SIMON LIM Presents "Dazzle: Tribute To Iconic Buildings In Singapore"

I'm extremely excited about staging my third solo art exhibition!


It will be held at the SOCIETE GENERALE Private Banking Gallery located at Level 2 of Alliance Francaise de Singapour (1 Sarkies Road - 2-5 minutes walking distance from Newton MRT station and Prudential office building. Parking at Prudential building). 


2-17 August 2011. 


Gallery hours: Mon - Fri 11am to 7pm; Sat 11am to 5pm. Closed on Sun & Public Holidays. 

singapore art museum

30 x 30 inches.  Acrylic and sequins on canvas.  Artist: Simon Lim

 

Close up of details (sequins and brush strokes) in my painting. 

The National Museum of Singapore, originally known as the Raffles Library and Museum moved into to its current Stamford Road site in 1887.  I love the Neo-Palladian (inspired by the classical temples of the Ancient Greeks and Romans) and Renaissance style of the building. In particular, I was impressed by the restoration and redevelopment of the building, which gave it a neat facelift for modernity, yet did not compromise its historical charm.  I can still recall how as a 13-year old boy, my first trip to the museum was to view a visiting exhibition of unique artworks by Swiss painter, Paul Klee.  Now, as a grown Singaporean man, I appreciate that our museum has expanded so much to showcase even more world-class works like “Voom Portraits” by Robert Wilson. I thought his extremely slow motion video portraits of celebrities Brad Pitt and Dita Von Teese were absolutely hypnotic!   In the Singapore Living Galleries section of the museum, I was drawn to the display of intricately sequined Chinese opera costumes and accessories .  If you have not as yet visited the museum, you should.  You will be mesmerised by the place and wide variety of exhibits.  

retrospective works - 2002

Title: Winter.  Medium: Acrylic and sequins on canvas.   
Artist: Simon Lim.   Year: 2002



Title: Moonlit.  Medium: Acrylic and sequins on canvas. 
Artist: Simon Lim.   Year: 2002

Everyday, we drive pass and walk by trees without noticing the wondrous works of Mother Nature.  I was inspired one day when I stopped to observe how beautiful they glisten after the rain. Then I started to notice more of their natural beauty in a figurative form – like how they tower over us, shielding us from the sun like a protective mother.  Trees also sparkle under the sunlight, as though giving you a wink to wish you well.   These paintings reflect my innate appreciation and support for more trees to be planted on this planet!



belief

I was drawn to these mosaic artworks at the Hard Rock Hotel in Penang, Malaysia.

Just as some forms of entertainment can be appreciated as art, art can entertain – even if it is a private and silent communication between a canvas and the viewer.  My belief is that art has entertained the moment it has widened one’s eyes, stirred the mind, and implanted a new memory in the viewer. 

red dot traffic

30 x 30 inches.  Acrylic and sequins on canvas.  Artist: Simon Lim

The red dot Traffic in Singapore was built in 1928, and started out as a police barrack.  Few people know that the original construction was that of three separate buildings that were later merged to house an open courtyard in the centre.   Generation X and Baby Boomers would be familiar with the building as the Singapore Traffic Police headquarters (until 1999), but today it is popularly known as the red dot Traffic  – a refurbished building that houses many creative companies.  I love the nouveau-nostalgia of the place as you realise that the juxtaposition of new and old can be extremely appealing.   I understand that the offices used to be police investigation rooms and the red dot design museum used to be just an open air courtyard.  Just as the building was given a new lease of life in 2005, my interpretation of the architecture lends it new sparkle today!



ABOUT SIMON LIM

Simon Lim who lives in Singapore, has held two solo art exhibitions "Raw Revelations"  at The Substation Gallery (1999) and "Vision De La Vie" at – Intermezzo Restaurant (2002).  A self-taught artist, he started out showcasing pop art using acrylic paints on canvas and has evolved to specialise in combining the use of acrylic and sequins in his works.