The Artists Village Brief history of The Artists Village The Artists Village Registered as a society on 12th February 1992, under the Societies Act. The Artists Village was founded by one of its founding members Tang Da Wu, in his kampung- studio in Ulu Sembawang in 1988 and was registered as a non-profit society in February 1992. Da Wu established the Artists Village in one of the remaining rural enclaves in Singapore. It was an oasis, physically and spiritually. The original site had to be relinquished when the land was rezoned for development. For three years The Artists Village was a centre for learning and practicing art. Some of the artists have continued their association with The Artists Village, others have advanced their careers and practices independently. Despite the loss of permanent premises, The Artists Village continues its existence as a registered non-profit art society or body and convenes through exhibitions and arts related events. The Artists Village Mission is to foster and develop an increased consciousness of the importance of the arts and their contribution to Singapore society. This is to be achieved by engaging in active dialogue with the public through the production and exposition of works of art. The Artists Village (TAV) presents activities that are critical to the art situation in Singapore. As an art group that consists of a committee made up of initiative artists The goals of TAV are to promote contemporary art and to bring about a better understanding of contemporary art practices and their contribution to society. Since the beginning, we have played a crucial role in the Singapore art scene and have organized many important art events that serve as platforms for contemporary art projects by local and overseas artists. The projects initiated by TAV have been well-received by the Singapore public as well as by fellow art and cultural practitioners. Our projects which have traveled to international art venues and art festivals and have received equally encouraging response. TAV currently functions without a studio or an exhibition space. We have only an office and hold our events mainly in public places. These include residential and commercial spaces, public parks and heritage sites. Occasionally, we also work in art spaces and galleries, local art academies and institutions. With our events, we seek to investigate and address the historical, social and political issues regarding the particular space, while at the same time, reach out to a wider audience. In the coming years, we will continue to create interesting and meaningful work in these different spaces as well as develop a stronger regional and international network. \ Chronology of Events 1988 June Tang Da Wu founded the village studio-space at 61-B, Lorong Gambas, Sembawang. He invited some young artists to work at the studios. 1989 Jan The Artists working at the village studios organized the first 'Open Studio Show' at the village. Beginning the use of the name "The Artists Village". April The Artists Village was invited to show in the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board's event 'Art Mart - Singapore International Shopping Festival' at Cuppage Terrace, Orchard Road. 1 The Artists Village May/Jun The Artists Village organized the 'The Artists 2nd Open Studio Show' at the village. July/Aug The Artists Village was invited to show at the 'Opening of the Nanyang Technological Institute's Research Hall 5' presented by 'Hall 5'. The Artists Village named the event 'The Happenings'. Sept The Artists Village was invited to show at the National University of Singapore. Presented by the Raffles Hall and The Architectural Society of National University of Singapore. The Artists Village named the event 'The Happenings II'. Dec The Artists Village organized 'The Drawing Show' at the village. 1989, 31 Dec The Artists Village organized the 'The Time Show' a 24 hours Continuous to 1990,1 Jan Performance Art Show, at the village. 1990 March The Artists Village was invited by Hong Kong QU Art Society to show in 'QU Art Support II - The Artists Village Show', Hong Kong. March Closure of the village space at Lorong Gambas. The artists at the village space moved out, as the land was returned to the Government for re-development. The previous owners accepted compensation s for its acquisitions in 1987. Tang Da Wu and a few artists moved to rented houses at the Naval Base area, but could not continue to have public activities at these premises. June The Artists Village was invited to show in the Festival Fringe of the Singapore Festival of Arts 1990. It presented 'The Care Show'. (Concerned Artists for the Environment) Dec The Artists Village was invited to show in 'Gateways to Malaysia', presented by the Bangunan Dato Jaafar (a cultural space) in Johore, Malaysia. 1991 June Tang Da Wu initiated 'A Sculpture Seminar' at the National Museum co- organized by The Artists Village and presented by the National Museum, Singapore. 1992 June The Artists Village and the National Arts Council jointly organized 'The Space' - a fringe festival visual arts event for the Singapore Arts Festival 1992, at Hong Bee Warehouse. Aug The Artists Village was invited to participate in 'ARTS IN U', the 1st Arts Festival organized by The Visual Arts Society of The Nanyang Technological University. The Artists Village was invited by The Gallery 21 to present a performance event called 'Performance Week'. 1993 July The Artists Village participated in the '2nd Sculpture Seminar' presented by the Singapore Arts Museum. Dec The Artists Village participated in 'Artists' General Assembly', (AGA), at the 5th Passage Contemporary Art Space, organized by 5th Passage Artists LTD and The Artists Village. 1994 2 The Artists Village Feb/Mar Members of The Artists Village were invited by Anima Gallery, Adelaide, to show in the 'Adelaide Festivals'. However, the exhibition was canceled due to funding problems of the organizer. June The Artists Village proposal 'Art Bus' for the fringe Festival of the Arts 1994, was not successful. 1996 June The 'Art Bus' was accepted and organized by the National Arts Council as part of the Singapore Festival of Arts 1996. The Artists Village named the event 'Tour de Art lah!' 1999 27 Dec The Artists Village organized a year - end show, 'Post-Ulu', at the Substation. to 16 Jan A multi-media happening. A 12-hour event 'Post-Ulu Gig' was organized from the 31st 1999 to 1st Jan 2000 to commemorate the new millennium. Supported by National Arts Council and Lee Foundation. 2000 9 Jan The Artists Village participated in the Art Societies' Weekend Series Art Program for Nokia Singapore Art 1999, Singapore Art Museum. Supported by National Arts Council Jul to Aug The Artists Village organized the AIM (Artists Investigating Monuments) shown at various sites in Singapore; Raffles Landing Site, Merlion Park and Hong Lim Park, during the period July to August. Sponsored by National Arts Council and Lee Foundation. Oct An Artists Village event, Mental Sculpture is a solo exhibition by young member, Dennis Tan, at the Substation. Sponsored by National Arts Council and Lee Foundation. Nov The Artists Village presented AIM (Artists Investigating Monuments) Documentation Exhibition at The Substation. Sponsored by National Arts Council and Lee Foundation. 2001 23 Mar The Artists Village presented a group show, Bye Bye Albert (The Coffee Shop Event) at Hock Hiap Leong, a coffee shop along Armenian Street. Sponsored by Lee Foundation October The Artists Village presented Blink of An Eye: Austrian Experimental Film and Video Art at The Substation. Sponsored by Lee Foundation. The Artists Village began The Bali Project, a project that revisits Singapore art history. Sponsored by National Arts Council and Lee Foundation. November The Artists Village presented Talk By Richard Martel, at The Substation. 27-31 Dec The Artists Village presented Pulau Ubin Art Camp, a 5-day residency on Pulau Ubin. Sponsored by National Arts Council and Lee Foundation. 2002 20 Apr The Artists Village participated in Ubin Day, an event organised by Singapore Environment Council. 3 The Artists Village May- Jun The Artists Village presented video collection SEE SINGAPORE!, in Copenhagen, Denmark and Kassel, Germany. Sponsored by National Arts Council and Lee Foundation. 11-28 Jul The Artists Village presented S.O.S., a two-man show by members, Jeremy Hiah and Kai, at Utterly Art. Sponsored by National Arts Council and Lee Foundation. 9 Aug The Artists Village presented A Moving Experience, an event to celebrate Singapore's National Day, on bus number 65. Sep The Artists Village participated in soft: Danger Museum, an exhibition held in the Institute of International Visual Arts (inIVA) in London, England. The Artists Village presented Six Contemporary Artists from Singapore at Hanoi Contemporary Arts Center, Hanoi, Vietnam. Co-presented by Vietnam Fine Art Association. Sponsored by National Arts Council, Lee Foundation and Lasalle-SIA College of the Arts Alumni. Nov ‘Singa Dance’; The Artists Village participated in the 4th Asiatopia, an international performance art festival organized by Concrete House & Empower Foundation in Bangkok, Thailand. Sponsored by Lee Foundation Dec The Artists Village presented B.E.A.U.T.Y; BadEvilAwfulUglyTerribleYucky, a group exhibition, at Utterly Art. Sponsored by National Arts Council, Lee Foundation and Arts Fund. 2003 Jan The Artists Village presented FS’03 Indonesia (Fusion Strength), a performance & installation event and exhibition involving 11 Singapore artists and 11 Indonesian artists at Benda Art Space in Yogjakarta, Langgeng Gallery in Magelang and Puri Art Gallery in Malang, Indonesia. Curated by Juliana Yasin & Titarubi. Sponsored by Singapore Internationale Foundation. March Fiesta, a performance art event presented at NUS Museums (University Cultural Centre) organized in conjunction with the NUS Open House Festival, 2003. A series of individual performance pieces presented by local arts practitioners.