Playsky (2003)
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The sky as a theme has been represented, and alluded to countlessly in the history of art – as part of landscape, in pastoral symphonies, and as the main subject matter. Within the curatorial context of the Toys exhibition, these references could also be played out through the ways in which notions of play/fun, fantasy, day-dreaming - many activities that are relegated to child’s play. The series of work examines our relationship to ‘nature’ as a construct. How are we supposed to relate to it? From activities such as going for a picnic to cloud gazing, this work could explore various concerns such as bringing the outdoors into private spaces, such as the gallery, or a home. Since more than 85% of the country’s population live in HDB apartments, what would our cultural responses to nature that is artificial be? What constitute ‘artificiality’ or ‘artifice’? What does it mean to be immersed ‘in nature’? What do we make of the need to bring a slice of ‘nature’ into our homes, like with the fengshui fountains, aquariums, plants etc? Within the urban context of Singapore that is constructed as a garden city, could this sense of orderliness be reconsidered? On another level, by inverting the sky, a rethinking of what gets posited on the idea of the sky as a limit could be explored. Ideas of creativity and ‘Blue Sky’ research are also referenced here, as well as the experience of being ‘among the clouds’. Playsky rug would also reference many of Rene Magritte’s paintings with the pastel-blue cumulus clouds, in that the ‘inside’ & ‘outside’ worlds or more precisely, the ‘top & bottom’ orientations are confused or problematised. Works shown in Toys Exhibition, Earl Lu Gallery, Singapore, 2003 include: Playsky, Faux Fur, Dimensions Variable, 2003 Magritte I (collaboration with Shirley Soh), Acrylic on Cotton Teddy Bear, Dimensions Variable, 2003. |
