We're Young Once

Curatorial text by Ian Tee

With youth and its various associations as a curatorial framework, ‘We’re Young Once’ is an exhibition that gathers significant early works by Singapore artists across generations. For me, it is a show about the artistic journey and the fact that every artist begins from somewhere. By focusing on this formative period, I hope to propose a new lens to consider Singapore art history that upends conventional chronology and is also distinctly non-hierarchical.

At its core, ‘We’re Young Once’ is a show that explores what it means to be a young artist. I had two key criteria for artworks in the show. They need to be representative examples of the artist’s early practice, and speak to the theme of youth in general. Provenance is an important consideration in my selection process and each piece points to a significant milestone in the respective artist’s career.

Installation views

[left to right] Tang Da Wu, 'Useless Things, Spoon', 1971 (remade 2022), tin, 5 x 13 x 4.5 cm; 'Useless Things, Ricebowl', 1971 (remade 2022), tin, 6.5 x 14 x 14 cm; 'Useless Things, Chopsticks', 1971 (remade 2022), tin, 0.5 x 14 x 4.5 cm; 'Useless Things, Teacup', 1971, bronze, 7 x 9.5 x 7 cm. Image courtesy of the artist and Art Agenda.

Tang Da Wu, 'Useless Things, Stepladder', 1971 (remade 2022), stepladder, wood, 96 x 77.5 x 35 cm. Image courtesy of the artist and Art Agenda.

Links:

Art Agenda, S.E.A. ,

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