Diversity in Print: The BMW Young Asian Artists Series
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Diversity in Print: The BMW Young Asian Artists Series.
19 Jul – 18 Aug 2007
Free Admission
Singapore Tyler Print Institute
41 Robertson Quay
Singapore 238236

Diversity in Print: The BMW Young Asian Artists Series.

Singapore Tyler Print Institute (STPI) and BMW Asia present the BMW Young Asian Artists Series, a two-year initiative designed to support young, emerging Asian artists in the early stages of their artistic career. The initiative is designed specifically for Asian artists under thirty five years old who could be the stars of tomorrow.

In this second year, STPI will showcase the new works by five specially selected artists from across Asia. Beginning in December 2005, the chosen artists were invited to visit Singapore for an individual two week residency at the Institute, where they created new works on paper in collaboration with STPI’s expert team of printmakers. These works were editioned and now, an exhibition – which rounds off the two-year programme -- of all their works will be held in partnership with the sponsor, BMW Asia. Brochures produced on each artist’s work will be compiled into a final catalogue.

“This was a great opportunity for the young artists to experience and experiment with print making. I am so pleased to see that not only have they succeeded in pushing their creative boundary, the works that emerge are vibrantly diverse and full of energy!” said Irene Lee, Director at STPI. The artists will be selected based on the quality of their work, their potential and the benefits this initiative can bring to their careers as artists.

For sponsor BMW Asia its involvement is a natural extension of BMW Group’s longstanding tradition of engagement and involvement with the arts. “Through the programme, BMW Asia is pleased to be able to play a role in helping to nurture and encourage young artists and provides a platform for them to showcase their creativity and talent to the arts community. To enable more deserving young art talent to be identified and showcased, BMW Asia will extend its sponsorship for the Series to 2009.” said Mr Roland Krueger, managing director of BMW Asia Pte Ltd.

Eric Chan (Malaysia)

Eric Chan - Aya Sofya
Eric Chan - Aya Sofya
The first artist in the series is Eric Chan who recently completed his residency at the Institute. Chan was born in 1975 in Malaysia and following his fine art training at LA SALLE-SIA College of the Arts and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), he settled in Singapore where he lives now. He creates paintings which play with light and shadow and out-of-focus imagery. During his residency at STPI, his first foray into printmaking, Chan explored the nature of light – sunlight, artificial light, illumination – and how these different lights create contrast. In the studio he explored techniques such as flocking which creates deep, rich blacks. Chan won the Philip Morris Juror’s Choice Award at the Singapore Arts Awards 2001/2002 and has exhibited in Singapore and Malaysia.

Yim Ja-Hyuk (Korea)

Yim Ja-Hyuk - It Has To Be Like This
Yim Ja-Hyuk - It Has To Be Like This
Born in 1976 in Seoul, Korea, Yim Ja-Hyuk currently lives and works there. Her academic backgrounds include an MFA in Painting from Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloomfield Hills, USA, an MFA in Printmaking, Seoul National University, Korea as well as a BFA in Painting, Seoul National University, Korea. Last year, she previewed her drawings at the Keumho Museum of Art in Seoul. She was also part of the Art Spectrum2006 and Drawing Energy, two group exhibitions shown in Seoul at the Samsung Museum of Art and the Arko Art Center, Korean Art & Culture Foundation respectively.

Heman Chong (Singapore)

Heman Chong - Battle Royale
Heman Chong - Battle Royale
Heman Chong is an artist and a curator based in Berlin and Singapore. He received his M.A in Communication Art & Design from The Royal College of Art, London (2002). His work deals with representations of the future in the world of fiction.

To date, his solo exhibitions include: "The Silver Sessions", Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin, Germany (2003); "Snore Louder if you can", The Substation, Singapore (2004); "Vexillogy, Cartography and other Stories", Ellen de Bruijne Projects (Dolores), Amsterdam, Holland (2005), "Philip", Project Arts Centre, Dublin, Ireland (2006); "The Sole Proprietor and other Stories", Vitamin Creative Space, Guangzhou, China (2007); "Common People and other Stories", Art In General, New York, USA (2007).

The artist represented Singapore in the 50th Venice Biennale, Italy in 2003. Chong is represented by Vitamin Creative Space, Guangzhou, China.

Lieko Shiga (Japan)

Lieko Shiga - Lily
Lieko Shiga - Lily
Lieko Shiga was born in Aichi prefecture of Japan in 1980. In 2004, she graduated from the Chelsea University of Art and Design in London with a BA in Fine Art, New Media. Most recently, she has a one-man show at the NUKE gallery in Paris, France. The rest of her solo exhibitions were held in Osaka, Japan. She also participated in several notable group exhibitions in Southeast Asia and Australia such as “Re;search, The Art Collaboration with Australia and Japan” at the Sendai Mediatheque in Japan last year.

Natee Utarit (Thailand)

Natee Uttarit - Colour Paper 3
Natee Uttarit - Colour Paper 3
The last of the artists in the series is Natee Utarit who recently completed his residency at the Institute. Born in Bangkok in 1970, he was educated at the College of Fine Art there in 1982 and graduated with a B.F.A. Graphic Art, The Faculty of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Arts, Silpakorn University, Bangkok. He is currently represented by Numthong Gallery in Thailand.

Admission:
Free

Gallery Opening Hours:
Tuesday to Saturday: 10:00am to 6:00 pm
Monday: By appointment only
Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays

General enquiries:
6336-3663 ext 110/112

For more information, please kindly log onto www.stpi.com.sg

Images Courtesy of Singapore Tyler Print Institute. All Rights Reserved.

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