RCGNTN: make local your focal

The Mosaic Music Festival ‘10 is back again! Starting 12th to 21st March 2010, lolSingaporelol and RCGNTN will be bringing you daily updates from the entire festival with focus on- you guessed it- local musicians. The festival aims to reintroduce music back to the people and show them that there is more to music than commercial pop.

A ten-piece jazz outfit headed by saxophonist Greg Lyons, Omniform has been treating crowds to their funky and soulful tunes since 2007. The band earned quite a reputation for its subtly mind-blowing gigs at the quintessential jazz joint Blu Jaz Café and they’re now ready to show everyone else just what the genre’s capable of.

I don’t know much about jazz, but what we experienced right there and then with Omniform was amazing. Every member and instrument class had their solos, and it was incredible watching them pour their emotions into the compositions- one of which was dedicated to a friend of theirs who passed on. That song saw one of the best saxophone solos since the last time I saw, well, ANY saxophone solos that were equally moving. Another mention had to be the drum solo for the final song of the night, which you can see from the video.

But let’s not leave it up to me only, check out the video and see for yourself, or better yet make your way down to the Esplanade for the music festival and check out the other great acts set to play. True, there may be tons of people but which part of Singapore doesn’t seem over populated already?

The Is This Home, Truly? exhibition at Tanjong Pagar Distripark saw a showcase of familiar artists with their new art. Curated by Zaki Razak and Zul Othman, the large white clean space held works of 6 Singaporean graffiti artists who have worked hard to become the names associated with Singapore street art scene – Antz, Skope, Slacsatu, The Killer Gerbil, TR853-1 and Zero.

Another graffiti artist was holding his exhibition at the venue as well, Daze, who had the whole next room to display his works. Some might gripe about how local artists have to ’squeeze’ in one room while the foreign artist has the room all to himself, but I say that the smaller space allowed people not just to look at art but mingle; honestly, the other room was much more quiet.

What I also liked about it was that putting different products from different creative minds all together made the walls seem like a storybook to read. Instead of repeated ideas in different forms, each section off the walls told a different story and represented a different idea which was, to me, refreshing.

The different kinds of crowd that came that night was also very fascinating; we had people in the street scene and then we had people who frequent exhibitions and buyers. The responses these two groups of people have were very different; the street scene people looked uncomfortable at first but when they got accustomed to the slightly stifling environment, they were the ones who looked like they had the most fun while the other kind of crowd just drifted by, talking in soft voices possibly deciding if they should get some art for their home.

Not much can be said to sum up the art that was on display because it is so diverse and varied, and of course, inspiring. So do go check it out for yourself. The exhibition is open till 22nd March and is located at 39 Keppel Road #02-04, Tanjong Pagar Distripark.

The time has come for our first ever party set to happen on the 20th of March 2010 and we cannot be more excited!

RCGNTN has teamed up with the party demons of Sup to bring you what is possibly the best street party ever. Starting the celebrations at 7.30pm, the quiet ho-hum Haji Lane will transform before your beady eyes to become the loudest and most people packed street in Singapore.

In line with our main purpose of showcasing local talent, RCGNIZE!- The First Edition aims to bring more awareness to the talent our country has to offer. The event will see a stellar line-up of artists who will be returning street art to the streets in a live art demonstration featuring the likes of local heroes Antz, ZERO, Sheryo, Clogtwo, Anwar as well as The Killer Gerbil. Definitely a  sight to see.

Not only that, we’ve got a photography exhibition that showcases the different aspects of local urban culture brought to light by photographers Haiqal (showcasing his work with fixie event T.O.S), Bum Ariffin (on his photos of Baybeats) and Juffrie Friday (showcasing his passion with skate photography) inside Sup Clothing itself. The store will also house works by sneaker customizers Hypethetic and Lazy as well as toy customizer Phu, doing and showing what they do best.

And who can resist FREE stuff? Doorgifts for the first 50 and if you like what we do and support our cause, do spend on our lovely limited edition tees (only 40 made!) and you may just stand to win some sneakers from our sponsors New Balance and PF Flyers as well as Hundreds tees from Boards n Stuff. Damn even I want in on that!

On top of that, it’s going to be a hell of a party with help from our sponsors (New Balance, PF Flyers, Tiger, Bacardi, Redbull, Boards n Stuff and Stage57- THANK YOU!) as well as the very generous and very crazy guys of Sup Clothing.

Here’s to an awesome night!

Clogtwo is dbl O’s featured artist for the month, and if you missed out his opening exhibition or came in a little late, you would’ve missed this ingenious video thought out by the man himself. Screened when the exhibition was about to start, the video is proof of the effort put in by the artist, who thoughtfully put up a short skit where he was caught by terrorists and couldn’t appear at the exhibition.

Clog’s work never ceases to impress, and his new work “The TerrorWrist” is of no exception. The big-ass 6×3 meter mural pictured above depicts the meaning of Scientology translated through his own vision, with the analytical mind battling the reactive mind in the struggle between religion and science.

above: Organic Pseudo People
Totally love the way he incorporates the body’s inner organs such as the heart, brains, guts and gore.

above: Tumorism on a skate deck

above: Circus Freaks

above: The Virgin Mary (Science vs Religion) – via Syamim Mom (c) 2010

On top of that, Clogtwo also released an album titled “We’re Not Enemies”, a collaboration between five non-musicians, namely Imran Zainal, Desmond Shen, Musa Bagushair as well as members of Electrocaine Avneesh and Clogtwo himself, to produce an experimental album based on actual occurences that our beloved world is facing today. A pretty good listen, and an intriguing one at that.

Overall, the experience was a good one. Though more can be done to make the place more conducive for showcasing artwork, it is a good initiative by dbl O. Check out more of Clogtwo’s work over at www.clogtwo.com.

NOISE Singapore, an initiative by the NAC and in their fifth year running is known to many as a platform for Singaporean artists, photographers and musicians to showcase their work, and if good enough, chosen for their apprenticeship program where some of the industry’s respected figures play the role of mentor to these aspiring talent. And true to their word, the NOISE Singapore Showcase 2010 houses some of the most interesting work we have seen, many of which we have yet to discover ourselves!

Spotting a couple of familiar pieces such as Dory’s custom playmobils (third from top), there were many pieces that were pretty eye-catching, one of which was Muhammed Herman who was chosen for the NOISE Apprenticeship Programme. Set in a wet market where many would overlook as a place of interest, the photographer injects much intrigue into the marketplace where the simple act of preparing and selling meat was one that deserved attention.

Our pictures do not do justice to the original work, so head on down to level 3 of Raffles City Shopping Centre and give them your support, or give NOISE a click to check out their showcases in full resolution. The exhibition is currently running until 10th March.

As we strive to bring you a more wholesome local experience, RCGNTN has been busy over the last couple of weeks to bring you RCGNTN Blogs; guest blogs featuring some of the industry’s active contributors from different backgrounds to provide better in-depth knowledge about the scene, their experiences as well as an outlet for our readers to get to know them a little better. More names will be added to the list as time goes by, so keep your eyes peeled.

What are you waiting for? Unleash your inner kaypo and hit the button at our top menu, or you can simply click here!

RCGNTN’s music journalist Ishmael (yes, we sent a stoned guy) along with LolSGLol’s Ewan got busy again last weekend 6th Feb at Homeclub as they created another episode of RCGNTN On The Streets where Syndicate Night was the highlight of the night.

Syndicate, held monthly, is a space for sonic expression and visual experience in post-efficient Singapore. Comprising of names who are no strangers to the scene such as Max Lane, Syndicate nights have been well received by the public with their Electronica sounds, which is complemented with visual installations the collective puts up. Truly a breath of fresh air to the usual crap you hear on the daily.

And in the words of our man, “Check out what the people have to say…”

It’s quite baffling how someone can be so well-known else where but not in her own country. Lim Shing Ee, has had 9 solo and 35 group exhibitions all around Asia, China and Japan; no small feat for someone who is only 34 this year. Having graduated from LaSalle in 1998, Shing Ee has gone on to complete her scholarship from Musashino Art University and the rest is history.

Influenced by her stay in Japan (she now resides there), her art is done with basic lines and curves. This is evident in her latest exhibition, Drawing Circus, where her sculptures are made up of basic shapes. Usually creating art by ink and paper, Shing Ee uses space this time to allow her audience to interact with her art.

I had no idea what to expect, and when I got a look of the irregular layout of her sculptures I had no idea what to make of them. Simply shaped forms that were pasted on the floor made me feel as though I was stepping on her canvas; that even the floor was part of her exhibition.

She cleverly made used of both 2D and 3D by pasting forms on the walls as well, she was able to make the relatively large space seem small and cluttered; just like in a circus when you feel overwhelmed by everything. I loved how the use of the space on the floor and walls successfully forced us to stretch our necks to look up and down again. Then there were the tiny details where you had to go near or on your knees to see what they were.

Her simply shaped structures would also have you thinking about their resemblance to anything related to a circus, such as an elephant or a tent. Till now, I am still clueless as to what some sculptures resemble but it is the allowance to different interpretations that make her simple sculptures work.

Lim Shing Ee’s exhibition, Drawing Circus, is open now at Sculpture Square from now till 7 March 2010.

About the artist:

Sheryo’s kaleidoscopic wonderland sees her quirky, colourful and whimsical characters come alive and blow that fresh breath of positivity and happiness in the direction of the on-looker. Deriving characters and ideas from her daydreams and her passion for illustrations and doodling, the young graphic artist has caught much attention so much so that she has been commissioned by Adidas Originals, MTV, Don’t Panic and Intel, etc.

Check out more of her work at www.illustromaniac.com