Make that ‘Anarchy in Singapore’ as the punks of The Substation take over the space to showcase the second act of the Discipline the City exhibition. Get ready to ignite your senses for more thought-provoking art, photos, videos and performances.
Punk is more than just a musical genre that some grandparents would outrightly disapprove of; it’s also a subculture celebrated by thousands worldwide since it first made waves in the late ’70s – and yes, even here in Singapore. A power station that’s been converted into contemporary arts space, The Substation has always been a beacon for the underground punk scene in Singapore. And it’s no surprise it’s home to the Discipline The City exhibition.
Showing now until 26 November, Act II of the showcase revolves around the politics of space, and is carefully curated by Artistic Director of The Substation, Alan Oei, and designer Joshua Comaroff. Fixed with permanent installations and cameo appearances, we dropped by the warehouse space to check out the exhibition, and find out why it’s creating such a buzz. Check out our sensory overload below:
Singapore's cool spaces: The Substation turns into a museum wi…
Punk’s not dead! It’s living at The Substation with the help of local punks as they take over the space for Discipline the City Exhibition – Act II. Get ready to ignite your senses for more thought-provoking art and cool spaces – here's a sneak peek: goo.gl/hNFdpK#exhibition #museum #thingstodo #punk
Posted by Honeycombers on Monday, October 9, 2017
Here are our highlights:
Permanent Exhibits
‘Something Nothing’ by Chen Sai Hua
This is something you wouldn’t want to ruin with your dirty shoes, so do take them off before you enter. The white room is designed to parallel a plain piece of paper, where the corners are specifically curved to reflect light and avert shadows. Allowing the exploration of space without lines, the lack of geometry made us feel like we were losing our balance, and had us stretching our hands out, because who’d like to walk into a wall?
Videos by Kuang-Yu Tsui
Attempting to find the correlation between human and society in regards to adaptation, this Taiwanese artist shows how hostile the city can be via ‘action videos’ propped on vintage tellies.
‘A Brief History of the Trap Door’ by Debbie Ding
Playing with the idea of secret trapdoors, commonly used as an architectural element in theatres, film sets and literature, the interactive exhibit helps trigger the sort of curiosity you would find in a suspenseful narrative where unexpected resolutions fall in and out of a plot like magic. Follow the rope, and be careful not to get lost!
Act II Specials (4-22 October)
‘Space Drawing No.9’ by Chen Sai Hua Kuan
Sai Hua uses lines of bungee cords to show that they “divide, subtract, and define a space”. The cords are then released within different spaces of a warehouse to prove said point. A little heads up: besides the hypnotic moving images, there are loads of lashes, cracks, whips and other loud, sharp sounds that may shock you.
A Manifesto For Space – Punk-in-Residence
The second instalment of Punk-in-Residence features punk couple, Amin and Mimie. The poster-plastered space will be turned into a performance area for the couple to interact and engage with visitors, spreading their love for the music genre. If you’re lucky, you might even get a musical teaser by Amin, who is also a member of recent Baybeats festival alumni: Generation 69.
All Curators are B___, #3: Get Up, Stand Up by Murali
A little birdie told us this is one guided tour not to be missed! Murali is more than just a punk; he’s a class A stand-up comedian too. Join Murali at The Substation for a truly engaging session (and a lot more banter) as he conducts walkthroughs of the exhibition, reveals his ideas of art, and discusses the profound meaning behind certain things.
Get Up, Stand Up by Murali, 7-8 October 2017 & 14-15 October 2017, 4pm-5pm, The Substation. Get your tickets here.
Discipline the City, Act II, 4-22 October 2017, The Substation, 45 Armenian St, Singapore 179936. Open Wed-Sun, 12pm-8pm. Entry to the exhibition is free. However, an entrance fee of $5 is welcome to support The Substation’s work. Tickets to the All Curators Are B___ guided tours are available at $10 here.
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