Sous La Lune/ Beneath the Moon

Venue: Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore, LASALLE College of the Arts
Exhibition ends: 3rd February 2016
Gallery 1

Sous la lune/Beneath the moon presents major works by eleven artists from Southeast Asia and France, including Aung Ko, Hicham Berrada, Ade Darmawan, Marguerite Humeau, Dusadee Huntrakul, Emmanuelle Lainé, Lou Lim, Oanh Phi Phi, Vivien Roubaud, Yee I-Lann and Raphaël Zarka.

Curated by Khairuddin Hori, Deputy Director of Artistic Programming at the Palais de Tokyo (Paris), the exhibition explores the mysterious, complex and multilayered nature of aesthetic experience through immersive artworks and installations in a range of media. Reflecting the experimental approach and all-encompassing character of exhibitions at the Palais de Tokyo, the exhibition is conceived as an encounter between art and artists from opposite sides of the world.

Sous la lune/Beneath the moon is co-produced by the Palais de Tokyo (Paris) and the Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore. The exhibition is presented under the aegis of the Emerging Talents from Emerging Countries program initiated by the Total Corporate Foundation and Palais de Tokyo (Paris).

Some major highlights:

1) By Aung Ko, a Myanmese artist who presents the Little Secret Memories. An outdoor picnic or BBQ table as a reminder of a horrific history driven by political moves in Myanmar. The slogans were carved into and burnt into the table with figures ‘8888’ written in Burmese; the mass killing of at least 350 protestors participated in the protest in the capital of Yangon which took place on August 8, 1988.

Bells attached to the table were also a reminder of the prayers to the dead. Picture shows curator and the Deputy Director of Palais de Tokyo, Khairuddin Hori in action; Khai presented each of the artists’ artworks at Sous la Lune.

2) Oanh Phi Phi, a Vietnamese artist and a master in lacquer painting. Phi Phi’s artworks are usually produced on sculptures or installations, but in this exhibition, she has painted on a flat wood surface. Mapa mundi – a painting of the Earth where Asia takes the centre stage. Phi Phi includes gold and mother of pearl shimmers in the lacquer for a shine or glitter effect of her artwork.

As according to the curator, Khai, lacquer is a challenging medium to work with, as it is subjected to humidity and the artist’s work is at mercy of the environmental conditions.

3) Yee I-Lann, a Malaysia-born artist who has been one of the art directors in Hollywood. Her current exhibited artwork is motivated by the political themes in Malaysia. I-Lann showcase the embrace and touch of arms. The witty artist, I-Lann also conveys the message of the lack of sincerity and real communication among politicians by excluding human figures in the artwork.

Metallic paper is one of Yee I-Lann’s favourite choice in art production. The paper has ceased production, and with thanks that I-Lann bought sufficient metallic papers to produce this masterpiece; Rasa Sayang Chapter Two: in the dark dark heavy dark night I was listening to the secret sounds of the earth and I heard you and your sweat became that of fear didn’t it in the dark dark heavy dark (2014). 136 type C photographs on metallic paper on acrylic glass backed with aluminum, each 21 x 29cm. Showcase is presented with support of Mind Set Art Center, Taipei Taiwan.

3) Emmaneulle Lainé, a french artists- Le plaisir dans la confusion des frontières (Taking pleasure in the confusion of boundaries, 2014)

4) Vivien Roubaud: Chandelier in an inflatable ball – counterweight, electric scooter engine

Watch the 11seconds video:

5) Marguerite Humeau, a graduate from the Royal College of Art who works closely with anthropologists. Her showcase is inspired from Cleopatra and Tawaret Wadjet (King Cobra). The queen and last pharaoh of Egypt can be heard above the installation singing in nine ancient languages. With the aid of 3-D digital technology, the vocal chords of Cleopatra’s was reconstructed. N.B. Cleopatra was known for her fluency in many languages.

The hippopotamus is known as a symbol of fertility in Ancient Egypt, and Humeau showcase an installation of an artificial female reproductive organ of the hippopotamus with yellow tubes connected to the reservoir of artist’s impression human hormones; refer to picture on left. An installation illustrating fertility in Egyptians’ beliefs.

A one-day only bonus event in Singapore, 20th January 2016

This evening’s event 730pm to 1030pm to be held at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, LASALLE College of Arts Singapore. Three artists will be performing live at Beneath the Moon, get your chance to meet them in person and enjoy the fun.

Raphaël Zarka: A series of skateboarding flips.

Marie- Luce Nadal: Clouds of mist captured and sealed in vials to be brought home.

Hicham Berrada: Chemical experiments which is projected on the a 4-metre wide screen. Hicham’s objective is to connect nature, environment and consequences from human behaviours. During the showcase, projections are accompanied by sound from invited artist Mark Wong.