Street art in
Singapore has evolved to become more than just spray paint on
walls. Local artists here are getting more acclaim than ever—taking
their works out of the streets and into art galleries and the
corporate world. By Baey Shi Chen and Zaki
Jufri
In
2005, a little known street artist who goes by the name of Banksy
slipped unnoticed into the Museum of Modern Art and art galleries
in New York to mount his own works among existing paintings as a
way of poking fun at the fine art establishment. Fast forward a few
years later, the reclusive artist counts celebrities like Brad Pitt
and Angelina Jolie as fans, with the couple reportedly shelling out
more than £1 million for his works. Likewise, local street and
graffiti artists here are getting more recognition than ever; some
have even held shows in art galleries and museums like the
Singapore Art Museum and Singapore Tyler Print Institute—albeit in
a more legit way than Banksy, of course.
Corporations today also are embracing urban and street art,
as are fashion labels, media types and even club owners, as a way
of reaching out to the young and trendy. Belvedere Vodka recently
flew French artist Andre in to promote its new specially-designed
vodka bottle, the Belvedere IX (see our interview on p.10); while
footwear brands like Adidas, Nike and Vans have commissioned local
street artists like Zero, Jahan Loh and The Killer Gerbil to paint
giant murals for their campaigns.
Indeed, the local street art and graffiti scene has come a
long, long way. Gone are the days when these artists and “taggers”
were looked upon as hooligans or wayward kids—they are now
championed as serious artists doing caliber work. I-S
presents street artists whose works you simply must look out
for—whether its on the streets, at the galleries or even, on that
bottle of beer or vodka.
Street Chic
From the streets to the galleries, these individuals are taking
street art to newer heights.
Jahan Loh
Claim to Fame: Although this 32 year-old has come a long
way since his first gallery showing way back in 2002 at Utterly
Art, he’s still active out in the streets, spraying on the fly in
between gallery shows, guest painting stints and no stranger to
attention—all kinds of it.
“I always get into trouble, be it illegal graffiti throw-ups
or my Cherry Pop artworks in galleries,” says Loh. His ongoing
Cherry Pop series of works which looks like stylized erotica deals
with the naked female form as a metaphor for the shedding of social
rank and the returning of the human being to a simpler
condition.
Currently based in Taiwan, Loh has exhibited his works in
Singapore, Taipei, New York, Melbourne, Beijing, Seoul and Glasgow,
and judging from his art sales, it is safe to say that he is one of
Singapore’s most successful street artists to have made it to the
galleries and auction houses. One of his previous works for a 2006
exhibition at the Esplanade reportedly went under the hammer for a
whopping USD$25,000 at the Kingsley auction last year. His Cherry
Pop sculptures for his Taipei debut show last year were also sold
for USD$12,000 a pop. Not bad for someone who ran afoul with the
law during his youth for his art—something that he, like most
street artists, considers a badge of honor.
Word Up: Loh is currently working on a new series
of works for a show in Beijing later this year which he says is a
departure from his earlier concepts. “The new series I am working
on for my solo show in Taiwant at Beijing 798 gallery is on the
concept of ‘dead space,’ and how we wander through this wilderness,
in search for meaning in life,” he says. Loh wishes to see more
street artists like him make their mark out of Singapore at the
galleries; but not to forget their “outlaw” roots so as to strike a
balance in their work. “I think the whole spirit of street art is
its borderline criminal expression, and when legitimized, it’s like
pulling the fangs out of a wild tiger and putting it in a
cage.”
Lip
Claim to Fame: Intrigued by the identity and style that
street art is able to achieve, Wong Lip Chin, a.k.a. Lip, became a
street artist four years ago and has rapidly made a name for
himself. Other than producing a body of work that includes
distinctive images of genres such as cartoons and sampled images
juxtaposed against one another, the LASALLE College of the Arts
student has already chalked up a solo exhibition and a stint as
artist-in-residence at the Marina Mandarin hotel—all at the age of
22. Citing artists such as Jeff Koons, Herakut, INSA, and Sc3L as
influences, Lip describes his style as “Realism fusing with
flat-art,” and is interested in pushing the technical aspects of
aerosol.
Word Up: “I did not categorize myself as a street
or graffiti artist when I started out as these are just terms that
limit your direction in making art. I would like to break
boundaries in the art world. My work is really organic—I started in
the street, but I am zooming in on the fine arts and conceptual art
aspects now as there are so many more things to explore and talk
about. I would really like to create something outside Singapore
Parliament House. It’s never really crossed my mind how my work
will look like in 10 years, but I hope it’ll definitely be
something in the evening sales of Sotheby’s and
Christie’s!”
Project Midas
Claim to Fame: Certainly one of the most exciting
developments in the street art scene here, Project Midas represents
what was sorely lacking in a scene that most artists say looks
“promising” but is still in its infancy. Started by street art
aficionados Ken Tan and Jon Nah, Project Midas is Singapore’s first
ever company dedicated to increasing the awareness of street art.
Inspired by the art shows they attended during their travels, the
duo felt the need to promote a similar kind of appreciation back in
their region. “It was quite a natural progression for us as we
collect art on the side, which led to us establishing relationships
with all the artists. So, we thought, why not make a business out
of it?” says Tan. The duo recently organized a show for renowned
British street artist Swifty at a gallery in Melbourne in March
this year and also put together another show at the Asylum store
featuring Melbourne’s leading artists Ghost Patrol and
Nior.
Word Up: The boys recently held a party, Tagged,
at Home Club to officially launch Project Midas last weekend
showcasing the best of what local street and urban art has to
offer. Artists involved include Scope One, Mimer, JabaOne, Lip,
Mojoko and Andy Yang. Next in the pipeline are a slew of
exhibitions in the region like the next Swifty show in Jakarta, a
Delta (Dutch street artist) show in Bangkok and something on a
larger scale back in Singapore next year.
ZERO
Claim to Fame: With his masked Luchadore (Mexican
wrestler) characters that usually propagate his works, Zulkarnaen
Othman a.k.a. ZERO constantly tries to integrate and negotiate the
function of design and advertising within the framework of
conceptual and traditional fine arts. The Associate Artist for The
Substation was shortlisted for the President’s Young Artist Awards
in 2005, and has shown in Jakarta, Shanghai and other various
street art events in Singapore. His most notable work to date was
covering the façade of the Singapore Art Museum in 2006 with his
Luchadore characters.
Word Up: For his recent Pseudo Branding series of
works which he first showcased as part of his undergraduate work
early this year, he commented on the relationship between art and
branding. “I attempted to come across selling a logo attached with
my brand name ZERO,” he says. “As what’s going around in the world
most of the time, a piece of work is highly valued when there is a
famous name attached to it. The works could look as kitsch as
(Takashi) Murakami’s, but with the famous name attached to it,
suddenly it is seen as an acclaimed piece of artwork. This is a
satirical approach on how most advertisements try to sell a certain
lifestyle attached to their products while not really explaining or
selling what their product is really about.”
(Spray) Guns
for Hire
Savvy street artists who have taken their craft to the next level
and are working with the corporate big boys.
Eeshaun
Claim to Fame: Describing his work as “free-form,
improvised drawings of inhabitants in organic environments,” Soh Ee
Shaun, 28, a.k.a. Eeshaun, creates humorous and whimsical images
comprising flowing lines and rich swirls of color. Most notably, he
has produced works for the 11th Venice Biennale, Adidas Originals
and was specially appointed by Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (SMRT)
to create murals at Bishan station for the upcoming Circle Line.
Drawn to works with bright colors and illustrated in a flat, simple
2D style, the artist, who also lectures at Republic Polytechnic, is
inspired by international artists Keith Haring, Chris Johanson and
Jon Burgerman.
Word Up: “Actually, much of my work is done at
home and not really on the street,” he says. “So most people might
disagree that it’s street art—although it might resemble what
people understand as street art, or graffiti or character art. I’d
say its more Pop Art, or illustration. I think the message I want
to convey in my work is that everyone should enjoy life, be happy,
and not sweat the small stuff. I think street art in Singapore is
headed wherever the rest of the world is heading. I see it as a
global movement, and local artists must react very quickly to new
styles that other countries produce. I’d definitely like to see
change in my work in 10 years. I hope I’ll pick up a new skill like
programming and maybe use new technology to design my
artwork.”
The Killer Gerbil (KGB)
Claim to Fame: Mustafah Luthfi, 30, a.k.a. The Killer
Gerbil (KGB), started creating graffiti art in 2003 by leaving
stickers and painting artworks on recycled materials on the
streets. Inspired by pop culture, MTV, graphic design and errr, his
dead pet gerbils (you heard us right), KGB’s work is distinguished
by repeated images of his alter ego, whom he describes as “a street
rat that kills empty spaces with colors and forms.” A dominant
figure in the local street art scene, KGB won the Motorola
Streetstyle Street’s Choice Award in 2005 and has created works for
events and exhibitions both locally and overseas. A recent
collaboration with Nike Singapore to celebrate the launch of the
Nike Air Yeezy will see the unveiling of a KGB mural at the
flagship store in Wisma Atria in May.
Word Up: “I don’t have a habit of looking to
another artist for influence. I want to be original,” he says. I
have definitely evolved in style, form and color, because as an
artist I am easily bored ... I feel that locals are beginning to
open up slowly but surely to this art form, and it’s also good to
know that some individuals are bringing street art into
institutions. I’ve been lucky that people actually enjoy and
support my works. I think street art will become how hip hop is at
the present—everyone (and their moms) will be doing it and this art
form will be openly accepted by the masses.”
Momorobo
Claim to Fame: Morris Lee, 27, the founder of local
multimedia design collective Momorobo, never had an education in
art or design. While not technically street art practitioners, Lee
and his crew’s (Eddie Yeo, Eric Lee and Meng Han) works lean to
sensibilities which have their roots in street and urban art. But
that, however, has not stopped him from steering the group towards
becoming one of the leaders in the design industry. With
prestigious collaborations with companies such as Ministry of
Sound, Motorola, Adidas, The Butter Factory and Theatreworks just
to name a few, Lee loves to push clients’ aesthetic limits and
always considers the next project his key work. They were recently
commissioned by Belvedere Vodka to create a series of
graffiti-inspired artworks. Citing artists like Richey Edwards and
Mark Rothko as well as local art directors Theseus Chan and Melvin
Chee as influences, Lee’s work aims to convey “the fragility of
humanity and what I’m going to have for lunch.”
Word Up: “Nothing much has changed in the genre
since I first started. Everything’s pretty much eye candy still.
Singaporeans have become accepting of street art as it’s certainly
mainstream now. Working with many global companies has led to
artistic compromises, but that’s only right because they are paying
the bills. My work has gone through several phases, so I guess it’s
a ‘let’s try to round up everything, throw it into a washing
machine and see what I’ll get’ style. I try not to think too much
about my style and direction. I would love to skip the evolution
part and become something entirely different and unrecognizable
altogether.”
Antz
Claim to fame: Anthony Chong, a.k.a. Antz, cut his teeth
in street art when he decided to move his art from the computer to
a platform with a bigger surface. In the three years he has been on
the scene, Antz has already amassed a portfolio of hip
collaborations with global companies Adidas, IdN, Converse, Nike,
Taggerbags and MTV Asia. Describing his style as East-meets-West,
the 27 year-old’s work comprises illustrations of ideas generated
from everyday life, and also Chinese myths and Asian folklore
reimagined in a modern context. Antz counts fellow local artists
Zero, The Killer Gerbil, Jahan Loh and :phunkstudio as influences,
and also admires international artists Michael Lau, Jamie Hewlett
and Banksy. He recently collaborated with Momorobo for a live
painting session for Belvedere Vodka during its Belvedere Beat
campaign.
Word Up: “I’m inspired by anything and
everything—it’s a matter of whether the ideas stay long enough for
me to pop them into my black book,” he says. “I think street art is
misunderstood in Singapore—we are not just artists who appear at
events and do only live art demos or create a cheaper option to
replace expensive vinyl stickers. It took us a long time to
practice and explore the art form, and I hope people will at least
try to get to know a bit about it before they judge. I would like
to paint something as huge as one of the Suntec buildings.
Actually, I really want to paint on a jet
plane.”
Walk on the
Wild Side
Born out of the streets, these guys are still keeping it real and
indie—generating an impressive body of work on the
streets.
Scope
One
Claim to Fame: “Just imagine a wall somewhere. It was
plain white or pale grey the night before, but when you pass by it
the next day on your way to work, then BOOM! Someone did a massive
explosive color piece out of nowhere,” says Mazlan Ahmad a.k.a.
Scope One excitedly about his reasons for being a graffiti artist:
To create without boundaries.
With his old school “wild style” graffiti style of writing,
the 33 year-old is one of Singapore’s pioneering street artists.
Scope One is also the artist responsible for putting the country on
the world graffiti/street art map when his works were showcased on
the infamous artcrimes.com website. Since then, the artist has been
honing his craft as a full-time graffiti artist here, doing both
commissioned and “un-commissioned” works, and participating in
graffiti exhibitions here and abroad, like the annual Singapore
Street Festival.
Word Up: Scope One was the second artist invited
to paint a mural at the dbl-O Art Space in February this year as
part of the club’s efforts in nurturing the local urban arts scene.
As for future plans, he is also branching out into other aspects of
the scene which no doubt will further raise awareness of the
burgeoning street art scene here.
“I am going to do a book called Undaground Singapura. It’s a book
about Singapore’s graffiti scene, and I’m already planning to work
on toys with other artists, and also planning to curate solo shows
or collaborations with other artists,” he
says.
Speak
Cryptic
Claim to Fame: Calling his works “text interventions,” the
artist known as Speak Cryptic has been peppering public spaces with
subversive messages seeking to prompt passersby to question the
world, and especially the institutions and space around him. “I’ve
always been interested in the human condition and the relationship
between man and his immediate environment,” he says. “This whole
idea of trying to make the world a better place is the ultimate
intention, as cliché as that might sound.” With that, the artist,
who is also a member of local post-rock music outfit I Am David
Sparkle, only started plying his craft by chance on an outing with
fellow artist The Killer Gerbil in 2005, when he began tagging the
town with his stickers with messages like “Make Up Your Mind And
Leave” or “Breathe In Moderation.” “I want people to question the
things around them and by leaving stickers, signs, posters and
paintings behind, it is my hope that society at large will be as
curious as cats and start questioning.”
Word Up: “I never stick around long enough to find
out,” says Speak Cryptic, when asked about reactions to his works.
“I have no idea how people react and I guess in that regard, it
would seem kind of pointless to keep putting out works back onto
the streets, especially since street art in itself is all about
interaction with the public.”
Where to get your dose of street art (other than the
streets):
Asylum
22 Ann Siang Rd., 6324-2289.
This hip lifestyle emporium also doubles up as an art gallery when
the occasion calls for it. So far, it had hosted a slew of street
art events featuring artists like Yok, Draawer, Ghostpatrol and
Nior. Check out its website www.theasylum.com.sg for
updates.
The Butter
Factory
#02-02/03/04 One Fullerton, 1 Fullerton Rd.,
6333-8243.
This arty-farty hip hop and electro club is one of the first clubs
here to showcase urban art works. Its new location at One Fullerton
is decked out in quirky characters and urban art pieces from the
likes of Peskimo, Jeremyville and Eboy.
dbl-O Art Space
#01-24 Robertson Walk, 11 Unity St., 6735-2008.
The nine year-old dance club run by entertainment group Emerald
Hill launched Art Space within its dbl-O club in January to promote
local artists monthly. So far, it has organized shows featuring
local artists like Keep It Like A Secret, Scope One and
OneTwoDelta.
Night & Day Bar
139A/C Selegie Rd., 6884-5523.
This art gallery and bar is a hit with Singapore’s creative set and
a cool place to see showcases of new graphic and street artworks
regularly, and works of artists like Speak Cryptic and Eeshaun have
graced its walls.
Rebel
Blk. C Clarke Quay, 3 River Valley Rd., 6333-4168.
Come on down to this five month-old boutique hip hop club in Clarke
Quay to see graffiti art by Australian artist Megs while grooving
to the beats of DJs Tang and Rattle. The club plans to hold street
and urban art events here regularly and it last hosted a designer
toy exhibition by cult designer Jakuan.
For more street/urban art action, don’t miss
...
A Nice Set Singapore
Concierges of cool and creative community space DOPE and AWE50ME
present A Nice Set: Singapore, a series of exhibitions featuring
100 customized slip-mats (you know, that round piece of fabric you
put on the turntable) by artists from all over the contemporary and
urban art world, including Japan, Australia, UK and US. This
exhibition is curated by New York creative studio Plus et Plus and
conceptualized by The Reed Space—all leading lights in the urban
art scene; so expect the best of art, design and even music all
rolled into one. The travelling exhibition drops this May 15 at
Mimolette (55 Fairways Dr., 6476-7748) with DJ Perplex spinning
grooves. Then it will travel to OverEasy (#01-06 One Fullerton, 1
Fullerton Rd., 6423-0701) on May 22 with DJ B. Then it’s off to
Hacienda (13A Demsey Rd., 6476-2922) on May 29 for a final run with
DJ Mugen on deck duties. Each exhibition will feature 33 different
artists—11 from the international exhibition, 11 from the
Australian exhibition and 11 from Singapore. All 100 exhibited
slip-mats, as well as a commemorative book published by leading
design magazine IdN, will be up for grabs at the exhibitions.
