Late July in Singapore
Singapore is fast becoming a second home. This time around, it's going to have been an intensive six days in the nation state. I came as an observer for the Asia Europe Foundation's (ASEF) Mini Summit on New Media Art Policy and Practice as both a practicing artist and media educator. According to the ASEF website, the three days activities are described as:
The summit gathers senior government representatives, artists, researchers and policy-makers for a three-day dialogue on different artistic practices in different Asian and European countries. The summit intends to distil key tenets of the discussions to convey as policy recommendations on New Media Art. This is part of a continuous contribution to the development of a vibrant and dynamic international digital arts community endowed with opportunities and structures for international collaborations, industry partnerships and artistic expression.In close cooperation with the International Symposium on Electronic Art (ISEA 2008), the Mini summit encompasses crucial topics such as: ambient intelligent, location- based media, iterative design cycles, academic research and creative communities, open source and open networks, the role of small independent new media labs, media education, and the relationship between media and civil society.
It was a good opportunity to meet some of the most interesting personalities and organizations contributing to the advancement and critique of new media in arts and technology spaces, education and policy bodies in Europe and Asia. The Netherlands seemed to have a particularly strong presence here. I also had a chance to catch up with some old friends, such as Thasnai from Chiangmai University. My workgroup was Media Education, Media and Civil Society.
The big new media event in Singapore this week is the International Symposium on Electronic Art (ISEA). The ASEF group attended the opening of ISEA at the Singapore National Museum and the following day presented the outcomes of our workgroups at ISEA at the Singapore Management University. Which brings me to my second reason for being in Singapore this week. I am contributing to the launch of the n.e.w.s site, also in conjunction with ISEA.
It has been an exciting project thus far. Two days ago I met with Renee from The Netherlands and Weng Choy of The Substation to discuss the launch of the project. We were joined by Mustaf and Ingrid yesterday evening for dinner and had a project discussion this afternoon over brunch. The event and site officially launches tomorrow evening, July 28 from19:00 to 22:00 @The Substation, 45 Armenian Street, Singapore. The online site can be viewed at: n.e.w.s
n.e.w.s. is a horizontally-organised, cumulative knowledge-based website for contemporary art and new media framed by curatorial contributions from around the globe, bringing together voices and images from North, East, West and South. n.e.w.s. reflects geographic diversity and facilitates a framework for collaboration, content and visions of change outside the normal parameters of the established art world networks.
Our work for the upcoming Singapore Biennale is going great. Chaw Ei has informed me that the construction of the fiberglass molds in complete. Aung Ko, Mai Tung and Chaw Ei have done a fantastic job. I'm looking forward to meeting with Michelle Tan, exhibition manager for the biennale and her crew tomorrow to discuss some final issues regarding the installation.
Chaw Ei designs the positive for the 4 door ornaments
Detail of the door ornament
Aung Ko supervises final detailing on the steeple positive.
Meanwhile, we've been asked to do some writing on the art work for the Singapore Art Gallery Guide and a special online edition for Universe in Universe based in Berlin. I've also an urgent task of finishing my curatorial report for the Mekong Art and Culture Project by the end of the month and continued work on the the Asia Pacific Triennale (APT6).
It's been a lot to juggle, especially when balanced with teaching at RMIT University where I am currently teaching two courses. But it's all been enjoyable, and everything I ever wanted. Life is good.
