Singapore International Foundation

SIF-BC partnership generates international artists collaboration

Following its exhibition in Singapore, Utopias will travel to London in 2012

Singapore, 24 November 2011 – A collaborative cross-cultural art exhibition titled Utopias will make its debut on 25 November, and will be on display until 18 December 2011 at the National Museum of Singapore.

Featuring new solo works by Singaporean artist Michael Lee and British artist Bob Matthews, Utopias is the result of the Artist-in-Residence Exchange (AiRx) programme, the first offshoot of the partnership between the Singapore International Foundation (SIF) and the British Council (BC).¹

Following residencies in each other's cities – Singapore and London – Lee and Matthews created artistic works which drew from their meditations on utopian ideologies including urban and natural landscapes. The exhibition, curated by Tolla Sloane of Give Art, comprises 28 works including photographs, digital prints, watercolours, a model and a site-specific installation and premieres a collaborative digital print, 'Documents of Contemporary Slumber'. The last is part of an ongoing series by the two artists titled The Great Levellers.

"We're extremely pleased that our partnership with the British Council has very quickly facilitated the haring of ideas and perspectives between two prominent artists from different backgrounds, as well as sown the seeds for the creation of new artistic works," shares Jean Tan, Executive Director of the SIF.

"This collaboration has also opened up avenues for other partners to further support the AiRx programme as sponsors and hosts, enabling them to play a part in cultivating artistic exchanges and promoting cross-cultural dialogue."

Mark Howard, Director of BC, explains that "this programme, by two organisations with similar goals in promoting and fostering artistic exchange, is only the first of many exciting endeavours to strengthen the cultural relationship between Singapore and the UK."

Following its exhibition in Singapore, Utopias will travel to London in 2012. The SIF and BC are currently developing the AiRx programme for 2012.

- Read speech by Ms Jean Tan, SIF Executive Director

^[1] A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed by the two organisations on 18 May this year to strengthen cross-cultural understanding between the people of Singapore and the United Kingdom (UK) through arts and cultural exchanges.