These two Singaporean visual artists are the ones to watch
“Alecia Neo stands out as an artist. Her work is diverse and inclusive – workshops she has conducted with sight-impaired students now involve hundreds of people. She’s the future of Singapore arts.” -- Haresh Sharma, playwright
The Singaporean artist’s work unfolds through photography, videography and workshops that address modes of mobility, caregiving and wellbeing to explore issues of identity. Her site-specific projects can span years, as in the case of Both Sides, Now (2017-2019), where she was invited to work in precincts like Chong Pang and Telok Blangah.
In Chong Pang, Neo facilitated photography workshops for residents, and made portraits of them. The images were then presented as life-sized murals on the walls of the public housing estate. “I’m intrigued by how our perceptions change when we encounter difference,” says the 33-year-old.
“Alecia's work really helped me realise how lucky I am to live within a multicultural family and society” -- Haikal Tan, Flight Steward
Brian Gothong Tan, multidisciplinary artist
The man is known for his engaging works in film, theatre and installation art
“Brian Gothong Tan is a wizard when it comes to film and multimedia design. He’s worked on both small, intimate performances and large-scale projects like the recent Singapore Bicentennial, creating evocative and impressive visuals that are truly inspiring. Brian has won numerous awards and is the multimedia artist everyone wants to collaborate with.” -- Haresh
Brian Gothong Tan dreamed of being an animator when he was growing up and had the chance to study animation at California Institute of the Arts. While he was there, though, he realised he was also interested in other forms of expression.
Today, Tan’s primary art form is still the moving image, and his work spans visual art, theatre and film. He was involved in the Bicentennial Experience, a multimedia sensory production that traced key milestones in Singapore’s history, which ran at the Fort Canning Centre in late 2019.
“Singapore’s history was shaped by the many empires and civilisations that surrounded it, creating a unique society. Singapore’s blend of cultures has shaped my practice and identity in deep and profound ways,” says Tan. Visitors to Singapore in April should try and catch his theatre production, Lost Cinema 2020, which is part of Esplanade’s The Studios Season 2020.
SEE ALSO: The immersive world of Singapore theatre company, Drama Box
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