Artists Dialogue:

Saturday, Nov 9, 2024, 2 – 3pm

(Conducted in English, Limited Seats Available)

Also live-streamed @ iPreciation FB page

Moderated by Denise Jambore

Private Preview:

Saturday, Nov 9, 2024, 3 – 6pm (By Invitation Only)

Kindly RSVP by calling +65 6339 0678 or email enquiry@ipreciation.com

Exhibition Opens to Public:

Nov 11 – 23, 2024

10am – 7pm (Mon – Fri)

11am – 6pm (Sat)

Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays

Venue:

50 Cuscaden Road, HPL House #01-01, Singapore 249724

Tel: + 65 6339 0678

www.ipreciation.com

iPRECIATION is delighted to announce our highly anticipated group exhibition, “Refrain,” curated by Dr Vincent Leow, offering a unique opportunity to explore works created exclusively for this exhibition by Ee Poh Kiat (b. 1965, Melaka, Malaysia), Ye Shufang (b. 1971, Singapore), Jonathan Nah/Kiat (b. 1972, Singapore), Willy Tay (b. 1974, Singapore) and, Li Jiacheng (b.1995, Singapore), all of whom are exhibiting at iPRECIATION for the first time.

About the Exhibition:

Dr Leow, a prominent artist and educator, curates this exhibition featuring talented artists he has long admired. As a key figure in Singapore’s contemporary art scene, his unique perspective invites us to engage deeply with their work.

The title “Refrain” draws inspiration from the concept of repetition and recurring themes, akin to the repeated lines in a poem or song. Just as a refrain recurs in music or poetry, this exhibition features artworks that explore variations on common themes, highlighting how each piece harmonises with each other, much like how each verse and word comes together to create a cohesive melody in a song or poem.

In this exhibition, over 40 new artworks will be shown, featuring artists from diverse backgrounds who employ a variety of styles and techniques, weaving their personal narratives into their work. Among these artists is Ee Poh Kiat, who wears many hats with finesse. Not only is he an artist who has participated in notable exhibitions, including one at Parco Urban Art Tokyo, selected by the Singapore Art Museum, but he is also a trained architect and contractor who founded his own design and construction services company. This unique combination of skills allows him to blend creativity with practical application, resulting in art that is rare and distinctive — an approach that is seldom encountered in Singapore.

Ye Shufang’s upcoming series, “Exercises in Saturation,” marks an exciting new chapter in her long-standing exploration “Exercises in Colour,” which she has been developing since 2009. This new series promises to be a compelling evolution, going deeper into her fascination with colour and form. Through overlapping lines and a structured framework of angles and colours in “Exercises in Saturation”, she seeks to understand the boundary between “paper” and “drawing,” contemplating how many lines and repetitions are needed for a drawing to emerge. Utilising a basic 12-color watercolour palette, she crafts an infinite spectrum of colours, guiding us to discover the extraordinary beauty within the ordinary. This series raises intriguing questions about the nature of creation: how many lines and repetitions are necessary for a drawing to truly emerge? She enjoys highlighting the significance of the small and ordinary, leading us to appreciate the often-overlooked aspects of daily life. With her previous series, “Exercises in Shape,” she transformed kitchen tools like cookie-cutters and baking moulds into artistic motifs, celebrating their potential beyond utility. In her installations, she uses perishable materials like agar-agar and sweets to explore concepts of the ephemeral, prompting reflection on how we assign value to fleeting experiences and simple pleasures.Similarly, PK examines materials found at construction sites, reimagining and repurposing discarded elements. Together, they highlight how overlooked materials can be reinterpreted to reveal new dimensions of beauty and meaning.

Jonathan Nah, often referred to as Kiat, seamlessly blends his passions as an electronic music artist and painter, employing a shared philosophy of creating visual harmony that reflects his musical practice of reprocessing both old and new elements. He paints only with his non-dominant hand, which enables him to disconnect from his conscious mind and explore new mark-making techniques without judgement. “Flanging Breaths”, delves into the interplay between the fleeting and the eternal, inspired by the rhythmic pulses of life, moving further into abstraction compared to his previous exhibition, emphasising the layering textures and rhythms to create a sense of blurred time and space, blending organic forms with spontaneous, gestural strokes. The theme focuses on exploring the space between inhale and exhale—stillness and motion—drawing parallels to both music and mindfulness, particularly influenced by the fluid, meditative nature of Chinese calligraphy. Kiat references calligraphy for its mindful practice of breathing with each stroke, prioritising the mental state over the visual outcome. For him, the process and intention take precedence, rather than the outcome, a guiding principle he intends to carry forward in this set of works.

A prevalent theme in Willy Tay’s new works is the lack of singular notions, rooted in his belief that art reflects society. As an artist within Singapore’s diverse community, his work is closely tied to it. He chooses topics based on peculiar antiquities as well as current and past events, aiming to examine how we interact with visual fragments that lead to reconstructed narratives. This approach uncovers visual tensions that bridge the mundane with the magical, providing alternative perspectives and an escape from reality. Li Jiacheng, a young emerging artist currently pursuing his studies in painting at Städelschule in Frankfurt, Germany, demonstrates a remarkable level of skill and creativity that belies his years of experience. His vibrant works draw inspiration from European masters of the Fauvist, Expressionist, and Neo-Expressionist movements.

Both Tay and Li explore themes of cultural displacement, the interplay between reality and myth, and the impact of historical contexts. Tay reflects on Singapore’s colonial legacy, using local events to create narratives that blend the ordinary with the extraordinary. Similarly, Li examines the coexistence of past and present, crafting dynamic visual stories that blur the lines between high and popular culture. Both artists engage with the tension between familiarity and the unknown; Tay addresses societal issues through visual fragments, while Li merges European art influences with his Southeast Asian roots. Together, their works reveal how personal and cultural histories shape our understanding of existence. As you engage with the artworks of these five talented artists With Dr Leow’s trusted vision shining a spotlight on their talent, you’ll appreciate their journeys and find connections to your own.

About the Artists:

Ee Poh Kiat (b. 1965, Melaka, Malaysia)

Ee Poh Kiat, also known as PK, is a Kuala Lumpur-based artist and architect whose unique artistic practice is deeply intertwined with his experience in construction and design. Born in 1965 in Melaka, Malaysia, he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from Louisiana State University in 1990. After working in architectural firms in Singapore and a brief stint in New York, he returned to Malaysia in 1999 to establish his own design and construction services company. His work is characterized by a profound engagement with materials, particularly those found on construction sites. He is captivated by the textures and inherent beauty of construction debris and leftover materials, often overlooked by workers. By skilfully manipulating and reconstructing these remnants, he transforms them into compelling abstract art pieces that invite viewers to reconsider the value and potential of what is typically dismissed as waste. Through his work, he challenges conventional perceptions, revealing new dimensions of beauty and significance within objects originally designed for functional purposes. In 1996, he was selected by the Singapore Art Museum to participate in a group exhibition at Parco Urban Art in Tokyo, followed by a group show, “Not Painting,” at Plastique Kinetic Worms Gallery in Singapore in 1998. After a long career in architecture and design, he held his first exhibition in Malaysia in 2020 at Artas Gallery.

 Ye Shufang (b. 1971, Singapore)

Ye Shufang is an artist and educator whose art practice spans over two decades, primarily focusing on installation and drawing. With a keen interest in ephemeral materials, she explores the value of small and ordinary things that surround us, allowing viewers to appreciate the often-overlooked beauty in everyday life. She has held solo exhibitions at notable venues, including The Private Museum in Singapore in 2011, 2013, and 2016, the Belgrade Cultural Centre in Serbia in 2004, Cemeti Art House in Yogyakarta in 2004, and Plastique Kinetic Worms in Singapore in 2004. Her work has also been featured in several curated exhibitions, such as “Medium At Large” at the Singapore Art Museum in 2014, “City-Net Asia” in South Korea in 2007, the World Exposition in Japan in 2005, and “Feminine Imaginaire” in Venice in 2002. In 2021, she was the keynote speaker at the International Symposium on Children’s Art Education, organised by the Taoyuan Museum of Fine Arts in Taiwan. Her insights into art education are further reflected in her article, “Junior Roundtable: Children Talk About Art in Singapore,” published in “New Museum Practice” in Asia by Lund Humphries in 2018. One of her notable works, “Exercises in Shape (II)”, was selected as one of the 100 favourite artworks globally in the January 2012 issue of Bazaar Art (China). In 2001, she was honoured as one of the ten recipients of the inaugural Singapore President’s Young Talents Exhibition award. Currently, she serves as a Senior Lecturer at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and is pursuing her PhD at the Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh. Through her art and teaching, she continues to inspire a deeper appreciation for the subtle intricacies of our surroundings.

Jonathan Nah/Kiat (b. 1972, Singapore)

Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, Jonathan Nah, referred to as Kiat, has explored innovative and resourceful ways of creating art in response to lockdowns and limited access to materials. This journey has led him to develop a hybrid technique that combines digital and analogue mediums, inspired by his method of resampling material in music. The adventurous themes in Kiat’s work are closely linked to his fascination with emotions and the concept of freedom. His freeform creative approaches have enabled him to work across multiple mediums, from painting on walls and canvases to composing music for dance floors, theatrical stages, and art installations. He also creates works that blur the line between art and design for various brands and cultural institutions. Kiat has developed projects both locally and internationally for notable organisations, including Cake Theatre, The Peranakan Museum, Swarovski, Adidas, ArtScience Museum, Dazed Online, Versus, Dior, Selfridges, the Singapore Tourism Board, Nike, Beams, and SHOWstudio. His recent presentations include “Antinodes” during Singapore Art Week in 2022, “Sonic Sessions” at Singapore Art Week in 2024, and his first solo exhibition, “I Against I,” at Art Outreach in 2024.

Willy Tay (b. 1974, Singapore)

Willy Tay graduated from LASALLE College of the Arts in 1994 with a Diploma in Fine Art (Painting). He continued his studies at RMIT University, completing his Bachelor of Arts (Fine Art) in 1998 and a Master of Arts (Fine Art) in 2004. With a dynamic artistic practice, he has participated in both solo and group exhibitions in Singapore and internationally. Notable exhibitions include “Do You Believe in Angels?” at Equator Art Projects in Singapore and Mo_Space in the Philippines in 2014, “The Realm in the Mirror, the Vision out of Image” at Jinji Lake Art Museum in Suzhou, China, in 2013, “Moments on White” at Osage Gallery in Hong Kong and Singapore in 2007, and “A Matter of Time” at SooBin Art Gallery in Singapore in 2007. His most recent group exhibition took place in 2023 at the Impression Culture and Art Festival in the Wenjiang Art District of Chengdu, China. He views art as a reflective medium, offering a mirror to society and emphasizing the artist’s role in interpreting and narrating the cultural and aesthetic narratives that shape our collective understanding. His paintings demonstrate a delight in the application and layering of paint, showcasing his engagement with the evolving art scene. Currently, he lives and works in Singapore, where he continues to develop his artistic practice.

Li Jiacheng (b.1995, Singapore)

Li Jiacheng is a painter whose work reflects on themes of history, identity, and myth. Born to Mainland Chinese parents from Xi’an and Shandong, Jiacheng’s upbringing in Singapore and his travels have significantly influenced his artistic journey. He began at the School of the Arts in Singapore, initially focusing on wood sculpture before pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Sculpture at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, graduating in 2023. His shift to painting drew inspiration from memories of Southeast Asia and the complexities of belonging, heightened during global lockdowns. Jiacheng’s vibrant works are shaped by diverse sources, including photographs, films, and oral histories, which he transforms into imaginative narratives that intertwine personal and cultural experiences. Currently based in Frankfurt, Germany, he is furthering his education as a Meisterschüler at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste–Städelschule under Willem De Rooij. His recent exhibitions include “Fresh Power” at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing in 2023 and the “Young Artist Autumn Saloon” at the Phoenix Center in 2021.

Artworks

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