Asam di Gunung, Garam di Laut
By Fiona Amanda
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Hybridity – a familiar concept in Singapore – is the ‘third space’ that is formed through social integration and negotiations among different identities. These intricate dances of self-internalisation and intercultural interactions create vibrant and multifaceted expressions that are reflected not only in art and language, but also in our material cultures.
When I first walked into the gallery, there was an incense smell, which immediately sets the tone of the exhibition. The artworks were presented next to one another since the gallery space was quite small, but I felt that they made use of the space well, as there were artworks both on the floor and suspended from the ceiling. The closeness makes the artworks seem interconnected as they share the same theme of hybridity within their respective cultures. There was also a nice flow throughout the gallery as the artworks were placed against the walls so it leaves enough space in the middle for viewers to walk. I got lucky as I managed to personally converse with the curator, Tony, who was very informative and friendly. He gave a private tour of each artwork, providing a deeper understanding behind the works and the artists’ process in art making.
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“Asam di gunung, garam di laut, bertemu dalam belanga juga" is a Malay proverb that describes a serendipitous union of entities despite of long distance or different cultural ethnicity backgrounds, and one that embodies the essence of the formation of the hybrid space. This exhibition attempts to explore these daily tensions in the creation of a Hybridity within ethnicity, culture, religion, language, gender, education, economic status. It is a collaborative space by different artists from Southeast Asia: Agnes Christina, Ass & Dam Collective (Nila Cho, Tamara, Wong Mei Sheong), Brahma Tirta Sari (Agus Ismoyo, Nia Flam), Carolyn Oei, Kar-men Cheng and curated by Tony Sugiarta.
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The curator placed a small brochure together on a tikah(mat) providing information about the concept for visitors to read. Prompts on palm-sized paper was seen near their works to allow visitors to ponder on the themes. The prompts were clear and informs and encourages visitors to interact with the artworks., and the artwork statements are printed and placed neatly next to the artworks.
In addition, the works also felt quite in line with the location. In the late 1900s, the residents around Jalan Besar/Rochor were a colourful mix from various communities including Indians, Chinese, Peranakans, Boyanese, Europeans, Eurasians and Malays. so the concept of hybridity of cultures of the exhibition was backed by the history of the location as well. and the shophouse added to the feeling of homeliness with the sense of familiarity we got from the batik cloths of the works.
Overall, I am satisfied with the exhibition from its presentation to their touching and impressive artworks from the Collective. The small space made the whole experience more intimate and less intimidating. I felt the works were well presented for its small space and the topics discussed were relatable and relevant to my individual theme and interests.