Adele Tan - Böcker

The exhibition A Fact Has No Appearance explores the impact of new ideas on art in Southeast Asia during the 1970s through the case studies of three artists: Johnny Manahan, Redza Piyadasa, and Tan Teng-Kee, all of whom have been recognised for breaking ground in Southeast Asian modern art. With essays that deliberate upon the impact of their works during the 1970s as well as a rich documentation of their works and archival materials, this catalogue presents a concise study of the three artists and also offers insight into how conceptual art practices took hold in this region.

Known primarily as a sculptor who produced abstract wooden pieces and stone-carved works, Kim Lim channelled natural materials into paradoxical expressions of stillness and motion, substance and weightlessness. Her practice explores the relationship between art and nature, drawing inspiration from her varied travels across Asia and her life in Europe. In this publication, her process of shaping materials into contours of curves, lines and surfaces over three decades of artistry takes centre stage. Writings, sketches and notes shed new light on her masterpieces, offering a glimpse into Lim’s personal and artistic life.

The latest title in this book series presents Indian artist Shilpa Gupta’s monumental inflatable sculpture, Untitled. The sculpture depicts the dualities of our innermost struggles and the externalities around us. This book includes a curatorial essay that situates Gupta’s new work in relation to her art practice and other global sociopolitical forces as well as a full colour photo documentation of the sculpture against the backdrop of Singapore’s skyline. It also features a guest essay written by a well-known mental health professional who engages with the artist’s take on the human conditions. The last section of the book is a set of colourfully illustrated activity sheets, co-developed with an art therapist, that children and adults can use to navigate their emotions and responses towards conflict and other difficult issues.