In celebration of the 55th anniversary of the Philippines and Singapore’s diplomatic relationship, esteemed curator, academician, and critic Patrick Flores mounted an exhibition that brings together the profound works of 16 artists from the said two countries during their respective artist residencies at STPI.
Titled Chances of Contact: Contemporary Prints from the Philippines and Singapore, the exhibition presents the art of print and papermaking explored by eight renowned artists from each country, reflecting the intersections of mediums, forms, and context while being woven together by STPI’s enduring promotion of artistic experimentation.
STPI—Creative Workshop and Gallery, formerly known as Singapore Tyler Print Institute, is a dynamic creative workshop and contemporary art gallery based in Singapore. Established in 2002, this non-profit organisation served as a safe space for artists throughout the region and has become one of Asia’s most cutting-edge destinations for contemporary art. Together with the National Gallery Singapore and the Singapore Art Museum, they form the national visual arts cluster of leading institutions in the region.
STPI has provided more than 100 artists worldwide with a collaborative space for over two decades. “With the time spent on the fertile ground of STPI, each artist has pushed the boundaries of print and papermaking and of their own practice through the colliding of ideas and experimentation—often with happy results—with the team in the Creative Workshop,” reads the exhibition’s press statement.
This exhibition, on view at The M from August 23 to October 26, features artworks by Chua Ek Kay, Han Sai Por, and Genevieve Chua from Singapore, to name a few. Visitors may get a chance to see the works of Ronald Ventura, Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan, Lyra Garcellano, National Artist Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera, Geraldine Javier, Manuel Ocampo, and the late Pacita Abad. Also included are the works of Goh Beng Kwan and Anita Magsaysay-Ho, which STPI donated to the Singapore Embassy in Manila.
Singapore Ambassador to the Philippines Constance See described the show as one that “exemplifies the vibrant cultural dialogue and artistic exchange that has flourished between our two nations over the past five decades. It is a shining example of how art can transcend borders and bring people together, reflecting our shared vision for a more connected and culturally enriched Southeast Asia.”
Flores also shares the connection between the two countries and the 16 featured artists. After his professorial stint at the University of the Philippines for art history and criticism, he serves as deputy director of curatorial and research at the National Gallery Singapore.
“The M is committed to a continued strengthening of significant artistic and cultural channels and linkages between the Philippines and Singapore,” Tina Colayco, president of The M said. “STPI has played an important role in deepening not only our respective artists’ understanding of the power of printmaking as a medium, but also the power of cultural exchange.”
—Franz Sorilla IV
