Afterimages - Strands of modern art in Singapore

Abstract

This is a work of art historiography that does not unfold by treating the object of its study, namely Singaporean modern art, as a singular unity with fixed contours. Instead it proceeds first by identifying fragments. It is set into motion by picking up strands. In such a process, any notion of a monolithic Singaporean modern art unravels, but if we follow where these threads lead to, we may arrive at an understanding of art and art history beyond the narrow confines of Singapore. As such this dissertation functions as a critique of how Singaporean art has been cast and stifled by latent and overt forms of identitarian desires and politics. By surveying ideas of influence, translation and transmissions of culture from the fields of art theories, philosophy, post-colonial theories, literary studies, sociology and biology, a new conceptual framework for understanding art as afterimages is proposed.