by Friedrichs Pontone:

Friedrichs Pontone presents Nature and Now: Asian Art in Focus, featuring the work of 10 emerging and established artists of Asian heritage. The exhibition showcases the unique perspectives and creative styles of a diverse and talented group of Asian artists who are making significant contributions to the contemporary art world. 

This exciting exhibition highlights stunning works by contemporary artists who reinterpret traditions in dynamic and innovative ways. Across painting, sculpture, and new media installations, each artist uses experimentation to draw on both Eastern and Western art-making practices, materials, and cultural iconography, creating a dialogue across diverse artistic, social, historical, and cultural traditions. 

Grappling with nature and identity, the artists in Nature and Now: Asian Art in Focus are pushing boundaries, manipulating materials, and developing unique artistic processes that summon memories of the past in order to subvert the visual language of tradition, move beyond its specter, and forge new currents in Asian art.
        
七彩世界 (The Colour Show)

17 June–9 July 2023

Supper House
Singapore, Singapore

Curated by Ashley Chiam
Images Courtesy of Supper House


Related Artworks

A Peak, at Thirty One (2023)
A Guy, at Twenty-Nine (2023)
Maybe, Just Maybe (2022)

Description

Excerpt from Exhibition Text by Ashley Chiam:

Do we perceive color as an identity or a personality?
How deeply do we reflect when asked about our favorite color?
In a world filled with countless undiscovered hues, how do you see yourself?
When you're met with a subtle shade of blue or a burst of rainbow light, what thoughts arise?
Here, we celebrate the self.
Do you see yourself as light or dark? Vivid or faded?

This exhibition brings together a diverse group of artists, many of whom are new to Supper House. We’ve invited them to explore the colors that shape their craft, their ideals, and their practice. In this space, they celebrate themselves, their passions, and their identities.