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Above: A glimpse
of the recently
concluded
exhibition of
Singapore artist
Hong Zhu An at
STPI; (below left)
Four Seasons, Four
Ages (First Cycle)
Spring (2012)
by Filipina artist
Geraldine Javier
S I N G A P O R E ’ S C R E A T I V E C L U S T E R S
If you’re lucky, you can get an
enlightening tour of STPI’s exhibits and
displays with an artist as you walk along
its quiet hallways. But then you don’t
have to be — because the not-for-profit
organization, together with the artist-in-
residence, conducts walk-throughs for
visitors during Saturdays. This is part of
STPI’s goal to promote arts education
and an open dialogue between the artist
and the public.
“
We endeavor to have a public
educational program with every
exhibition,” explains Nor Jumaiyah,
STPI’s head of marketing and
development. This includes artist talks
and special classes or workshops. “The
walk-through is a way for visitors to get
intimate with the artist, as he will be
talking about his experience working
at STPI. It’s an opportunity to come
to a closer understanding with the
artists who are shaping the course of
contemporary art history.”
This is not surprising, given that
the core program of STPI is its artist’s
residency — where the artist stays at
the apartments on the upper floor for
an average of four weeks, so he can
wholly concentrate on his art. “We invite
artists from all over the world to work
in our paper mill and print workshop to
produce new works of art,” Nor relates.
These works will then be exhibited —
and there’s no admission fee.
Everything an artist needs are found
within the premises. It’s a formula that
has been effective since STPI started in
2002. “
STPI was established with the
help of the Singapore government and
the Ministry of Communication and the
Arts (MICA) as part of the government’s
plan to reinvigorate the art and cultural
scene here. But as Singapore is situated
so well, it can also reach out to other
Asian countries and many parts of the
world. And you get so much diversity
within the region,” she observes. The
range of exceptional artists who have
taken up STPI’s invitation include
BenCab, Geraldine Javier and Lyra
Garcellano from the Philippines; the late
Chua Ek Kay from Singapore; and Anju
Dodiya from India. Ronald Ventura will
be exhibiting in November, and sculptor
Richard Deacon from the UK will also
be arriving. “What we look for are artists
with an interesting visual language,
whether they’re established or emerging.
They have their own practices, but
coming to STPI has enabled them
to push and expand our own visual
vocabulary as well,” says Nor.
So why just print and paper? She
explains, “These are simply tools for
the artist to use conceptually, to
make new breakthroughs and explore
new possibilities.”
STPI has recently celebrated its
10
th anniversary. “It’s been a positive,
dramatic and significant time. But it’s
also definitely been progressive,” she
states. “We always aim to produce
something fresh and new that everyone
can participate and share in.”
com.sg
Sanctuary
Singapore Tyler Print
Institute (STPI)
PHOTOS
TOMMY MORRIS (TOP); STPI (ARTWORK)
