Body Conscious Singapore

The government of Singapore has long been known for censorship, of what is written in the newspapers and depicted on the television and in the movies and on the stages of theaters, of what people may say out loud in public or sing about or write novels about or express vocally thoughts on politics and such. So needless to say, there are strict laws regarding nudity, even the nudity depicted in paintings, drawing and sculpture. It is ironic and presents quite a conundrum for as the government seeks to put Singapore on the map in the global art world, much of what is encapsulated and entrenched in the visual art world, is the human body. Before the work of an artist reaches the wall of a gallery or museum, quite often there are years and years of previous study, and in art school a large portion of time is spent just simply learning to draw the human form. Any artist will tell you that if you can draw and paint the human body, you can draw and paint anything. Designers of automobiles draw the human body, Disney animators and toy designers draw the human body, architects draw the human body. Any visual art form usually precipitates study of anatomy and form. And in these art classes, that body is more often than not, nude. And not only are many in the general public, not just in Singapore, but other countries such as the United States, very uncomfortable with the nude body they are also even uncomfortable speaking of it. Whether it threatens ones’ ideas of ethical and moral behavior or perhaps religious views, simply being as we were born creates anxiety for many people.

A gallery in Singapore was forced to remove a painting in 2007. A fine art oil painting of a woman, because the painting was a nude. Singapore businesses such as hotels and coffee shops must be careful and aware of what decorates their offices and walls. Other artists selling in street markets and fairs have kept their nudes out of the view of the public for fear of fines and penalties and even jail. It does not make sense in many ways, one being that two very famous and well respected Singaporean painters, Chen Chong Swee and Cheong Soo Pieng , painted works of topless women. And artists, the painters and sculptors who throughout history have created some of the most beautiful works, the Sistine Chapel, the Mona Lisa, they worked from live models. Live artist models in Singapore are looked down upon. Modeling is equated to prostitution and the selling of one’s body. For some reason, many cultures view nudity as being sexual. And nothing about holding the same pose for eight hours straight under hot lights, is sexual. And nothing about learning how to draw the hand as it connects to the arm and then the shoulder, is sexually. If anything is a spiritual and artistic and technical endeavor.

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Body Conscious Singapore

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