ARTIST RESIDENCIES

Zhan Wang (17 January -- 1 February 2011)
Contemporary Chinese artist Zhan Wang works in Beijing, China. Known for his scholar rock sculptures, where he moulds metal into a natural rock formation, the artist constantly brings together dualities to show how traditional Chinese ideologies interweave into the urban fabric.

Gonkar Gyatso (10 Oct -- 4 Nov 2011)
Meticulous sticker collages of Buddhist thangka (scroll painting) motifs are the signature style of Tibetan artist Gonkar Gyatso. The artist studied traditional scroll painting in India before moving to London. Commenting on identity, migration, and cultural exchange, Gyatso's works integrate images from mass-cultural with Buddhist iconography.

Shambhavi Singh (21 March – 1 April 2011)
With inspirations ranging from literature and film to her travels abroad, New Delhi-based artist Singh creates large-scale canvases and monumental sculptures that provoke introspection on the human experience.

Ronald Ventura (18—29 April 2011)
One of the most acclaimed contemporary artists from the Philippines, Ventura has garnered significant international attention in recent years. He now ranks among the leading younger artists in Southeast Asia. Ventura's visuals lay groundwork for an investigation into the commodification of the human body, paranoia and religious consciousness in modern societies.

Rirkrit Tiravanija (28 March 2011)
Conceptual artist Rirkrit Tiravanija challenges the notion of art by moving beyond the object towards artistic process. Born in Buenos Aires, and having lived in Thailand, Ethiopia and Canada, Rirkrit’s creative sensibilities seek to bridge divisions between art and life. His memorable works involve cooking Pad Thai and curry for gallery visitors; whereby, creating an interactive social space where everyday activities are displaced and viewed from a different perspective.

R.E. Hartanto (6—17 June 2011)
Struck by the pain and suffering of modern times, Indonesian artist R.E. Hartanto's humanistic exploration results in intense emotional works. Though our natural inclination is to avoid fear, Hartanto believes pain and suffering to be a spiritual experience offering personal growth. It is through these emotions that we connect with ourselves and to those around us. Regarded as the next “it” Indonesian artist, Hartanto's minimal compositions depicting figures with mouths agape are visually provocative and captivating.

Lyra Garcellano (16—27 May 2011)
Personal history and experiences inspire the works of Filipino artist Lyra Garcellano. Her photo-realistic portrayals reflect human vulnerabilities where figures are caught in mid-descent as if succumbing to the forces of gravity or sprawled on the floor in surrender. In addition to her paintings, Garcellano is the creator and illustrator of the comic strip Atomo and Weboy. She was the recipient of The Culture Center of the Philippines 13 Artists Award in 2006.