Artwork 1: Melinda Susanto, Colours , 2017
What has it been like curating the works? How have the artists responded to the theme Art i st and Space ?
Melinda (M): This year’s theme has inspired a variety of refreshing and vibrant artworks. I am delighted to see how our young artists have responded with different creative interpretations to this theme. From the fantastical and imaginative to matters closer to home, these young artists are inspired by things that matter to them, expressing their hopes and dreams, their sense of self, and their connections to the world.
Yew Seng (YS): It has been a delightful experience curating this exhibition. I have seen, through the artworks submitted, how our young ones have been exploring their personal spaces, communal spaces they live in as well as imaginative spaces for their artistic creations.
Ernest (E): The many entries took the widest possible interpretation of this and have given us a precious view of the hearts and minds of our young artists. Each piece expressed joyous elements of the common experiences of being a child in Singapore.
Sze-Chin (SC): It was a joy to view our student artists’ diverse responses to the theme. The numerous amazing and creative re-imagining of spaces made it difficult to curate the artworks; it was not just about selecting and displaying the artworks. As a team, we also sought to organise our selections by looking at themes that our student artists responded to.
Shirley (S): It is truly a privilege to be entrusted with the responsibility of deciding what one sees and how one sees at this annual curriculum exhibition. Being involved in the curatorial work for the current and past two exhibitions, I am happy that our student artists continue to impress and inspire us with their artistic creations. We saw diverse ways our student artists explored and interpreted the theme, beyond physical space to include their social, emotional and cultural spaces. Kudos to our student artists and their teacher mentors!
Artwork 2: Lee Sze-Chin, Seeing, Imaging, Learning , 2017
On the art making process
S: This year, we invited our student artists to share their learning experiences with us through the submission of their process documentation. Along with their final artworks, we observed that there are six key elements namely imagination, emotion, experimentation, materiality, inspiration and presentation , that collectively represent the artistic processes our student artists experience when they are engaged in art making. These artistic processes reflect a holistic art experience where learning for our students take place in the process and through the final outcome of their artistic efforts.
SC: The teachers shared with us how their students could problem-solve collaboratively, and see in new ways through the art making process. Some student artists told us stories of their intimate worlds. It was a privilege to take a peek into how our student artists understood the world around them. I was also very delighted with the local narratives that our student artists weaved into their artworks. Others also articulated their dreams, and used art as a vehicle to share their visions of the future.
E: Whether as an individual or as a group it is obvious there was much thought and effort put into the production of these works, no doubt ably facilitated by our ever-inspiring art teachers. Especially heartening was the range of materials used - it shows a willingness to try and use new skills as new ways to explore art as story-telling.
YS: To produce the art pieces, the children have gone through the rigorous processes of interpreting the theme, conceptualising the ideas and working the materials. They opened our minds to help us see the world through their eyes and show us their worlds. Their artworks shared many of their stories and experiences, and by doing so, it would have deepened their understanding about themselves and the world around them.
M: I am especially appreciative of this year's endeavour to look at art making processes – it allows us to learn of all the hard work and thoughts behind completed artworks, showing these young artists’ drive to explore and try out new ideas and materials. This exhibition brings together many different artworks to create new meanings together, as part of the larger story of Art i st and Space .
Artwork 3: Heng Yew Seng, Between Black and White , 2017
What is something that you would like to share with our young budding artists?
YS: I extend my congratulations to our young artists for their achievements and my gratitude to the teachers and schools for their support of the children’s artistic journeys. Art i st and Space has reinforced the idea of how Art can influence how we think and live, and also strengthened our appreciation of people around us and the world we live in.
M: I would like to thank these young artists for sharing with us their stories and their joy of art making, and all the teachers and schools for supporting their creative endeavours and encouraging their unique voices to shine through.
E: Art is a life-long journey of learning and experience both as artist and audience. Teachers and parents should be proud of the efforts of our young talent and as curators we wish to encourage this vibrant spirit of exploration and self-expression.
SC: Having been students ourselves, the curators were charmed by the artworks we encountered, and we resonated with the quirky, whimsical and playful approach quite a number embraced. Our student artists’ works hit me with a breath of fresh air, and it was an honour to witness the joy and energy in their artworks. I hope that it too inspires the audience to creatively respond to ‘spaces’ around them.
S: Our student artists have shown us how art has given them the courage to be different, the determination to keep trying, the ability to see things from multiple perspectives and the childlike spirit to have fun during the art making process. I hope all our student artists will make art often and engage in art for a lifetime, always be advocates for art and never outrun their passion for and interest in art!
