TOYSREVIL @ The SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT (SG Edition)

(Images of finished murals via RSCLS.org)

Popped by the SOLIDARITY21 event at The Substation - now renamed "The Solidarity Movement" - one sunny Sunday afternoon near the end of 2013, and sat in for the Artist Talk, and managed to grab some snaps (before the eventual downpour) and even helped myself to a wiener, and made some friends with folks! So I reckon it was a good Sunday indeed!

In anticipation of the January 25th Indonesia-leg of The SOLDIDARITY MOVEMENT happening at Gardu House Artspace and Gallery Shop, permit me to step back in time to December 2013, and share with you folks some snaps of the finished murals (and more WIPs posted HERE on my Facebook), with the side-alley completed by the visiting Indonesia crew (video below), while the back of The Substation had the RSCLS + SG crew up doing their "urban street art magic". Love that folks call it "murals" now rather than the negative connotation of "grafitti" LOL













The Artist Talk was an eye/ear opener for me personally. I consider myself to be a "tourist" in the scene, and having known some artists personally as friends, might not mean I know the ins-and-outs of the culture itself, which in Singapore and certainly in (South East) Asia, is indeed an interesting premise - as ZERO had mentioned - as "we" have appropriated the art-form from the West, and am now practicing it in this part of the world, with mixed origins of the visuals depicted, but bolstered by the rich heritage and history of our forefathers and myths, which in turn helps create a new layer of enriched depth, to an otherwise 2-dimensional eye-candy on the surface.

And it is not often you have an opportunity to hear direct from the street artists themselves, who instead use their nicks in public. And most importantly be able to SEE who they are, versus the perception of the past where individuals might be shrouded in secrecy, for fear of law enforcement reprisals, perhaps?



I personally think it is awesome that folks are choosing to be "identified" and take responsibility for their work, IMHO. Not that anyone was not in the first place, but respect to those who choose to "walk in the light", as it were.

"Legitimacy" lies not in the condoning of the act, rather than acknowledging the fact that the works being seen belongs to them.

And it was interesting to be "schooled", and to find out more about the artists' genesis and inspirations. In my humblest of opinions, we need MORE sessions and talks like this - or rather for more folks to attend these sessions - to get the interested public, and yes "tourists", to understand the scene and urban art-form better, to perhaps help folks "appreciate" it, rather than just recognizing it for being a "unlawful act".






Another aspect to the event, were painted canvases - featuring the work of SG X INDON pr piece, they were actually on display hung up on the walls from the steps leading up to the 2nd floor of the "class rooms" right next to the exhibition hall and theatre. Nice job, this "pop up" concept.

I am grateful that events such as this exists in Singapore, not merely for eye-candy purposes, but most importantly to enrich and enhance the "urban arts" scene, regardless within the confines of a white walled gallery, or at the mercy of the outdoor elements.

Cheers
Andy TOYSREVIL