Page 23 - NAFA Annual Report 2016/2017

ART GALLERIES

Art and Alchemy: Chieu Shuey Fook

NAFA was proud to organise this survey exhibition, which showcased over
60 works by a second-generation artist and NAFA alumnus, Chieu Shuey Fook.
It featured a selection of batik works, zinc etchings, metal reliefs and an
original painted vintage car (a 1961 Morris Minor), which was commissioned
by Singapore Automotive Engineering in 1990. Also on display was
Chieu’s recent work, Wow! Merlion, an impressive triptych, which
measured approximately five meters wide. The exhibition documented
the artist’s extensive research into the unconventional materials
which he used throughout his practice, his creative endeavours and
his contributions to the artistic landscape in Singapore.

On 3 August 2016, a guided tour and forum, entitled Language of Materials
in Art, was held in conjunction with the exhibition. Chieu Shuey Fook, together
with invited artists, NAFA Part-Time Fine Art lecturer and founder of Vertical
Submarine, Joshua Yang and NAFA Fine Art alumnus, Liyu Minzie, shared their
experiences and perspectives on creating public works and an artist’s responsibility
in his/her artistic processes. NAFA students benefitted from this session, which
also touched on an exploration of the languages in unconventional materials and
techniques to help invoke meanings and interpretations for the public.

Japanese Design Today 100

On the 50th anniversary of Singapore-Japan diplomatic relations, NAFA and
the Japan Creative Centre, Embassy of Japan, presented a touring exhibition
of 100 products that embodied the essence of Japanese culture and design.
The products on display ranged from furniture, fixtures and tableware, to
fashion, stationery and transportation. They covered distinctive historical
post-war designs to contemporary items created in the last six years that
exemplified Japanese principles of aesthetics, functionality and innovation.

On 23 September 2016, to encourage intercultural and intellectual exchange
among students and members of the art community, a guest lecture by
Naoko Yano, General Manager for Planning & Design Office, MUJI took place.
This lecture was specifically for students from the School of Art & Design as
well as registered members of the public. The lecture provided insights into
how the essence of design may ‘create a pleasant life’ for consumers through
simplicity, practicality, aesthetics and values.

Flagship Genius

As a testament to NAFA’s history in art education and its role in nurturing cultural
producers in the region, this 5th instalment of the Flagship exhibition highlighted
works by NAFA’s talented students, recent graduates and alumni from the
3D Design, Design & Media, Fashion Studies and Fine Art programmes.
The selection included a diverse range of works from painting, photography,
sculpture, architectural models, jewellery and fashion as well as video and film.
It touched on personal, community and cultural issues such as hearing impairment,
human relationships and societal perceptions of women.

NAFA’s Music and Dance programmes, under the guidance of Senior Music Lecturer
and Head of Wind Studies, Joost Flach, Cultural Medallion Award recipient and
Part-Time Dance Lecturer, Lim Fei Shen and Senior Dance Lecturer, Gillian Tan,
collaborated and choreographed a performance, Movement Creation, to an appreciative
crowd in The Ngee Ann Kongsi Galleries during NAFA Open House 2017.

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