Welcome to Utterly Art
Exhibition
Visions of Lightness
Exhibiting Artists: Boo Sze Yang, Hoe Say Yong, Lim Soo Ngee, April Ng Kiow Ngor, Chiew Sien Kuan, Soh Chee Hui, Raymond Yap Poh Tiam
Venue: ION Art Gallery > venue details
Dates: 29 Apr 2011 - 08 May 2011
German poet and philosopher Friedrich von Schiller’s prologue to his trilogy of dramas Wallenstein ends with the line, “life is serious, art is light hearted”.
This exhibition features works by seven established artists from Singapore and Malaysia whose practice has in some way revealed an instinctive understanding of the notion of lightness physically, metaphorically and philosophically - including lightness as understood as tone/value, as a property of a colour, or a dimension of a colour space - ultimately the recognition for the need to treat art AND life seriously in a light manner.
Malaysia and Singapore, two close neighbours in South-east Asia, are both multiracial, multi-religious and multicultural nations. Being culturally diverse, both countries face far greater challenges in nation-building than homogeneous societies. Today, it is clear that we no longer live in the age of binaries - East versus West, tradition versus modernity. Globalisation is also rapidly breaking down our vision of a world with clearly-defined national, cultural and linguistic boundaries. The ever-increasing globalization of economy and commence also leads to the exportation of the Western way of life to both countries and the rest of the world. This further elevates the hurdles in the quest for a national identity (in both countries), leading to cultural marginality, an existence on the periphery of two or more cultures; an existence that is tentative and light.
Lightness is unbearable, if we follow Milan Kundera’s thoughts.
Zen Buddhism however, teaches that one ought to become as light as being itself and to be able to rejoice in this lightness.
Exhibited Works
 The Hanging up Banquet. 悬宴2011 Size Variable | Guardian Angel, “歇困一下”2011 46.5cm x 23cm x 22cm | "Dreamland. Dream and Ready to Fly"2010 107cm x 44cm x 47cm |  Dua Tao Gao – “Ah Der” “ 阿猪”2009 55cm x 20cm x 20cm |
 Guardian Angel,“歇困一下”2010 100cm x 43cm x 33cm |  White Dots in the Middle2010 40cm x 45cm |  1824 Afternoon2010 71cm x 107cm |  A Serene White2011 64cm x 60 cm |
 The Ambience of Blue Green2011 60cm x 80cm |  Waking2011 100cm x 130cm |  A Series of Dots Abstract2011 100cm x 130cm |  Entity #32010 73cm x 60cm |
 Entity #62010 122cm x 92cm |  Entity #82011 102cm x 92cm |  Entity #72011 73cm x 60cm |  Salvation #12011 150cm x 200cm |
 12 Apostles2011 46cm x 46cm each |  The Mind Field2008 122cm x 122cm | Truth, virtue, beauty III2010 100cmx 150cm |  Tranquil III2010 100cm x 100cm |
 Unceasing life2010 90cm x 90cm |  Floating Clouds VI2010 120cm x 120cm |  Mirage2009 100cm x 150m |  Dissolving Identity2008 121cm x 91cm |
 Ice Floes2008 121cm x 91cm |  Middle Spring2008 121cm x 91cm |  Bali Blue2009 188cm x 88cm |  Wishing2010 120cm x 100cm |
 Desire 22011 120cm x 100cm |  Wishing 32010 120cm x 100cm |  Dialogue 22006 26.8cm x 35.8cm |
Artists
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Boo Sze Yang
Singapore
Boo Sze Yang was Head of the Department of Fine Art at his alma mater, the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts before turning to practice art full-time in 2009. He received his Master in Arts Degree from Chelsea College of Art & Design, the University of the Arts London and his Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Art from
University of Reading, UK. Boo has held seven solo exhibitions and represented Singapore in numerous group exhibitions in Japan, China, Korea, Philippines, Malaysia and the UK.Chiew Sien Kuan
Singapore
Chiew Sien Kuan, graduate of NAFA (Painting)1989 & University of Tasmania; both BA and MA Fine Art. He is also involved in exhibitions; EXCAVATION–10 Singapore Artists at the Art Studio @ Old School and Warm Machines,Esplanade Concourse Space,2009. He was awarded the Highly Recommended Prize in the Australian Bicentennial Art Award of Young Artists in 1992 and 1993,attained 1st in the 3D category at the Phillippe Charriol Foundation Contemporary Art Competition
Hoe Say Yong
Malaysia
Born in Johor in 1956, Hoe Say Yong enrolled at the Kuala Lumpur College of Art in 1975, from where he graduated with a Diploma in Fine Art in 1977. Havng exhibited in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, China and Belgium, Hoe uses brilliant hues to capture reflections that are aesthetic distortions created by the sensuous movement of water.
Lim Soo Ngee
Singapore
Currently a lecturer in the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Lim Soo Ngee obtained his Master of Fine Arts (Sculpture) from Edinburgh College of Art–Heriot-Watt University, UK, in 1997. He is also a recipient of numerous awards, including the Andrew Grant Bequest and the James Clason-Harvie Bursary. Lim’s work has been exhibited widely both locally and internationally.
April Ng Kiow Ngor
Singapore
April Ng Kiow Ngor received her Diploma in Fine Art (Western Painting) from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1989 and graduated with a Master in Fine Arts (Printmaking) from The Slade School of Fine Art (UCL), UK, in 1993. Ng’s works have been exhibited in numerous shows locally and internationally, including Portugal, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. She is the recipient of the Honourable Mention Award, Philip Morris Group of Companies Singapore Art Award (2001).
Soh Chee Hui
Malaysia
Raymond Yap Poh Tiam
Malaysia