SINGAPORE.- Singapore Art Museum (SAM) and Mercedes-Benz are proud to present is it tomorrow yet? Highlights from the Daimler Art collection (1926 – 2006), a collection spanning more than a century of art. The western blockbuster showcases 150 works drawn from key modernist art movements in Europe to contemporary art developments of today, and includes artists like Josef Albers, Nam June Paik and Andy Warhol. Engaging with ideas and works from the Bauhaus, concrete and constructivist art, minimalism in Europe and America, the show also features international contemporary photography, video and object art and a section looking at the history of the ready-made. Car enthusiasts will also enjoy a special segment featuring car-related art from Warhol and other artists. The show’s title reflects the hopes and aspirations behind many of the modern art movements of the 20th century – that despite the differences in their formulations, styles and forms, they often shared a certain optimism, even impatience, about the future. Hopeful that the next day brings better things, at times they simply asked, “is it tomorrow yet?”
The exhibition opening will be officiated by Guest of Honour, Dr Lee Boon Yang, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts on 25 November 2008, Tuesday, 7 pm, at Singapore Art Museum Glass Hall. Media preview led by the curators will be held on the same day at SAM.
"Singapore Art Museum is delighted to be partnering with Daimler to showcase the stunning Daimler Art Collection." Mr Kwok Kian Chow, Director of Singapore Art Museum said. "From a visually spectacular oversized balloon flower, to the severe restraint of a monochromatic white painting -- this western blockbuster exhibition covers an impressive range of contemporary and modern visual art forms, styles and ideas. We are also delighted that the excellent art education programme will help make these modern artworks and ideas exciting and accessible to younger audiences."
The exhibition is divided into six sections, extending over the museum galleries on the first and second floor. The sections are European Roots: The Bauhaus, Concrete Art & Constructivism; European and American Minimalism (1945-1970s) & European Neo Geo Artists (1980s-90s); The Car-Related Commissioned Works; The European Zero Movement (1960s); The ‘Readymade’ in Contemporary Western Art, and Towards Tomorrow: The Contemporary Works in the Collection.
During the exhibition duration, a 6 by 6 by 6m sculpture will also be displayed on SAM’s front lawn. Untitled (Balloon Flower) was created by the artist IMEX(k) specifically for SAM. The eye-catching artwork looks like a knotted balloon and is inspired by Jeff Koons’ famous “Balloon flower” sculpture. The Daimler Art Collection owns one version of the stainless steel sculpture by Jeff Koons which is prominently placed in Berlin’s Potsdamer Platz.
is it tomorrow yet? ends on 1 March 2009.
