Curator Talk: INSTINC20 'lub-dub, lub-dub'

Venue: INSTINC, 39 Keppel Rd, #03-10 Tanjong Pagar Distripark, Singapore 089065

Exhibition Duration: 19-27 October 2024 & 07-17 November 2024

Opening Reception: 18 October 2024, 6PM-8:30PM | RSVP Link

Curator Talk: 19 October 2024, 2PM-3PM | RSVP Link

Artists Talk: 19 October 2024, 3PM-5PM; 26 October & 09 November 2024, 3PM-4PM | RSVP Link

Opening hours: Wed-Fri 1-7pm, Sat and Sun 1-6pm. Closed on public holidays.

Curator's Words:

INSTINC has played a pivotal role in shaping Singapore’s contemporary art scene. By serving as a platform for experimental and collaborative artistic endeavors, it has significantly contributed to cultivating a diverse and dynamic artistic community. Its dedication to interdisciplinary practices, artist residencies, and community engagement underscores its importance as a resource for artists and a catalyst for cultural exchange and innovation within Singapore.

As INSTINC commemorates its 20th anniversary, it is essential to reflect on the thematic rhythms that have characterized its journey—rhythms that resonate with the essence of life. The persistent "lub-dub, lub-dub" of the heartbeat emerges as a powerful metaphor, encapsulating the complexities of love, art, family, and friendship, alongside broader socio-cultural tensions. This exhibition delves into the heartbeat's duality, reflecting the balance of creation and destruction, inspiration and frustration that permeates the artistic process.

The heartbeat, with its ceaseless rhythm, symbolizes not only our physical existence but also the emotional and psychological forces that drive human creativity. It mirrors the push and pull of relationships, the tension between love and conflict, and the ongoing quest for harmony in a world fraught with discord. This duality, central to both life and art, is poignantly captured in Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go, where the tension between aspiration and reality, connection and separation, is laid bare. Ishiguro’s reflection, “What I’m not sure about is if our lives have been so different from the lives of the people we save... Maybe none of us really understand what we’ve lived through,” speaks to the universal human experience and the continuous process of creation and re-creation that defines both life and art.

Reflecting on two decades of INSTINC’s contributions, the heartbeat emerges as a potent symbol of the connections forged and the impact made. Just as blood nourishes and sustains the body, art weaves connections among individuals and communities, enriching the cultural fabric of society. The rhythm of the heartbeat transcends its biological function, symbolizing the cyclical nature of life, creativity, and the relationships that shape our existence.

The "lub-dub" rhythm, stable yet dynamic, parallels the elements of contemporary aesthetics, which, though diverse, are united in their pursuit of meaning and expression. In contemporary art, this rhythm is echoed in the fusion of styles, mediums, and ideas, resonating on multiple levels. Just as the heartbeat sustains life, contemporary art sustains culture, circulating ideas, emotions, and experiences throughout society. It is a dynamic force, ever-evolving, reflecting the complexities of the human condition while challenging us to perceive the world in new and innovative ways.

The inherent tension in the heartbeat—the interplay between contraction and relaxation, "lub" and "dub"—is emblematic of the tensions within the artistic process. Creation is not linear; it is fraught with challenges, setbacks, and doubts. Yet, it is this very tension that endows art with its power, compelling artists to explore new ideas, take risks, and push the boundaries of possibility.

In this exhibition, the heartbeat also symbolizes the intimate connection between artist and viewer. Just as the heartbeat is a deeply personal aspect of our physical being, the experience of art is a personal encounter, a dialogue between creator and observer. The rhythm of the heartbeat becomes a shared experience, bridging the gap between artist and viewer, forging a connection that is both profound and meaningful.

Host or Publisher INSTINC Art space