ABOUT THE EXHIBITION: PROXIMITIES
Proximities is the first solo exhibition by Singaporean artist-curator Zulkhairi Zulkiflee. This debut exhibition at Objectifs focuses on a new video work surrounding Malay masculinities and their plural representation.
At the beginning of 2020, artist-curator Zulkhairi Zulkiflee focused on the trope of the Malay Boy found in the works of Singaporean artist Cheong Soo Pieng. An indirect extension that included a visual study of colonial postcards depicting the implicit relationship of boy and crocodile, and personal photographs of his father in the eighties, Zulkhairi's consistent interest in images and visuality is rigorously anchored by the Malay male body. Here, his works circulate key themes like representation, racialized masculinities, and Malay male identity formations.
In the many Malay boy(s) of Cheong’s multiple yet elusive renditions, Zulkhairi attempts to locate the Malay male in art history while unpacking underlying systems of power that have shaped and naturalized understanding of difference. When exorcised from the framings of art history - one informed by overlapping lenses of pioneer artists and their Western predecessors, the Malay boy now stands as a figure (re)molded by contemporary currents and various intercessors.
Against such discourses, the exhibition primarily focuses on a video that foregrounds Malay masculinities and their plural representations — intersecting wide-ranging sources from art history to personal meditations.
OBJECTIFS CENTRE FOR PHOTOGRAPHY AND FILM
Established in 2003, Objectifs is a visual arts space in Singapore that is dedicated to film and photography.
Objectifs aims to cultivate original voices in visual storytelling, and to inspire and broaden perspectives through the power of images. The centre does this by presenting a year round programme of exhibitions, screenings, workshops, talks, mentorships and residencies, aimed at fostering dialogue about visual culture, and advancing the practice and appreciation of photography and film.
SINGAPORE ART WEEK 2022
As Singapore’s signature visual arts season, Singapore Art Week (SAW) represents the unity and pride of a diverse and vibrant arts community. In its 10th edition, SAW 2022 will be a celebration of the Singapore visual arts in its decade of growth - in the practices of Singapore artists, in the formats of presentation and in the spaces these will inhabit.
SAW 2022 will run from 14 January to 23 January, with over 130 art events across the island and online, featuring new works, transnational collaborations, and virtual art experiences. Audiences all over the world can access and discover the exciting art in Singapore’s arts and cultural institutions and beyond, or engage in enriching discussions, talks, public art walks and tours. A catalyst of creativity, SAW 2022 continues to be a spotlight, gathering and launchpad for the arts community in Singapore.
SAW 2022, a celebration of Singapore’s vibrant arts landscape, is a joint initiative by the National Arts Council (NAC) and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). This edition is presented in conjunction with #NAC30, as NAC commemorates 30 years of Singapore’s arts scene with the larger arts community.
