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Overview |
Follow Us! | Singapore Arts Festival | Singapore Art Show | Singapore Writers Festival | Singapore Biennale | ArtReach Events | Music Competitions | Golden Point Award | Sing Singapore | Noise Singapore | Busking Scheme | Other Events | Singapore Pavilion at Venice Biennale | Singapore Showcase
| Official Opening |
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6 June 2009 |
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| Vernissage |
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4 - 6 June 2009 |
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| Opening Hours |
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10am – 8pm |
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| Exhibition date |
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7 June - 22 November 2009 |
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| Opening Hours |
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10am - 7pm
Tuesday to Sunday |
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| Location of Pavilion |
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Palazzo Michiel del Brusa
Strada Nuova, Cannaregio 4391/A
30131 Venezia |
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| Presenters |
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National Arts Council, Singapore |
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| Supporters |
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Lee Foundation |
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Singapore presents Life of Imitation at the 53rd Venice Biennale International Art Exhibition. Together, artist, Ming Wong, and curator, Tang Fu Kuen, transform a 14th century palazzo into a cinema paradiso, reminiscent of Singapore’s Golden Age of cinema in the 1950s and 1960s.
Life of Imitation stages the co-existence of multiple worlds where language, gender, appearance and traditions constantly negotiate with one another. In playful and imperfect acts of mimesis and melodrama, this exhibition attempts to hold the mirror up to the Singaporean condition related to roots, hybridity and change.
Wong explores the performative veneers of language and identity through his own re-interpretations of “world cinema” – he has created a series of multi-channel video installations inspired by classic cinematic moments from Hollywood, Europe, China and South East Asia. The mood is further enhanced by billboards painted by Wong and Singapore’s last surviving billboard painter Neo Chon Teck, and movie memorabilia such as photographs of old cinemas in Singapore, paintings, drawings and transcripts, depicting the creation process of Wong’s video installations and the entire exhibition itself.
The Commissioner for the Singapore Pavilion is Lim Chwee Seng, Director of Visual Arts, National Arts Council (NAC). This is Singapore's fifth consecutive showcase at the Venice Biennale. It is presented by NAC.
Ming Wong’s Exhibition Statement
Singapore at Venice Biennale - Curatorial Statement
Life of Imitation Catalogue
“The Venice Biennale is a global cultural platform that provides high visibility and connectivity for participating artists and curators from around the world. Together with the Singapore Biennale and the Singapore Art Show organised by NAC in Singapore, our participation in the Venice Biennale forms part of our all-rounded approach to the development of Singapore’s traditional and contemporary art practices. This year the international art community will have the opportunity to witness the talents of Singapore artist Ming Wong and curator Tang Fu Kuen at the Pavilion through a multi-disciplinary, multi-lingual work that embodies a strong Singaporean character.” - Lim Chwee Seng, Singapore Commissioner and NAC Director of Visual Arts.
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| The Singapore Pavilion is located in a 14th century Gothic Palazzo Michiel del Brusa, along the Grand Canal on the main island of Venice. |
| Official Opening |
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7 June 2007 |
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| Vernissage |
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7 - 9 June 2007 |
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| Opening Hours |
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10am - 8pm |
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| Exhibition date |
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10 June - 7 November 2007 |
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| Opening Hours |
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10am - 6pm
Friday to Wednesday |
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| Location of Pavilion |
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Palazzo Cavalli Franchetti
Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti
Campo S. Stefano, 2842 |
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| Presenters |
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National Arts Council, Singapore
Singapore Art Museum |
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| Sponsors |
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Anil Thadani
Soobin Art International |
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| Supporters |
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Lee Foundation
Ho Bee Holdings |
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Singapore presents a trans-generational showcase of contemporary art practice in Singapore at the 52nd Venice Biennale International Art
Exhibition. Four Singaporean artists Da Wu Tang, Vincent Leow, Jason Lim and Zulkifle Mahmod will develop site-specific works for the
pavilion. The curator is Lindy Poh.
Themed Figments, Fictions and Fantasies, the Singapore showcase arise from each artist's
response to the Pavilion site and Venice. The works reflects the common thread among the four artists to explore myth, imagination,
illusion and altered realities.
The presentation of the four artists characterises key aspects of their practices at pivotal
junctures of their development. It reflects the individuality, yet close interlinks between practitioners in Singapore today.
At first glance, all four artists have vastly different backgrounds. Tang is a prominent leader in contemporary Asian art
practice, and is widely regarded as a pioneer of performance art in Singapore. Leow is a pivotal figure in alternative art practices
whose works are celebrated for capturing the energy, visual language and attitudes of the contemporary vanguard. Lim is a leading
contemporary ceramics sculptor who combines performance art into his presentations. Sonic or sound sculptor-artist Zulkifle features
prominently in an emerging new media discipline.
Whilst individualistic in their expressions and practice, the artists share many areas of intersections or convergence in their
artistic ideals and concerns. They have enjoyed a good measure of recognition locally and abroad, contributed extensively to art
education and dialogue and share intersecting histories of founding and helming major art collectives in Singapore. Together in a single
showcase, these four artists present a resonating experiential show at the Pavilion that many will be able to relate to.
The Commissioner for the Singapore Pavilion is Lim Chwee Seng, Director of Visual Arts, National Arts Council (NAC). This is
Singapore's fourth consecutive showcase at the Venice Biennale. It is jointly presented by NAC and the Singapore Art Museum.
Artists and their Works
Singapore at Venice Biennale - Curatorial Theme
"Singapore's participation in the Venice Biennale is part of the Council's strategy to nurture and develop visual art practices in Singapore, and show case the strength and diversity of Singapore artists and artistic practices internationally" - Lim Chwee Seng, Singapore Commissioner and NAC Director of Visual Arts.
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| The Singapore Pavilion is located in the restored 15th century Gothic and atmospheric Palazzo Cavalli
Franchetti, a popular site on the main island of Venice next to the Accademia Bridge. |
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