Coney Island Abstract: Continuity/ Discontinuity

Aug. 13, 2010 - PRLog -- Two artists, one from New York City and the other from Singapore, came together in New York City to share their visual language on July 16th through July 18th, 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm. The result was an exciting collaborative performance/installation on a series of large scale canvases. The works were created on the Coney Island boardwalk at West 21st Street in front of Brooklyn’s historic Childs Building. The public was invited to participate in the painting process using roller blades, remote control cars, feet, balls, and balloons.

Yeo Shih Yun and Paul Campbell’s goal was to create an exciting visual dialogue that allowed them to merge their individual landscapes of visual memory and experience with each other and with that of the general public. By encouraging friends, family, and Coney Island visitors to participate, the project expanded its scope exponentially. The installation aimed to create art work that was relevant to the world we exist in and pay homage to expressionist works of the past.

Yeo Shih Yun and Paul Campbell first met at a conference in Seoul, South Korea in October 2009. Conversations revealed that even though they live in different parts of the world and are separated by differences in culture, language, age, gender, and experience their art practices share a common link. They have both combined the use of traditional art materials with radically unconventional methods of mark making. Yeo Shih Yun uses rollerblades and other untraditional tools to transfer marks onto the painting surface with Chinese inks. Paul Campbell utilizes remote control cars, among other eccentric techniques, to create oil paintings on canvas.

These unusual approaches to mark making simultaneously pay homage to and offer a parody of the works of Jackson Pollock, Yves Kline, and other Abstract Expressionist artists. Their work in turn was informed by the East Asian art of calligraphy and popular writings on Zen and its principles of direct action. This project was made possible with grant funding from the Singapore International Foundation, generous support from Taconic Investment Partners LLC, Instinc Space(Singapore), and the Brooklyn Brewery.

Dates/ Duration:  
Opening reception:  8 October 2010, Friday 7pm-9pm
Exhibition 8-10 October 2010, 11am-6pm (By appointment only)

Address:
12 Eu Tong Sen Street #04-163 soho2@central Singapore 059819
(Above Clarke Quay MRT)

Project Website and Video Documentation:
http://coneyislandabstract.wordpress.com/

INSTINC Website:
www.instinc.com

Artists Biographies:
Yeo Shih Yun
(www.shihyunyeo.com)

Paul Campbell
(www.paulcampbellstudio.com)

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In 2004, INSTINC was founded by Singaporean artist Yeo Shih Yun. As an artist-run space, INSTINC aims to foster friendships and collaborations with other artists as well as
with other organizations. INSTINC has collaborated with Guinness, Smirnoff, Moleskine, Her World Singapore among many others over the years. INSTINC is a dynamic space in
continuous process of creation and is committed in supporting all ing forms of contemporary art.

Services:
Art projects for residential & commerical
Customised corporate gifts

Activities
Printmaking workshops, Art jamming sessions, International Artist’s residency, Artist's talks

Rental of space
Corporate events for small groups
Art exhibitions