Whitestone Gallery, all the way from the vibrant streets of Tokyo, has descended upon Tanjong Pagar District Park (TPD) in Singapore, marking its sixth and latest home. It is also the largest, boasting a space of 20,000 square feet and ceilings 5 metres in height. With a history dating back to 1967, this illustrious establishment proudly wears the crown of being the pioneer in the realm of Japanese art. Their contemporary art galleries include Tokyo, Hong Kong, Taipei, Beijing, Seoul, and now, Singapore.
Upon stepping into the gallery, you’ll be greeted by an absolute architectural marvel that stretches from floor to ceiling. This breathtaking spectacle is designed by none other than the iconic Japanese architect, Kengo Kuma, whose other notable projects are the Tokyo Olympic Stadium and the Singapore Founders' Memorial.
Whitespace Gallery has always been focused on curating an eclectic mix of artworks from established and emerging artists across the globe – in particular the kind of artists who love challenging conventions, expanding the boundaries of artistic expression, and venturing into uncharted creative territories. With a strong focus on Japanese artists, the gallery not only provides a global platform for them but also simultaneously challenges the conventional Japanese art scene.
Some of their significant past exhibitions are KOHEI KYOMORI: Impression O, PHILIP COLBERT: JOURNEY TO THE LOBSTER PLANET, YANG YONGLIANG: Imagined Landscape and CHEN YINGJIE: The Dust of a Long Journey.
The gallery will be opening on October 14, 2023. Concurrent with the launch, two new shows are currently being exhibited at the space:
Miwa Komatsu: Sense of Sacredness
The spiritual and physical world collide at Japanese artist Miwa Komatsu’s latest exhibition Sense of Sacredness. This exhibition vividly portrays the coexistence of the spiritual and material worlds through a striking collection of paintings. These artworks predominantly feature spiritual entities rendered in a colour palette primarily consisting of white, black, red, and subtle touches of gold. These spiritual beings often engage the viewer with their intense, unflinching gazes. It can also be said that her paintings offer a mesmerising glimpse into the other realm, a dimension typically imperceptible to the human eye.
Komatsu's artistic inspiration draws heavily from her personal visions and encounters with the otherworld. It is worth noting that from a young age, a guardian animal spirit, in the form of a wolf, would guide her safely home.
You will also notice the presence of scattered rock-like objects on the ground. These rocks, known as obsidian, are, in fact, black volcanic stones that symbolise the harmonious coexistence of spirits and humanity because this rock served as the primary material for crafting tools by the earliest residents of the Japanese archipelago.
In addition to the captivating paintings, the exhibition features etching illustrations created by Komatsu during her early days as an artist. Additionally, guests can explore figurines of these spiritual entities crafted from Arita ceramics.
Ronald Ventura: An Introspective
Upon first glance, you’ll be able to recognise some of your favourite cartoon characters, but with a twist. Picture SpongeBob transformed into a dog and Patrick reimagined not as a starfish but a star-shaped bone.
Artist Ronald Ventura dabbles in three main mediums: paintings, sculptures and installation art. In this exhibition, you'll notice how he skillfully juxtaposes elements from pop culture, positioning them side by side on a shared canvas to explore the intersections and contrasts within these cultures.
The theme of juxtaposition consistently runs through Ventura's body of work. You'll encounter intriguing combinations (sometimes disturbing even), such as human feet on a rhinoceros, a gorilla's head placed on a human body, and various other unexplainable hybrids that are sure to boggle your mind.
Constantly on his mind is the question: How can a piece of art reflect my current identity, trace the path of my personal journey, or even offer a glimpse into what lies ahead?
