So anyway, I decided to revive my love for the Arts and go to the Singapore Biennale 2006 (SB2006), Singapore's inaugural international biennale of contemporary art.
The name Biennale is Italian, meaning 'every other year'.

There is one in almost every major city in the world after every 2 years. And the theme differs from city to city.
In Venice, home to the most important Biennale (that takes place for up to three months), the theme is 'Cities, Architecture and Society'.
There are other notable Biennales too in cities like Sao Paulo, Berlin, Moscow, Sydney and Istanbul to name few.
And here in Singapore, the theme for this year is 'Belief' and it runs from 4th September to 11th November.

What is it all about?

SB2006 is a major international contemporary art exhibition that will feature over 95 artists and artists collectives from over 38 countries and regions including our very own sunny Singapore.

These art installations are scattered across Singapore (mostly in the 'city' area). Most of these art pieces are housed in or around Singapore's religious sites like Sri Krishnan Temple, St Joseph's Church, Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple, Maghain Aboth Synagogue, Sultan Mosque (see picture) and the most 'religious' site of all, Orchard Road.
Hence, the relevance to the theme, 'Belief'.

There are also exhibitions in other historical monuments like City Hall (closed to the public till 20th September because of the stupid IMF / World Bank Annual General Meetings), Singapore National Museum and the Padang.

My friends and I had decided to go to one of the guided tours to the religious sites (named 'Stairway to Heaven') Saturday morning. And I was decked out in my 'Cam(era) Whore' tee and I was really looking forward to doing just that, along with being artistically-enlightened of course...

Sadly, being punctual wasn't one thing we were good at as we were late by 15 minutes and I guess the tour group left without us...

So we took matters into our own hands and decided to have the tour ourselves.

First on our list, we went to the newly renovated and soon-to-be-officially-opened-this-December, National Museum of Singapore. It was bigger than I remember it was because of the new extension, an additional 10,000 sqm of floor space. Its design now is really interesting; with a blend of neoclassicism colonial and zen modern (with glass panels and stone features). Very Singapore-style, I would say.

Anyway, its only housing one exhibition at the moment, and that is the Biennale's. However, that said, its really really awesome and I would definitely recommend it to all of you to come take a look for yourselves.

Not to be missed in the exhibition is the "syn chron" Installation by Carsten Nicolai; it resembles a huge, odd but geometric-shaped spacescraft where you can enter to enjoy the dizzying light-display and hypnotizing high-pitched sounds that somehow eventually lulls you to sleep (well almost...).

The theme surrounding the exhibition revolves around suicide, the death penalty and death itself. (see the cheery-coloured manga girls' hakakiri left)

Though the entire exhibition sounds dark, I find it particularly interesting as all the art pieces there were tied down to the main theme, 'Belief', by the centre piece (at least I think it was) which was a huge 5-framed artiste's interpretation of the "Last Supper"; five superimposed black and white photographs of the "Last Supper" in Madamme Tussauds wax museum.

The art pieces were not just restricted to canvases as there was also a video piece. It was also titled the "Last Supper" but this time, the video was touching on the last meal inmates and accused (like victims of witch hunts, families of those guilty, etc.) were served before they faced execution.

And I found it really thought-provoking. Another not-to-be-missed feature.

After the exciting trip to the National Museum we headed down to the Singapore Arts Museum (SAM) where we 'camera-whored' some more.

There are currently two major exhibitions (alongside the permanent gallery, "Art of Our Time") which are the "Telah Terbit" and "All the Best. The Deutsche Bank Collection".

The former is an exhibition about Southeast Asian (SEA) Contemporary Art during the 1970s; there are many interesting paintings and sculptures which themes range from SEA's political struggles to the pervesion of ancient monuments, etc.

And the latter is an exhibition with over 150 works on paper and photographs by world famous artists of European moden art and international contemporary art. And the Pritzker Prize winner, architect Zaha Hadid (she is everywhere!), was involved as the designer of the site-specific spatial landscape for the entire gallery.

She is a really amazing architect. I think she is like the Louis Kahn or Le Corbusier (modern architects) of our time!

Anyway, photography was not allowed in the galleries but what the hell. Rather than just relying on our not-so-nice sketches, we also played cat and mouse with the security guards there and took quick snap shots with our camera phones of the interesting artwork and especially Zaha Hadid's (larger than life) pieces.

We ended the day off with a visit to URA (Urban Redevelopment Authority) Centre at Maxwell Road, where there was an exhibition titled, "Exotic More or Less."

It is showcases the works of two local architectural firms, WOHA and W Architects with pieces found locally and regionally. A must-see for budding architects.

That was a really fun day out! Though we had covered not even a quarter of the entire Biennale's exhibition, we were really drained out. Maybe we can go after the stupid IMF thing is over, so by then, we can cover City Hall. Wadaya say, guys?

See here for pictures.

Note: Entry to most venues are free.

But for those which are not (National Museum, Singapore Art Museum, City Hall, Tanglin Camp), tickets can be purchased at S$5 per person at the Biennale booth at Singapore Management University (SMU, opposite the Singapore National Museum, see picture).

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So anyway, I decided to revive my love for the Arts and go to the Singapore Biennale 2006 (SB2006), Singapore's inaugural international biennale of contemporary art.
The name Biennale is Italian, meaning 'every other year'.

There is one in almost every major city in the world after every 2 years. And the theme differs from city to city.
In Venice, home to the most important Biennale (that takes place for up to three months), the theme is 'Cities, Architecture and Society'.
There are other notable Biennales too in cities like Sao Paulo, Berlin, Moscow, Sydney and Istanbul to name few.
And here in Singapore, the theme for this year is 'Belief' and it runs from 4th September to 11th November.

What is it all about?

SB2006 is a major international contemporary art exhibition that will feature over 95 artists and artists collectives from over 38 countries and regions including our very own sunny Singapore.

These art installations are scattered across Singapore (mostly in the 'city' area). Most of these art pieces are housed in or around Singapore's religious sites like Sri Krishnan Temple, St Joseph's Church, Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple, Maghain Aboth Synagogue, Sultan Mosque (see picture) and the most 'religious' site of all, Orchard Road.
Hence, the relevance to the theme, 'Belief'.

There are also exhibitions in other historical monuments like City Hall (closed to the public till 20th September because of the stupid IMF / World Bank Annual General Meetings), Singapore National Museum and the Padang.

My friends and I had decided to go to one of the guided tours to the religious sites (named 'Stairway to Heaven') Saturday morning. And I was decked out in my 'Cam(era) Whore' tee and I was really looking forward to doing just that, along with being artistically-enlightened of course...

Sadly, being punctual wasn't one thing we were good at as we were late by 15 minutes and I guess the tour group left without us...

So we took matters into our own hands and decided to have the tour ourselves.

First on our list, we went to the newly renovated and soon-to-be-officially-opened-this-December, National Museum of Singapore. It was bigger than I remember it was because of the new extension, an additional 10,000 sqm of floor space. Its design now is really interesting; with a blend of neoclassicism colonial and zen modern (with glass panels and stone features). Very Singapore-style, I would say.

Anyway, its only housing one exhibition at the moment, and that is the Biennale's. However, that said, its really really awesome and I would definitely recommend it to all of you to come take a look for yourselves.

Not to be missed in the exhibition is the "syn chron" Installation by Carsten Nicolai; it resembles a huge, odd but geometric-shaped spacescraft where you can enter to enjoy the dizzying light-display and hypnotizing high-pitched sounds that somehow eventually lulls you to sleep (well almost...).

The theme surrounding the exhibition revolves around suicide, the death penalty and death itself. (see the cheery-coloured manga girls' hakakiri left)

Though the entire exhibition sounds dark, I find it particularly interesting as all the art pieces there were tied down to the main theme, 'Belief', by the centre piece (at least I think it was) which was a huge 5-framed artiste's interpretation of the "Last Supper"; five superimposed black and white photographs of the "Last Supper" in Madamme Tussauds wax museum.

The art pieces were not just restricted to canvases as there was also a video piece. It was also titled the "Last Supper" but this time, the video was touching on the last meal inmates and accused (like victims of witch hunts, families of those guilty, etc.) were served before they faced execution.

And I found it really thought-provoking. Another not-to-be-missed feature.

After the exciting trip to the National Museum we headed down to the Singapore Arts Museum (SAM) where we 'camera-whored' some more.

There are currently two major exhibitions (alongside the permanent gallery, "Art of Our Time") which are the "Telah Terbit" and "All the Best. The Deutsche Bank Collection".

The former is an exhibition about Southeast Asian (SEA) Contemporary Art during the 1970s; there are many interesting paintings and sculptures which themes range from SEA's political struggles to the pervesion of ancient monuments, etc.

And the latter is an exhibition with over 150 works on paper and photographs by world famous artists of European moden art and international contemporary art. And the Pritzker Prize winner, architect Zaha Hadid (she is everywhere!), was involved as the designer of the site-specific spatial landscape for the entire gallery.

She is a really amazing architect. I think she is like the Louis Kahn or Le Corbusier (modern architects) of our time!

Anyway, photography was not allowed in the galleries but what the hell. Rather than just relying on our not-so-nice sketches, we also played cat and mouse with the security guards there and took quick snap shots with our camera phones of the interesting artwork and especially Zaha Hadid's (larger than life) pieces.

We ended the day off with a visit to URA (Urban Redevelopment Authority) Centre at Maxwell Road, where there was an exhibition titled, "Exotic More or Less."

It is showcases the works of two local architectural firms, WOHA and W Architects with pieces found locally and regionally. A must-see for budding architects.

That was a really fun day out! Though we had covered not even a quarter of the entire Biennale's exhibition, we were really drained out. Maybe we can go after the stupid IMF thing is over, so by then, we can cover City Hall. Wadaya say, guys?

See here for pictures.

Note: Entry to most venues are free.

1. Singapore Biennale 2006