Apocalyptic Murals

By Joshua Yang
Date & Time
Location
241 Joo Chiat Rd
241 Joo Chiat Rd

About

The term ‘apocalypse’ derives from the ancient Greek word ἀποκάλυψις (apokálupsis) which means revelation, disclosure or uncovering. However, the usual association with the term bears connotations of end-of-the-world imagery, featuring events which are yet to come. In contrast, this project seeks to uncover the past and through the past, rediscover what is in store for the future.

In response to the theme of ‘Echo’, this project attempts to rediscover past murals that are hidden under layers of paint or whitewash by attempting to uncover past murals from the wall of an old building through the gentle removal of layers of paint. Just as echoes are sounds which return to us after bouncing off of other surfaces, and not sounds that originate from the surfaces themselves, the artist seeks a way to make a mural not by adding anything to the wall, but by taking away from it, looking for the ‘echoes’ of previous murals. The interplay of image and text also echoes the site specificity of the mural, with the quote, “If your dog is fat, you are not getting enough exercise” reinforcing the need for a healthy lifestyle amidst all the good food one finds in the Joo Chiat area.

As a continuation of the artist’s practice in drawing and painting to investigate the passage of time, the mural project will encourage members of the public to participate in the removal of layers of paint in accordance to a pattern outlined by the artist. At the launch of the festival, the image that has been formed by the removal of paint would occupy the top half of the wall, leaving the remaining half for the members of the public to complete throughout the course of the festival.

Joshua Yang

Born in 1974, Joshua Yang graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and the University of Huddersfield, UK. He went on to obtain an MFA in Sculpture from Open University, UK and LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore.

Joshua’s art practice revolves around the investigation of time by using different types of media including painting and drawing. His single, continuous line drawings have received recognition in the form of awards and public commissions such as the UOB Painting of the Year award and Art in Transit. He has exhibited both locally and overseas and has collaborated with artists in Taiwan, Japan, Mexico, Germany, Spain and the Philippines. He lives with his wife, daughter and dog in Singapore.

In 2005, he won first prize in the UOB Painting of the Year for the Abstract category. Other awards include the Credit Suisse Artist Residency Award 2009, The President’s Young Talents Award 2009 and the Singapore Art Show Judges’ Choice 2005. His drawings began to receive attention when he completed a 48-hour drawing marathon in 2007.
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