The String Theory suggests that everything is made out of unbelievably tiny strings, whose vibrations produce effects that spark the world. Stringing together the miniscule and the immense, Downsizing: The Universe on a String weaves together these intricacies into one seamless whole, inviting viewers to reconsider their perceptions of scale and significance.
This student-curated exhibition presents the in-progress research findings by 29 artists currently in their graduating year of the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Fine Art programme at the School of Fine Art. Each artist showcases a relic marking the significant inquiry and interrogation extracted from their ongoing year-long art research. The displayed relics examine a range of inquiries and topics such as the suitability and sustainability of natural elements as art materials to calibrate the ethical in socially engaged art practice. Downsizing is a critical opportunity for each art research to engage the public audience, aiming to test and further question the relevance, rigour, and integrity of each artist’s practice.
Moderated Artist Panel Discussions
Saturday, 17 February
Session 1: Navigating Realms: Private vs Public (12.30pm – 2pm)
Dialogues on visibility, boundaries, and the transformative potential embedded in the delicate balance between personal narratives and shared spaces.
Artists Featured: Mirza Zuhairi Bin Zukifle, Wan Oi Yin, Law Min Jun, Cheryl Tan Shu Ping, Nurfarzreena Binti Mohammad Ghani
Moderated by: Chew Kai Hui Anthea
Session 2: My Wounds are Fertile (2.30pm – 4.30pm)
On Girlhood and Feminine Rage; the layers of meaning and emotions tied to the representation of womanhood, girlhood, and the powerful energy of female rage within the artistic context.
Artists Featured: Nur Alya Binte Rahmat, Norica Binte Taslim, Noyona Biswas, Amethyst Koh Hnin Nu Aye
Moderated by: Kenenza Michiko Hasan
Session 3: Of Higher Beings, the Grotesque, and the Crab (4.30pm – 6pm)
The artists featured in this talk envision a reality where consciousness transcends the human form, inhabiting alternative entities and realities.
Artists Featured: Chua Jay Mong, Julia Looi Yik Chieh, Zhou Yuyan, Koh Kai Ting
Moderated by: Ramos Charlene Andrea Ruaro (Moderator)
Saturday, 24 February
Session 1: Sanctuary of Objects, Memories, and Space (12.30pm – 2pm)
Anchoring on the profound interplay between memory, objects and space, artists come together to discuss how they weave the threads of memory into tangible.
Artists Featured: Tammylyn Tuang Miao Xian, Ashley Tay Zhien, Zhang Run Han, Ong Soo Nee, Choo Lin Ying
Moderated by: Mirza Zuhairi Bin Zukifle
Session 2: Alchemy of Matter (2.30pm – 4.30pm)
A collective contemplation on the transformative power of materials and processes within their artworks.
Artists Featured: Anthea Chew Kai Hui, Serene Beh Cui Shan, Khalisa Khairul Anuar, Yu Jia Hui, Jaclyn Koh Jay Ling
Moderated by: Ashley Tay Zhien
Session 3: The Tapestry of Our Roots (4.30pm – 6pm)
Transient reverberations, intertwining themes of cultural heritage, political identity reclamation, and the subtle yet profound nuances of post-colonial experiences and dialogues.
Artists Featured: Isabelle Lim Rui Xin, Ramos Charlene Andrea Ruaro, Renee Yeo Zhi Hui, Kenenza Michiko Hasan, Poorvaja Seetharam, Sarita Maria Abeyesundereg
Moderated by: Nur Alya Binte Rahmat
All artist talks are walk-in only.