The Brushworks of Arts in Singapore<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat|500|||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”15px” header_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_font_size=”80px” header_5_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_5_text_color=”#000000″ header_5_font_size=”20px” header_5_letter_spacing=”0.5em” header_5_line_height=”1.8em” min_height=”4.7px” custom_margin=”-20px|129px|1px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”9px|0px|||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” animation_style=”zoom” animation_intensity_zoom=”5%” text_line_height_tablet=”” text_line_height_phone=”1.8em” text_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”48px” header_font_size_phone=”32px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_font_size_tablet=”14px” header_5_font_size_phone=”12px” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ inline_fonts=”Montserrat”]
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With the ever-changing arts industry, Elton Tan<\/strong> looks at the challenges artists face in their pursuit of art in Singapore.<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.4.7″ custom_margin=”-194px|||||”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.4.7″ min_height=”84px” custom_margin=”-67px|auto||auto||” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-145px|auto|-100px|auto|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.7″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”52px|||||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=””] National museums have been free for all Singaporeans and Permanent Residents (PRs) since 2013. Photo courtesy of Shannon Chew.<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”About Us” _builder_version=”4.4.7″ transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”0px|48px” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_translate_linked_phone=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|phone” min_height=”1463px” custom_margin=”-136px||-857px|||” custom_padding=”90px||2px|||” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=””][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_5,3_5,1_5″ custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” _builder_version=”4.4.7″ transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-53px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”27px|0|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|0px||0px||true” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=””][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.4.7″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_font_size=”15px” text_line_height=”1.4em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|79px|104px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”14px|79px|0px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|0px||||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off”] BY <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n With the ever-changing arts industry, ELTON TAN looks at the challenges artists face in their pursuit of art in Singapore.<\/span><\/p>\n You may have attended many free-of-charge arts events such as the Singapore Night Festival, or visited an arts exhibition in one of the many museums we have here. These are all part of our government\u2019s efforts to allow Singapore to be an arts centre.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/20210615_163211.jpg” alt=”xia qingling chu opera hua dan wuhan” title_text=”20210615_163211″ align=”center” _builder_version=”4.4.7″ custom_margin=”-35px|||||” custom_padding=”34px|||||”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” min_height=”43px” custom_margin=”-20px|||||” custom_padding=”0px|||||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone”] National museums have been free for all Singaporeans and Permanent Residents (PRs) since 2013. Photo courtesy of Shannon Chew.<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” custom_margin=”||-1px|||” locked=”off”] Over the years, governmental support for the arts has increased. According to the<\/span> Singapore Cultural Statistics<\/span><\/a>, over S$183 million has been provided as government grants for artists and art institutions in 2019, as compared to over S$162 million in 2018.<\/span><\/p>\n However, with our facilities considered \u2018world class\u2019 and backed by the government, there are still some hurdles for the arts industry to overcome.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ background_color=”rgba(102,193,193,0.2)”] In Singapore, there are three educational institutions for students pursuing the arts: <\/span>Laselle College of the Arts<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>School of the Arts<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>Nanyang Academy of the Fine Arts<\/span><\/a>. Over <\/span>6,100 students<\/span><\/a> are enrolled in tertiary art courses or in the School of the Arts.<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_line_height=”1.4em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|79px|17px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”10px|79px|12px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”0px|0px||||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off”] Education<\/strong><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font=”Montserrat|600||||||#e02b20|” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#233956″ header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em”] \u00a0Despite the growth in funding for the arts by the government, interest in the arts has fallen. According to the National Art Council\u2019s <\/span>Population Survey on the Arts<\/span><\/a>, 32 per cent of respondents were not interested in the arts in 2019, a 9 per cent increase from 23 per cent in 2017.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Ms Audrey Wong, Head of the School of Creative Industries at Lasalle College of the Arts, thinks that exposure to the arts is still important.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI think there’s still some perception that arts [is] an afterthought, that\u00a0<\/span>music [and] art classes are not so important\u2026 If students aren’t taking art and music in secondary schools, then you know, I’m not sure how much arts exposure they are getting,\u201d said Ms Wong.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_line_height=”1.4em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|79px|17px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”10px|79px|12px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”0px|0px||||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off”] Career<\/strong><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font=”Montserrat|600||||||#e02b20|” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#233956″ header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” min_height=”359px” custom_padding=”||0px|||”] Interviewed by <\/span>Channel News Asia<\/span><\/a>, Mr Ben Loong works from 9pm to 3am every day as a Grab driver, while working as an artist who constructs different art pieces. He makes just enough to cover his rent and daily expenses.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Gaston Liew, 19, an independent singer-songwriter, is cautiously optimistic about having a full-time career in music.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cI believe that in Singapore it is still possible, it’s not something that is not sustainable. But there’s a lot of risks that you must be willing to take [and you] must be adventurous enough to go forth with,\u201d said Gaston.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0However, struggling artists are not only unique to Singapore. Many other artists from all around the world struggle to make their passion their full-time job and strive to be known in their industry.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0Despite the widespread struggle of all artists, there are some problems that are unique to Singapore.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_line_height=”1.4em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”-42px|79px|17px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”10px|79px|12px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”0px|0px||||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off”] Complications faced by Artists in Singapore<\/strong><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_line_height=”1.4em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|79px|17px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”10px|79px|12px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”0px|0px||||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off”] Censorship<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font=”Montserrat|600||||||#e02b20|” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#233956″ header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” min_height=”359px” custom_padding=”||0px|||”] Singapore is no stranger to censorship; movies face strict reviewing by <\/span>Infocomm Media Development Authority<\/span> (IMDA) in order to be released in theatres. With many out-of-bound topics ranging from homosexuality to religion, art is not an exception to these rules.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Many artists and art institutions rely on government grants to finance their projects. However, those grants come with guidelines that the artists must follow.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In 2015, local graphic artist Sonny Liew released the graphic novel <\/span>The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye<\/span><\/i>, a fictional retelling of Singapore\u2019s history, and had his grant revoked by the National Arts Council (NAC). It was deemed \u201csensitive content\u201d that would \u201cpotentially undermine the authority and legitimacy of the government and its public institutions\u201d, as reported by <\/span>The Guardian<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font=”Montserrat|600||||||#e02b20|” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#233956″ header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” min_height=”359px” custom_margin=”-30px|||||” custom_padding=”||0px|||”] However, with hundreds of million dollars poured into the arts industry, it is vital for artists to access these grants despite the guidelines that come with it.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI think we’re really at the point now where we can’t do without [the] government [supporting] the sector as a whole\u2026 Because the government has put in so much into it already. And in order to maintain this level, and the standard that we currently are at, if you take away government support, there’s no way we can maintain that,\u201d said Ms Wong.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cArtists in Singapore are too tamed because of censorship, endless regulations, and restrictions, so it is very hard to be \u2018free\u2019 and make good work,\u201d said Kevia Tan, 19, an aspiring photographer.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cThe backlash and controversy that come with any attempt will certainly drain any Avant-garde artists and force them into mediocre mundanity,\u201d she adds.<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_line_height=”1.4em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|79px|17px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”10px|79px|12px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”0px|0px||||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off”] Stigma<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font=”Montserrat|600||||||#e02b20|” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#233956″ header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” min_height=”163px” custom_padding=”||2px|||”] In 2020, The Sunday Times released results from a survey they conducted, which asked 1,000 respondents which jobs are essential and which are not. Artists were ranked as the highest non-essential job, with 71 per cent of respondents deeming them non-essential.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/st.jpg” alt=”xia qingling chu opera hua dan wuhan” title_text=”st” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.4.7″ custom_margin=”-35px|||||” custom_padding=”34px|||||”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” min_height=”43px” custom_margin=”-20px|||||” custom_padding=”0px|||||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone”] The grant for The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye was revoked by the NAC in 2015. Photo taken from <\/span>Unscramble.sg<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” min_height=”43px” custom_margin=”-20px|||||” custom_padding=”0px|||||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone”] Infographics of the survey which sparked the debate of artists being non-essential. Photo taken from <\/span>The Straits Times<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font=”Montserrat|600||||||#e02b20|” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#233956″ header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” min_height=”163px” custom_padding=”||2px|||”] The results sparked a debate about the value of artists and art in Singapore, and revealed Singaporeans\u2019 view of artists.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Kevia feels that there is a stigma attached to calling yourself a creative in Singapore.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cArtists have been ranked the top non-essential job during the context of a pandemic. Even if I succeed in becoming a full-time photographer or artist, I doubt people will take my career seriously. Hopefully, people will grow more accepting of artists in the near future,\u201d said Kevia.<\/span><\/p>\n Using video and music streaming platforms also poses strong competition with the more popular international content.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cCompared to what is popular in the world right now, I don’t think local artists can really ever be more popular than pop music that comes from America, Europe, the west or K-Pop (Korean Pop),\u201d said Gaston.<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/photo_2021-06-14_21-17-51.jpg” alt=”xia qingling chu opera hua dan wuhan” title_text=”photo_2021-06-14_21-17-51″ align=”center” _builder_version=”4.4.7″ custom_margin=”-35px|||||” custom_padding=”34px|||||”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” min_height=”43px” custom_margin=”-20px|||||” custom_padding=”0px|||||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone”] A concert held in Ngee Ann Polytechnic\u2019s Art Fiesta: Festival of Sound in 2019. Photo courtesy of Trevor Wee.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font=”Montserrat|600||||||#e02b20|” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#233956″ header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” min_height=”163px” custom_margin=”-36px|||||” custom_padding=”||2px|||”] \u201cBecause they have preconceived [notions], or they compare [the music] with more popular artists that everyone knows. And so it becomes tough for people to truly access and really truly love local music,\u201d he adds.<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font=”Montserrat|600||||||#e02b20|” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#233956″ header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” min_height=”91px” custom_margin=”-36px|||||” custom_padding=”||2px|||”] \u201cBecause they have preconceived [notions], or they compare [the music] with more popular artists that everyone knows. And so it becomes tough for people to truly access and really truly love local music,\u201d he adds.<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_line_height=”1.4em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”2px|79px|17px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”10px|79px|12px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”0px|0px||||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off”] Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” min_height=”370px” custom_margin=”-19px||-1px|||” locked=”off”] <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cArtists are contrarians. Artists can see the \u2018cracks through which the light gets in,\u2019 as the old adage goes. Our natural ability to come up with solutions to problems because we see what is missing,\u201d said Mr Choy Kok Kee, founder of Guru of Design, a creative agency. \u201cCall us eccentric, we literally view things from the fringes \u2013 and that\u2019s typically where the best ideas come from.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The pursuit of artistic expression will always be present in Singapore regardless of censorship or declining rates of interest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The NAC\u2019s \u2018<\/span>Our SG Arts Plan<\/a>\u2019 will focus on eight different aspects of the arts industry in Singapore, strengthening support for artists and pushing for a wider local audience.<\/span><\/p>\n
Elton Tan
Perspectives Section Editor
<\/b>Hype Issue #53<\/strong><\/p>\nPublished on<\/h5>\n
June 30, 2021<\/h5>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”1320px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|-415px||-616px||” custom_padding=”|0px|1px|0px||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone”]