A film documenting the burning of methane hydrate in Russia, a series of sculptures assembled onsite from scrap found in and around Singapore, and a “small academy” that gathers academic information from around the world via “cheat sheets”—these are just some of the works on display in The world precedes the eye, a new exhibition at LASALLE’s Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) Singapore that explores the materiality of the world.
One of two Singapore Biennale 2016 Affiliate Projects curated by LASALLE’s ICA Singapore, The world precedes the eye is presented alongside a solo show titled Boedi Widjaja: Black—Hut, a site-specific installation from Singaporean architecture-trained artist Boedi Widjaja. Both exhibitions are a multi-disciplinary, multi-sensory manifestation of the ICA Singapore’s approach to the Biennale’s overarching question of how we picture the world and ourselves, spanning sculpture, installation, painting, moving image and sound.
The world precedes the eye showcases works by nine emerging and mid-career artists from around the Asia-Pacific region such as Mongolia, Australia, Hong Kong, Turkey, Thailand, Japan and Singapore. Other highlights from the exhibition include ambient spoken word by Singaporean artist Zou Zhao, with a special performance in collaboration with LASALLE’s School of Dance & Theatre. There is also an epic eight-hour film by Mongolian artist Cheng Ran, first unveiled at the 14th Istanbul Biennale and shot across continents in the East China Sea, Tibet, Switzerland, Amsterdam and Beijing. Screened offsite, the eight-hour film titled In course of the miraculous (2015) is also a social experiment that challenges the audience’s tolerance to sit through its entire duration.
Boedi Widjaja: Black—Hut is a major architectural and sound work—a room within a room—that links diverse conceptual references through Boedi Widjaja’s own lived experience of migration, culture and aesthetics. The room takes the form of four walls that bisect the painted plasterboard walls and glass façade of the ICA Singapore’s Earl Lu Gallery, creating a new focal point between its three existing columns. Besides redefining the blueprint of its original space, the artist also disrupts the stillness of the space with a reversed gamelan tune playing in the newly-established centre of the gallery.
“Through both exhibitions, we are really pushing boundaries and leading the way in exploring cutting-edge ideas of matter and materiality, and we are very excited to be bringing many of these artists to Singapore for the first time. At the ICA Singapore, we constantly encourage international dialogue on contemporary art, and to provide a platform for artistic research and experimentation. We are pleased to be presenting these exhibitions as key Affiliate Projects of the Singapore Biennale, and look forward to a fruitful partnership that advances new thinking in contemporary art,” said Bala Starr, Director of LASALLE’s ICA Singapore.
The world precedes the eye and Boedi Widjaja: Black—Hut will officially open on Thursday, 27 October 2016. The exhibitions run from Friday, 28 October 2016 to Wednesday, 1 February 2017 at LASALLE’s Institute of Contemporary Arts, Gallery 1 and Earl Lu Gallery respectively.
Event Information
Official Opening: Thursday 27 Oct 2016, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
All exhibitions run Friday, 28 October 2016 – Wednesday, 1 February 2017
Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore, LASALLE College of the Arts, 1 McNally Street, Singapore 187940
Opening Hours: 12:00pm – 7:00pm, Tuesday to Sunday (Closed on Monday and Public Holidays)
Free Admission
The world precedes the eye
Gallery 1, Basement 1
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Cheng Ran’s film In course of the miraculous (2015) will screen on select days in December 2016 and January 2017. Details of the screenings will be updated on ourwebsite
Boedi Widjaja: Black—Hut
Earl Lu Gallery, Level 1
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Image: Cheng Ran, In course of the miraculous (video still), 2015, single-channel high-definition digital video, 16:9 aspect ratio, colour, sound, 7 hours 47 minutes. © Courtesy the artist and Galerie Urs Meile, Beijing
