Milestone Project 2006

student write-up

Places in Place - By Quek Kiat Sing

The Milestone Project 2006 @Fort Canning Park saw the gathering of ten Singaporean sculptors with differing artistic practices and academic backgrounds. In putting together their works related to specific site or defining space, they re-presented the binding ties of object (in the form of 3-dimensional sculptures) with space (in this case public space).

The inspirations of their artistic endeavors range from childhood memories or tales in Well, All We Have is Memories, The White Crocodile and The Wisdom of the Boy from Red Hill to objects of reminiscence in Nature Eyes and Ying & Yang, reinterpreted in different scale, space and form.

In Transformation and A Garden City, we experienced the artists' documentation of the evolving Singapore landscape. A process of change takes form, be it representational or abstract. Untitled (Landscapes), on the other hand, was an antithesis of this by reinstating change to the found environment.

We also see a surrealistic object or installation in A Cup of Green Tea, and My Daydream in an Afternoon with Lim Ngee Soon that personified the relationships of people with space, and people with people.   In a different style, Pava reflected the network of the society at a specific location through familiar objects.

A discussion on public space was vividly staged in the array of works placed in yet another public space, Fort Canning in this case. The multi-faceted show was a treat to the audience, trained or untrained.

The wide-ranging methods employed by the artists demonstrated the various methods possible in conveying concepts and ideas.   From a self-encompassing form of a sculpture to installation and video projection, the artists used materials like bronze, fibre-glass, steel, wood, water, photography and others.   The technique and medium of art-making options were explored through the ten works.

The Sculpture Society has delivered an encouraging show that has demarcated the journey it is taking, a milestone indeed.   And it is certainly going places!

Quek Kiat Sing is an artist & a part-time lecturer at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore