Unveiled at Groundbreaking Ceremony; Shigeru Ban’s CreationBy Bertrand Teo

urrounded by a cluster of looming skyscrapers

and urban development at Marina Boulevard is

the area designated as Central Promontory Site

or CPS. The site will showcase the ‘crown jewel’ of the

Singapore Biennale 2008, the ‘Containart Pavilion.’

The pavilion’s design, unveiled at the groundbreaking

ceremony on June 26, is artist Shigeru Ban’s creation for

this year’s exhibition. Made up of 150 shipping containers

and 34 ten-meter-tall cardboard tube columns, the

rectangular structure will rise five storeys high and house

three other artworks within it.

“The ceremony marks a significant milestone in the lead-

up to the opening of Singapore Biennale 2008 on 11

September,” said Guest-of-Honour Mr Edmund Cheng,

chairman of the National Arts Council.

The ceremony proceedings literally put in place the

foundation of Shigeru Ban’s new artwork. Flanked by a

mobile crane, guests witnessed the laying out of a metal

beam onto a partially-built foundation, to symbolically

mark the inauguration of the construction.

Club21 representative, Michelle Tan, said Ban’s work at

CPS metaphorically encapsulates the Biennale and its

theme.

“The pavilion will demonstrate the purpose of art: acting

as a catalyst for meaningful interaction, discovery and

wonder,” she said.

EDITORIAL TEAMEditors: Bertrand Teo, Ephraim LoyDesigner: Jesslyn TeoEducation & Outreach Manager: Pearlyn CaiContact: volunteer@singaporebiennale.org

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Wonder Moments!June and July saw a flurry of activities leading up to the Biennale, including talks at SMU, National Library Building and

Toa Payoh Community Library. Seen below are just some of the moments captured:

Staff Profile:Pearlyn Cai

P earlyn Cai, manager for outreach and education

for the Singapore Biennale 2008, feels that

art isn’t a ‘cure-all’ but it helps inculcate an

inquisitive mind. She tell us more…

1. What do you often wonder about?

I’m usually thinking about what’s next on my to-do list.

2. What exhibitions and artist’s works in this year’s Biennale are you most looking forward to visit?

I’m looking forward to the Containart Pavilion by

Shigeru Ban, Location (6) by Hans Op de Beeck, and

Leandro Erlich’s work. I really love the theme of Wonder,

which can be a pun on the word ‘wander’. It’s almost

like visitors will be wandering on this aesthetic and

intellectual journey of Wonder. I am also keen to see the

Kids Biennale, which is a new component of SB, and the

parallel exhibitions by LaSalle & Republic Polytechnic

students. These students will be putting up shows and

events in response to the biennale. It’s great to know

that the Biennale inspires people to be creative and

make new works; this is one of the reasons why the

Singapore Biennale is important.

3. Does being able to appreciate and criticize Art somehow elicit a more analytical and intelligent mind?

Well, I think when people encounter a piece of artwork,

one of the first things that happen was that they start

asking questions: What is this work? What is it about?

Why did the artist make it? Art is not a cure-all but it helps

you to be curious and to ask questions, gives you new

insight into things that others before you have pondered

about. Whether it makes one more intelligent depends on

your notion of intelligence.

4. Volunteering for the Biennale: good opportunity or super opportunity?

SUPER! The passion and enthusiasm of our SB06

volunteers actually inspired me to be a volunteer myself.

Also, you can ask our interns: Four of them are previous

volunteers who came back to intern with us!

5. Name your all-time favourite artist.

Can’t do it! There are so many artworks from artists I

love. One of them is Mark Rothko. I saw his painting in

the MOMA and it was the first time I cried when I saw a

painting. It was inexplicable. Another favourite is Yayoi

Kusama who was in SB06 – I had written a paper about

her work in university so I was really excited when I

realised her work was going to be in SB.

Art is not a cure-all, but it helps you to be curious and to askquestions, gives you new insight into things that others before you have pondered about.

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The Philosophy Behind the German CraftsmanBy Bertrand Teo

Hans Peter Kuhn creates ‘fake nature’. In a rare moment of furrowed pensiveness, the German artist explains

that the key behind his art installations is finding synergy in the natural characteristics of his ‘canvas’.

“I try to find congruence in disparate qualities,” he said. “I capture a moment and take the natural qualities of

the space, to create site-specific art.”

Dressed with a plain white Goldlion short sleeved shirt, pants and slippers, the 56-year-old German artist was in town

to manage three ongoing projects taking place on the island-city, one of which is for the Singapore Biennale 2008.

During our tête-à-tête, we spoke about everything from soccer, politics, art in particular, and the

man’s philosophy in life; what struck me was Hans Peter’s mild mannerism and laidback loquacity.

“I don’t like to get hung up in metaphysics,” said Hans Peter with a laugh. “I’m a very down-to-earth person.”

Just like a designer who creates a customized dress to compliment the client’s unique contours, Hans Peter justifies the

natural characteristics of his site by enhancing the distinct features of the space.

I’m looking for ways to give the site a new look,” he said. “Because I think that it is interesting to change it (the site), but

I don’t want to overly revamp it.”

When creating a site-specific artwork, Hans Peter combines elements of serendipity and adaptability. He does this

through his mastery of light and sound techniques.

Indeed, while chatting with Hans Peter, one gets the sense

that he is truly just a simple guy with regular aspirations. He

refrains from impinging his opinions onto others, and he tries

sincerely to answer your questions as best as he can without

overwhelming you with technicalities and lofty theories. In other

words, Hans Peter’s modest attitude in social interactions is an

allegory to his artwork.

I don’t like to get hung up in metaphysics,” said Hans Peter with a laugh. “I’m a very down-to-earth person.

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The Philosophy Behind the German CraftsmanBy Bertrand Teo

“I shape the site from an ‘audio-visual’ perspective,” he

said. “I just let myself into it and get inspiration where to

go.”

Before being an artist, Hans Peter Kuhn had aspired

to be a rock star. Influenced by ‘British Invasion’ in the

sixties with acts such as The Beatles and Rolling Stones,

the young Peter started a rock band at 14 and took to the

stage as the lead singer. What transpired later in life was

very different, but nevertheless, equally interesting.

As a composer and artist for nearly 30 years, Hans

Peter has worked with some of the biggest names in the

arts world. In 1978, he had collaborated with American

theatre artist, Robert Wilson. Theirs was a working

partnership that would last 20 years. Like Wilson, Hans

Peter avoids narratives in his artwork. He wants his

audience to acquire their personal experience from his art.

“I’m not keen on giving deep explanations,” he said. “I’m

interested in the experience of other people.”

For the Singapore Biennale 2008, Hans Peter’s site-

specific art at the Esplanade Bridge will take about four

weeks to complete. The artwork at the site will be a play

on the multi-faceted and unique structural aspects of the

bridge, he said.

“If you look from certain angles (of the bridge), you see a

pattern of complicated triangles,” Hans Peter said. “I’m

going to go one step above, and give a new perspective

to the construction of the site.”