A new work by Kray Chen
Chapel Gallery, Objectifs
18 Jan to 11 Feb 2018
Tues to Sat, 12pm to 7pm / Sun, 12pm to 4pm
Admission is free
Opening Reception: Wed 17 Jan, 7pm
Artist Talk: Sat 27 Jan, 3pm to 4.30pm. More info here
Visual artist Kray Chen presents a new project that turns a playful eye on the rituals of an average Singaporean Chinese wedding, in a quest to understand the anxieties and behaviours associated with weddings today. Commonly viewed as a rite of passage, weddings are bound up in cultural, social, and collective expectations. But what happens when the conditions surrounding a traditional wedding are given a twist?
If you would like to know more about the exhibition, click here for a transcribed conversation between curator Kimberly Shen and Kray.
About Kray Chen
Kray Chen is a visual artist based in Singapore. He finished his Masters of Arts in Fine Arts in 2014 and has since practiced actively locally and internationally. His participation includes solo exhibitions 1st Prize in 2013 (SG) and It’s A Set Situation in 2016 (SG), group shows such as Art Stage Singapore 2014, Prudential Eye Awards Exhibition (SG), The Pleasure of Improbable Placements (Spain), Paradis Sans Promesse (France) and so on. He has also resided in Hangar (Spain), FRAC Des Pay De La Loire (France) and NTU-CCA Singapore. Kray’s practice largely deals with lived experience and corporeality. Bringing to attention movements, gestures and behaviors of him and around him, Kray taps on their peculiar characteristic to discuss the value of progress in Singapore, reflecting on the psyche of a place caught between traditions and modernization. He received the National Arts Council’s Young Artist Award in 2017.
Press:
Asian Film Archive blog: Not Childish, Just Playful: 5 Rehearsals of a Wedding, 5 Trees and Shelf Life
SINdie: Reviews: Singapore Shorts ’18 Day 03 (2017-2018)
Five Rehearsals Of A Wedding is part of Singapore Art Week (17 – 28 January 2018). A joint initiative by the National Arts Council, the Singapore Tourism Board and the Singapore Economic Development Board, Singapore Art Week reinforces Singapore’s position as Asia’s leading arts destination. The twelve-day celebration of the visual arts offers a myriad of quality art experiences, from art fairs, gallery openings, exhibitions, lifestyle events and public art walks, to enriching discussions on art and culture. www.artweek.sg
Artist talk: Behind-the-scenes with Kray Chen
Sat 27 Jan 2018, 3pm
Chapel Gallery, Objectifs
Admission: Free (RSVP via Peatix)
Kray Chen will share the process of developing and refining his own voice in the making of Five Rehearsals Of A Wedding, from scripting to the final cut. He will also speak about the notion of “rehearsal”, visiting various examples in his personal history to illustrate how it has shaped his outlook of the future. Accompanying Kray in this talk is the show’s curator Kimberly Shen, who will also moderate the session’s Q&A.
Please note that the film will be unavailable viewing from 2.30pm to 4.30pm because of the artist talk. Viewing will resume at 4.30pm after the talk ends.