FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Urban Hysteria : 3 group exhibitions by 10 artists at Flaneur Gallery Flaneur Gallery is pleased to present its inaugural show - Urban Hysteria. The exhibition introduces ten local artists’ works and their study on our urban culture and environment and how our mental happiness is tied to the external gains and sensual pleasures drawn from the urban life experience. There are two sections to this exhibition: “The self in a state of excess” draws on issues of consumption, economy and individuality that emerge as part of the urban ecology; the second section, “White noise” explores urban development and the visceral responses to them. The artworks presented in the exhibition reflect the diverse contemporary art practices of local young artists, ranging from painting, photography, drawings to sculptures made of found objects. Stellah Lim explores decadence in her enamel coated sculptures, which comments on the prevalence of materialism in our consumerist culture today.The work reminds us that sometimes in trying to safeguard our vanity, we can end up destroying it. The fierce competition for wealth is a topic explored by Lim Wan Ying and Justin Lin. Wan Ying’s Chinese ink and acrylic on paper series references the Chinese metaphor, 金山, or Gold Mountain, highlighting the enormity of man’s desire for affluence. "We Breached the Surface, Only to Find Ourselves Being Measured and Weighed Before a Crew of Hungry Sailors", a sculpture by Justin, modelled after a weighing balance addresses the relationship of self-worth vis-à-vis monetary value. Some works position the individual as the main subject and present the ways the unique self responds to the urban experience. The spectrum of bright colours, lines and brushstrokes in 心境 (the inner landscape), a series of paintings by Vincent Chow, attempts to create form out of sensory experiences. Ben Puah’s childlike illustrations are a response to his immediate surroundings trying to make sense and humour out of the irregularity found in the ordinary. Liu Wen Chao’s series of oil paintings depicts the Geylang district in Singapore, a place well-known for being Singapore’s red-light district. Depicting his figures mostly as solitary beings, the work also highlights an undercurrent of loneliness beneath these streets marked out for pleasure-seekers. Sufian Samsiyar’s "dystopian urbanity" is a series of photographs that questions the connection between the urban city and noise. The photographs were manipulated to show a worn and dilapidated Singapore. By hollowing out the city, the work leaves the viewer confronting a barren and silent metropolis. Yeo Tze Yang, on the other hand, uses noise as an indicator of change. His paintings document the place he lives in and the changes it undergoes where construction sites are nearly ubiquitous. Temple by Ruyi Wong reveals human figures curled into a fetal position, set in handmade soap. The work is visually remindful that personal, protective spaces can be easily worn off, exposing the vulnerability of man. Ezekiel Wong’s illustrations encapsulate the heightened hysteria living and being among people. They contain elements of satire that mainly highlight conflicts, worldly issues and confrontations he faces in life. The works in Urban Hysteria explore the cleavages of our contemporary culture. In doing so, this show brings to light facets of the urban condition that seethe beneath our contemporary lifestyle. About Flaneur Gallery Founded by Mike Tay and Vincent Chow, Flaneur Gallery is a contemporary art gallery promoting Singapore based artists who create brilliant art inspired by their acute observation of the urban life in this vibrant city. The gallery presents to art lovers, a wide range of art forms, all speaking earnestly in moving narratives inspired by the artists' personal stories and experiences. Residing in a beautifully restored conservation shophouse at 129 Jalan Besar, the gallery rides on the precinct's historical past to nurture the art future of Singapore. Through showcasing artwork at exhibitions and facilitating an ongoing dialogue between the artists and the public, the gallery strives to promote patronage of local artists throughout the community and beyond. Show information Gallery opening reception: 7pm, 15 Jan 2015 Urban Hysteria (the self in a state of excess) - Part 1 Date: 15 Jan (Thurs) to 25 Jan (Sun) Artists: Justin Lin, Lim Wan Ying, Stellah Lim, Vincent Chow Urban Hysteria (the self in a state of excess) - Part 2 Date : 29 Jan (Thurs) to 8 Feb (Sun) Artists: Ben Puah, Liu Wenchao Urban Hysteria (white noise) Date: 12 Feb (Thurs) to 1 Mar (Sun) Artists: Ezekiel Wong, Ruyi Wong , Sufian Samsiyar, Yeo Tze Yang General Information Flaneur Gallery 129 Jalan Besar, Singapore 208847 website : www.flaneur.sg Opening Hours Tuesday to Saturday : 11am to 7pm Sunday :1pm to 6pm Contact person : Mike Tay Email : [email protected] Phone : 9112 4685 Attachments Attachments at Dropbox (Exhibition essay, artists bio and artwork images)