I was privileged to have been invited by the Taipei Contemporary Art Centre, Zhang Tieh Chih, to share my observations of the small theatre scene in Singapore. I would like to thank Eleanore for her kind hospitality.
International Women’s Day
Forum about Singapore Women Artists
What’s the 'good’ in Singapore art:
A panel of men and women in Singapore art
Moderated by Richard Chua
10 March 2018
Hwa Chong Cultural Centre (Singapore)
In the Singapore art scene, definitions of what’s good and bad art vary. Not only the differentiation brings about aesthetical judgements and discussions among collectors, writers and artists, works by woman artists have also been viewed with a different light. This brings about another layer of aesthetics judgement. From sculptor Elsie Yu’s remarks made in 1987: "If I showed up in a feminine dress like this, people don’t believe I’m a sculptor!"[1], to Susie Lingam’s question in Text and Subtext forum in 2000: "What does gender have to do with art?", in response to how materials in sculpture could be made into a 'feminine’ sculpture – perhaps this forum on women artists could take stock of the above suggestions made in the past about associations between women and art, and women and the identity of their works.[2]
Today, in 2018, do women artist still get discriminated or viewed differently from their counterparts? Do women need to produce art-works that reflect their gender?
Panelists: Ching Seok Tin, Bernice Lau, Dr Lim Poh Teck, Hou Sou Ping and Choy Weng Yang
Prepared by:
Richard Chua
[1] De Souza, J. (1987, October 28). Elsie Yu: Lady of steel. The Straits Times, p. 25. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
[2] Nadia Arianna Bte Ramli (2016) 'Soft Hands but Steely Hearts: Women and Their Art
