May Round-Up
FOST Gallery, STPI, Asia Art Center, etc.
By Andari Suherlan and Vivyan Yeo
Come Together
This online exhibition draws its title from John Clang’s Being Together, a series of family portraits taken with the help of image projectors and video conferencing technology. Profoundly relevant today, these portraits visually connect members living far away from their families. Come Together similarly foregrounds the importance of solidarity in times of separation through the work of 12 artists, including Bovey Lee, Grace Tan, Ian Woo, Kray Chen and more. Facilitating an internal dialogue, the online presentation also includes insights into each artist's favourite artwork within the exhibition.
FOST Gallery, 21 April to 28 June 2020
Objectifs Film Library
A rich educational resource, the Objectifs Film Library offers over 40 short films from 14 Southeast Asian filmmakers. The movies cover a wide range of topics and are split into categories such as ‘New Voices’, ‘Experimental’ and ‘Women in Film’. Showcasing works from award-winning Singapore directors Kirsten Tan and Boo Junfeng, as well as regional figures Davy Chou, Nguyen Trinh Thi and Pimpaka Towira, the library continues Objectif’s aim of highlighting stories from Southeast Asia through the medium of film. These short movies are available online for rent at a nominal fee, and will be free to view at the Objectifs arts space once it reopens.
Objectifs, 23 April 2020 onwards
NightTime Spells
Currently living in isolation, Malaysian-born artist Lisa Wong contemplates her relationship with the tropics. Her recent body of work illustrates her garden in a magical realist light, unveiling mythical qualities in her everyday surroundings. Inspired by nightly walks with her dog, these paintings feature anthropomorphic, floral and faunal elements that ignite familiar places with childlike wonder. The exhibition is organised by The Art People Gallery and held on Artsy’s virtual platform.
The Art People Gallery, 5 May to 5 June 2020
Fadjar Sidik: Space Dynamics
Named after his innovative body of work, ‘Space Dynamics’ displays 15 paintings from the late Fadjar Sidik, who is known for his unique contributions to Indonesian abstract painting. The solo presentation surveys his mature period from the 1970s to the early 2000s, showcasing compositions that are reminiscent of nature’s pattern and rhythm. Using both virtual and physical art spaces, the show will be held at Asia Art Center in Taipei alongside an online art exhibition designed by Art Agenda, S.E.A.
Art Agenda, S.E.A. and Asia Art Center 16 May to June 28 2020
Monochrome
Bringing together six artists from Malaysia and Indonesia, ‘Monochrome’ is a collaboration between Artemis Art Gallery in Kuala Lumpur and Art Serpong Gallery in Tangerang. Contrary to the exhibition title, the collection of artworks presents a diverse range of colours, forms and themes. The curation expands the boundaries of what is considered grey by integrating artists with varying practices. Featuring an online viewing room as well as an interactive virtual tour, the exhibition highlights key works by Malaysian artists Ajim Juxta and Syahbandi Samat and Indonesian artists Afdhal, Danni Febriana, Dedy Sufriadi, Muhammad Yakin.
Artemis Art Gallery and Art Serpong Gallery 20 March 2020 onwards
Platform: London
In the effort to support and encourage galleries in various cities that have closed due to the pandemic, David Zwirner presents a series of online viewing rooms called ‘Platform’, showcasing solo exhibitions put forward by 12 London-based galleries. From Southeast Asia, artists Korakrit Arunanondchai and Sung Tieu are presented by Carlos/Ishikawa and Emalin respectively. Korakrit Arunanondchai is exhibiting his mixed media on canvas works, which are part of his ongoing “History Painting” series, and Sung Tieu is showing sound, video and installation works.
David Zwirner 17 April to 15 May 2020
The Perfect Storm: A Poem of Colors
Curated by Citra Pratiwi, the Langgeng Art Foundation launches a virtual exhibition titled ‘The Perfect Storm: A Poem of Colors’. The exhibition features three female artists Diana Puspita, Gabby Prado, Mutiara Riswari, who express their struggles in isolation in abstract and expressionist forms. Through the use of bright colours and mediums, the artists reflect on their physical and psychological experiences, and project a hopeful future that emerges from the storm.
Langgeng Art Foundation 9 May to 9 June 2020
Printmakers’ Assembly 2020
STPI exhibits 65 works by 25 printmakers in 'Printmakers' Assembly' 2020 including Ripple Root, Ilse Noor and Joey Cobcobo. The rich diversity of printmaking practices on display range from relief, intaglio, lithography and screenprint, to other more innovative methods. To further foster the appreciation of print techniques, the showcase will be accompanied by live-streamed interviews with participating artists, activity guides for stay-at-home art-making, and interactive functions for viewers to enquire about the available works presented.
STPI 21 May 2020 onwards