[12 January 2006]
Singapore Management University inaugurates Visual Art Initiative

Artery showcases works by 11 local and regional artists

The vibrant and spacious campus of Singapore Management University (SMU) will be even more abuzz over the next three months with the inaugural exhibition under SMU's Visual Arts Initiative (VAI) entitled Artery, showcasing works by 11 artists from Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, USA and Australia.

With the aim that art and artistic activities should fill every corner of the new campus, it is the vision that the SMU campus experience for its students and for the general public will be enriched and enlivened by artistic aesthetics and creativity. Through the VAI, SMU will develop and host exhibitions and enrichment programmes and will also be developing an institutional collection of contemporary art, with Southeast Asian art as the principal focus.

Artery is the first art exhibition that SMU is organising at the new campus. While modest in size, its curatorial strategy in inviting contemporary artists from the region and beyond to exhibit in the Gallery and the Concourse – the main thoroughfare of campus – signals the programming directions of the VAI for contemporary artistic ideas and expressions to meet and engage with the habits and incidents of everyday life. Artery is also timed to celebrate the Official Opening of our new campus on 20 January 2006.

“Even as we were planning our move into the new 4.5-hectare purpose-built city campus in the heart of the historically and culturally rich landscape of the Bras Basah area, SMU recognised that we bear a social responsibility to share our premises and prime location as much as we can with the community. With Artery, we welcome everyone to freely come by to experience contemporary art by some of the most exciting established and emerging artists from Singapore , the region and beyond,” said Professor Howard Hunter, President, Singapore Management University. “Through this Visual Arts Initiative, SMU also hopes to cultivate appreciation for the arts as well as encourage creativity among our student community.”

Gracing the opening of Artery, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts & Health, Dr Balaji Sadasivan said, “SMU continues to push the boundaries of traditional tertiary education. With its inaugural Visual Art Initiative exhibition, Artery is a prime example of how SMU goes beyond convention to take on yet another leading role in helping promote the growing arts scene in Singapore . True to their premier university standing, not only have they launched their Visual Art Initiative but they have extended beyond our shores to invite international artists as well. Indeed, with SMU now in its city campus, both students and the public can all look forward to enlivened times ahead.”

Artery will run from January 12 to March 31, 2006 and is being held at The Gallery of the School of Economics & Social Sciences and along The Concourse. The exhibition features three themes:

MURMUR, at the Gallery, School of Economics & Social Sciences

Featuring works by Anthony Poon, Chua Ek Kay, Pinaree Sanpitak, Jane Lee and Delia Prvacki, the selection explores the eloquence of repetition and rhythmic gestures, visual silence and material minimalism.

Testimonies, at the Concourse, School of Economics & Social Sciences

Featuring recent portraits in ink by Tang Dawu, photographic works by Francis Ng, and Dadang Christanto's 2005 Testimonies of the Trees series, the section explores personal memory and subjectivity.

Looking In Looking Out, at the Concourse, Li Ka Shing Library

Featuring commissioned works by Heman Chong, Tan Kai Syng and Ana Prvacki, the works are site-specific interventions with architectural histories, pop psychology, and the trafficking of ideas.

Breast Stuppa Cookery Project [Thursday, January 12 only]

In this live artistic demonstration, artist Pinaree Sanpitak collaborates with local executive chef Jimmy Chok, who will create culinary delights using her pre-sculpted breast stuppas.

The exhibition is open daily at The Gallery from 9am to 6pm and along The Concourse from 9am to 9pm. Admission is free. For information on the event, please contact SMU at 6828-0173 or visit www.smu.edu.sg