Welcome to Utterly Art

Artist’s Statement:
With a short history, Singapore is still in the process of carving out her own national identity. Riding along this search, Deadlocked takes on a more personal perspective. I am 28-years old, Singaporean Chinese, English-educated Roman Catholic. For me, the deadlock lies in a constant negotiation I have with myself, torn between my ancestral roots in China and my Western ideology. How and when can I resolve this dichotomy?

The answers would take forever to unravel. There is no real merit in coming to a quick conclusion, neither is it the point of this exhibition. Instead of severing off any ties with my heritage, I embrace them all, expressed through the medium of mixed media wood sculpture. The red ropes and metal binds the pieces together, a symbolic representation of my contrived identity. The appearance of the figures are neither Eastern or Western, but a blending of both, resulting in an aesthetic that resembles more archaic, prehistoric representations.

My inspiration for the works stems from Biblical narratives, Asian and Western art history, Asian cultures and personal experiences. Collectively, I seek to find closure in my deadlocked identity by acknowledging the unique position of being a Singaporean. Yet, the sculptures portray my mixed feelings of tension and repose, suffering and consolation.