Space Drawing No.12 – 155 Middle Road is the latest edition of the Space Drawing series by artist Sai (aka Chen Sai Hua Kuan) created at the historical site 155 Middle Road (Singapore). Built in the 19th century, 155 Middle Road is one of the few remaining examples of gothic architecture in Singapore, and has served various purposes and communities during different historical eras. It was first known as Christian Institute, and later became the Methodist Girls’ School and the Straits Chinese’s first Methodist Church. It subsequently was the May Blossom Restaurant, a car workshop, Sculpture Square, and is now Objectifs – an independent visual arts space.
The site currently consists of two main buildings: the Chapel Gallery and Lower Gallery. Like many repurposed buildings in urban spaces, these buildings bear witness to the changes in Singapore over time. They are reflections of the economic, political and cultural conditions of Singapore, providing tangible links to our roots and people. Playing with the energy released by bungee ropes pulled from wall to wall, from floor to ceiling, from inside to outside of the buildings, Space Drawing No.12 is a drawing, film, performance, and spatial sculpture that offers a slice of suspended time.
Space Drawing is a series of experimental and multi-disciplinary installations and film work exploring the idea of the simplest but the most fundamental function of a line – to divide, subtract and define a space. The exhibition was presented by Comma Space and Co-presented with Objectifs Centre for Photography and Film, and ran from 11 – 30 Jan 2022 at Objectifs as part of Singapore Art Week 2022.
About Sai (aka Chen Sai Hua Kuan)
Sai (aka Chen Sai Hua Kuan) encircles the notion of play and daily life in his artistic practice. By challenging the habituated eye, Sai transforms and de-constructs the ordinary things/everyday situations to open up afresh interpretations surrounding them. He sees his works as the outcomes of conditional activities determined and enabled by site and context, which go beyond object making and studio practice.
Sai graduated from the LASALLE College of the Arts in 1997. In 2007, he received a Master in Fine Art at the Slade School of Fine Art, University College London. He has received numerous awards including Artist-in-residency Award, Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin (2015-2016), The People’s Choice Award, ‘Mostyn Open 18’, United Kingdom (2013); Artist-in- residency Award, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, United Kingdom (2011); Best film of FAFF2010, Fundada Artists’ Film Festival, United Kingdom (2010); Winner of International Competition, “Tower Kronprinz: Second Advent”, National Centre for Contemporary Art, Kaliningrad, Russia (2009).
About Comma Space
Comma Space 逗号空间 is an artist-run experimental space that creates thinking spaces between commas.
Referring to the comma’s functionality of separating, setting off phrases, expressing contrast, Comma Space 逗号空间 plans to be a hub for creativity and criticism, bonding with people from different backgrounds, and reaching out to the local communities, and demonstrates ways in which art is vital as part of society.
Comma Space 逗号空间 makes art, curates exhibitions, commissions projects, generates and applies research, and supports contemporary artists locally, regionally and internationally.
