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Singapore Biennale puts the city state on the arts map

By Susan Kendzulak
CONTRIBUTING REPORTER
Thursday, Sep 07, 2006, Page 15

Jane Alexander's installation at City Hall, Singapore. PHOTOS: SUSAN KENDZULAK

Biennales are mega art exhibitions undertaken by cities around the world (such as Istanbul, Shanghai, Taipei, Sao Paulo to name a few) to showcase the diversity of contemporary art. They are also often used as a political tool to show the rest of the world how civilized the host metropolis is. No surprise, since these huge and sometimes chaotic art exhibitions are based on the World's Fairs of the 19th century, which were organized on a similar premise. Singapore's first ever Biennale opened this past weekend, just two weeks prior to the controversial IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings. Coincidence? Nah!

Under the timely theme Belief, the exhibition includes work from 95 artists and artist collectives from 38 countries. Organized by international curator Fumio Nanjo (Deputy Director of the Mori Museum), who was also the curator for the first Taipei Biennial in 1998, and a team of curators, the Singapore Biennale tries to encompass a lot of territory, both physically and spiritually. Belief touches on a few aspects of our lives, most obviously, religious faith, science, technology and money. Some artworks are installed in a synagogue, a mosque, churches, Hindu and Chinese temples and scattered along on Waterloo Road.

Inigo Manglano-Ovallo's tip of an iceberg at the National Museum.

Besides the temples, a defunct military barracks, City Hall, Orchard Road (the city's golden mile of up-market shops), a university, and an apartment have all become sites for the diverse artworks, making this a great walking tour to better understand Singapore, while at the same time viewing contemporary art. Singapore spared no expense for the wealthy state's first ever Biennale, and laid on fancy catered affairs and special tours for members of the foreign press during the preview.

Singapore and Yayoi Kusama's polka-dot covered trees cohabit with signs for the upcoming IMF/World Bank meetings on Orchard Road, Singapore.

Fundamentalism and terrorism are linked in several works. Most comically, Tokyo-based artist Makoto Aida's portrayal of himself dressed as Osama bin Laden drinking sake, a riveting video by Tomas Ochoa filmed both in Zurich and Marrakech that shows interviews with Europeans speculating on suicide bombers' beliefs and Moroccans talking about Westerners' beliefs to underline the urgent need for dialogue, communication and understanding.

In the newly refurbished National Museum, a powerfully resonant tone is struck by the juxtaposition of extremely moving works of art. Hiroshi Sugimoto's photo tableau of Madame Tussaud's version of Da Vinci's Last Supper, Bergert and Bergstrom's riveting documentary/film about the last meals served to prisoners before their execution and Mariko Mori's Celtic-inspired monolith whose moving lights are triggered by neutrinos (subatomic particles) from outer space via an Internet connection to the biggest cosmic particle research center in Japan, all inspire the viewer to ponder the mysteries and meaning of life. It is as if the museum has replaced the house of worship for revealing these inner truths.

Eduardo Kac, an artist famed for his genetically engineered florescent rabbit, displays what appears to be abstract framed paintings but which are actually living microorganisms under glass.

Since the exhibition is in Singapore, a place known for its censorship, there is not a lot of offensive, political or controversial work; however there are some exceptionally brave moments. Brian Gothong's Tan is a satirical installation that contains a video of a man in drag pretending to be Annabel Chong (Singapore's famous porn star otherwise known as Grace Quek) saying, “Singapore's death penalty is immoral” while simulating sexual intercourse.

Besides the inclusion of well-known international artists, the exhibition showcases the work of artists from underexposed areas of Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East that are not normally represented in biennales. One outstanding work is by New Delhi-based Sheba Chhachhi. Music, scrolling Asiatic images and kimono-like sculptures create a moving, complex environment based on the theme of birds, freedom, disease and globalization. Taipei-based artist Kuo I-chen (郭奕臣) is exhibiting his Lost Contact, which can also be seen at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum.

Word on the street is that the local audience is hungrily receptive for such an exhibition. A museum worker stated that she's excited to learn about these forms of expression that are new to Singaporean audiences. A young local film student remarked on how already the ideas put forth in the Biennale are inspiring him and his friends. Nanjo said: “The Singapore Biennale is for the people of Singapore,” and it looks like he succeeded.

Information:
What: Singapore Biennale
Where: Visit www.singaporebiennale.org for a list of locations and further information
When: Through Nov 12

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