Gajah Gallery

Gajah Gallery is an art gallery in Singapore that hosts artwork related to the socio-cultural interests of Asia.^[1][2] It was established in 1996 by Jasdeep Sandhu and promotes Southeast Asian Contemporary Art with an emphasis on Indonesian Contemporary. The gallery holds exhibitions, some of which have been collaborations with the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) and the National University of Singapore Museum (NUS).^[3]

Description

Gajah Gallery displays, promotes and researches Southeast Asian art.^[1] The collection is housed at the MICA building, adjacent to Singapore City Hall and close to the Singapore Philatelic Museum, Singapore Art Museum and National Museum of Singapore.

The MICA building was formerly known as the Old Hill Street Police Station. It was erected in 1934 to house the Hill Street Police Station and Barracks, and was gazetted as a national monument in 1998 and transformed into premises for MICA.^[4]

Collections and exhibitions

Gajah Gallery focuses on displaying contemporary Southeast Asian art from the region, including art from Singapore.^[1][5] The Gallery exclusively represents six of the leading Indonesian contemporary artists, Nyoman Masriadi,^[6] Rudi Mantofani,^[7] Yunizar,^[8] Handiwirman Sahputra, Yusra Martunus and Jumaldi Alfi. This limited scope ensures that the Gallery^[1] fulfill's their primary mission which is to gain representation for the artist before increasing their stable of artists.

Fairs & Projects

Gajah Gallery contributes to research into Southeast Asian art.^[1] The gallery consistently exhibits in various local and international art fairs such as Art Stage Singapore, India Art Fair (formerly known as the India Art Summit) and the Hong Kong Art Fair. The artists that they represent not only gain valuable exposure, the fairs serve as a platform through which ideas are exchanged and better ties are built with other exhibitors.

Publications

Commemorative postcard set

A set of 15 postcards were designed as a commemorative piece for the gallery's 15th year anniversary celebration. The set is a compilation of work by Ahmad Zakii Anwar, J. Ariadhitya Pramuhendra,^[10] Jumaldi Alfi, M. Irfan, Mangu Putra, Nyoman Masriadi, Rudi Mantofani,^[7] Teng Nee Cheong and Yunizar.^[8]

Nyoman Masriadi, Reconfiguring the Body

Nyoman Masriadi's work Reconfiguring the Body offers a review of Nyoman Masriadi's works, his life and inspirations – through the words of art critics, TK Sabapathy and Goenawan Mohamed. Masriadi is Southeast Asia's most well-received contemporary artist.^[11]

Nyoman Masriadi- Reconfiguring the Body Book Cover

The visual imagery and narratives in his paintings are derived from observation of social life. Reactive against formalism, his early works show him sparring with Western modernism in the guise of cubism but meshing it with caricature, the cutting street language Indonesians use and graffiti. The wit and humor embodied in his works are shaped by the computer game culture that he grew up with. He overdraws finished paintings with a marker.

Nee Cheong, Those The Gods Love Grow Mightier

Teng Nee Cheong's book Those the Gods Love Grow Mightier offers an insight on the life, works and thoughts of renowned Singaporean artist Teng Nee Cheong that span a period of 40 years. Art critic TK Sabapathy, art curators Low Sze Wee and Lindy Poh, as well as Jasdeep Sandhu, Suteja Neka and Teng Nee Cheong himself, have provided a commentary, uncovering the artist’s works, as well as inspirations that have influenced him.

Nee Cheong’s works encapsulate the influences of culture and traditions around Asia by using symbols of Balinese mythology, Hinduism, and Buddhism.

References

External links

• Official website