On Friday, 12th March, 2014, Art Spice gallery at The Metropolitan Hotel & Spa in collaboration with Singapore Art Society hosted the inauguration ceremony of the intriguing, large-scaled exhibition “The Nanyang Spirit”- an aesthetic voyage to Singapore.
Supported by prestigious names like Craft House, a luxury lifestyle store, Singapore Airlines, Singapore Embassy, Singapore Tourism Board, Silver Arrows – Dealer for Mercedes Benz Passenger Vehicles and a premium magazine, The Ideal Home and Garden; this exhibition was a stupendous collaboration of a monumental cultural exchange between magnificent India and the industrious Lion City.
The glittering event by the poolside venue witnessed eminent personalities from different walks of life like High Commissioner of Singapore H.E. Mr.
Lim Thuan Kuan, Ambassador of Iceland H.E. Mr Gudmundar Eriksson, art curator Ms..Alka Raghuvanshi, artists Kanchan Chander, Neeraj Gupta, Sangeeta Gupta, Fashion Designer Sanjana Jon, celebrity Make-up artist Meenakhsi Dutt, Shamshad Husain, among others.
Lim Thuan Kuan, Ambassador of Iceland H.E. Mr Gudmundar Eriksson, art curator Ms..Alka Raghuvanshi, artists Kanchan Chander, Neeraj Gupta, Sangeeta Gupta, Fashion Designer Sanjana Jon, celebrity Make-up artist Meenakhsi Dutt, Shamshad Husain, among others.
Speaking about the exhibition, Ms. Babita Gupta, Director, Art Spice gallery said, “The collaboration between Art Spice and Singapore Art Society is not collaboration between us only; it’s a collaboration of two countries, two beautiful cultures and traditions. Exhibitions like these not only help in promoting art from various corners of the world, but also give everyone an opportunity to witness varied imagery, culture and traditions and also help in forming strong ties between different countries”
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
In this exhibition, the 22 Singaporean artists, each with a unique style of paintings, are representatives of the ‘Nanyang’ spirit. The term “Nanyang” or “南洋” is often used to denote the idea of a regional identity and culture for the overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia. In it, ‘Nanyang’ artists express their personal unique painting styles in their artworks, often through a blend of multiple stylistic techniques of the East and West, resulting in a varied body of works unified by their focus on Southeast Asian subjects. The opening ceremony of the art show will be inaugurated by High Commissioner of Singapore H.E. Lim Thuan Kuan amidst all the high profile personalities and dignitaries from various fields.
Having grown up in Singapore during the developmental period, some of these artists have experienced the tensions between tradition and modernity, enabling them to incorporate these elements into their painting styles. Such is the essence of the ‘Nanyang’ spirit. Conquering the gap between traditional Chinese and Western influence, these iconic artists have brought the ‘Nanyang’ spirit into their art development, and has also achieved acclaim for their artistic excellence within the international art market.
Thus, the remarkable collection of art in this exhibition is an aesthetically engaging voyage into Singapore, with paintings and drawings that re-create Singapore’s multiculturalism, wherein, one cannot help but be fascinated by the incredible ease at which the nation embraces numerous ethnicities and related physical spaces and sites, such as its very own Little India and Chinatown, that respect individual communal preferences and celebrates specific ethnic characteristics.
Apart from Terence Teo Chin Keong (the current President of the Singapore Art Society), the other esteemed artists of the exhibition are Chan Chang How, Lim Choon Jin, P. Gnana, Low Puay Hua, Dr Ho Kah Leong, Wang Fei, Cheng Yoke Khoon, Seah
Kang Chui, Koeh Sia Yong, Chiew Swee Fah, Eng Siak Loy, Lee Choon Kee, Ang Hiong Chiok, Wong Hai and Anne Lim Geok Kuan.
BRIEF ABOUT ART SPICE
Art Spice gallery is devoted to promoting contemporary visual arts. Art Spice understands that India now enjoys the world’s attention as the emerging destination for art, and thus provides a world class environment to showcase the very best of Indian and International art. It aims to provide an international platform to a wider audience and support Indian arts global positioning and status.
Art Spice makes the arts accessible to those who are the potential patrons of visual arts in a five-star ambience and comfort, in our hotel. The moving clientele and regular guests are devoted patrons of the gallery. Art Spice hopes to play the role of a catalyst to help build interest and generate understanding of art amongst a wider audience from both within India and overseas.
The philosophy of Art Spice is to facilitate systematic, long-term support and co-operation between established contemporary artists and international galleries through the medium of such shows that both unify and liberate the visual arts.
