Watercolour, oil paint, charcoal, pastels – these are the different mediums commonly used in art. Singaporean artist Lawrence Koh, however, dabbles in a completely different art form, sand art. A multi-disciplinary artist in practice, he weaves unique artworks into the sand, bringing stories to life through the art form.
For those unfamiliar with sand art, they are stylised, symbolic pictures prepared by trickling small quantities of crushed, coloured sandstone, charcoal, pollen, or other dry materials in different hues on the smooth sand. Also called dry painting, it's a type of art that originated in the Navajo and Pueblo Indians of the American Southwest, as well as several Plains and California Indian tribes. And while sand art has become an art form in itself, its main function has been connected with healing ceremonies. The figures in sand paintings are symbolic representations of a story in Navajo mythology, depicting objects like sacred mountains, legendary visions and more.
Sand art has now been popularised all over the world, including our shores, with Lawrence fronting the art form. The international sand virtuoso combines the elements of sand, music and light in his performances – most notably, the upcoming Grains of Glory at Marina Bay Sands. He'll be performing alongside Soprano Moira Loh and acclaimed violinist Seah Huan Yuh to recreate scenes in the soundtracks from nine internationally acclaimed musicals including The Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon and Anastasia. Ahead of the musical starting on November 19, we caught up with Lawrence to find out how he found his calling in sand art.
Hi Lawrence! Tell us, how did you get into sand art?
Since young, I've been involved in both performing and visual arts – and I always wanted to combine the two together. I'm always intrigued by the transient nature of life itself and how everything is impermanent yet ever-changing. Sand art immediately captured my heart when I first saw it. That's when I decided to build my own equipment and try it for myself. The more I got into it, the more tiring it was. But I found that I just couldn't give up as it resonates so strongly with who I am as an artist.
What do you love about sand art?
Sand art is a combination of many things into one. There are visuals, music, performance, story, transformation, surprises, emotions and more. It’s full of surprises and always changing. It’s never the same and nothing stays the same no matter how many times I've performed it. Sand art is like a one-man "theatre" or "live animation". Its impermanent quality can breathe life into countless stories yet using such simple mediums. In the digital age we're living in now, people are so engrossed with watching a screen. They tend to lose touch with the simple things we see around us and forget the moment of being in contact with a natural medium like sand.
I love the fact that sand art can trigger that curiosity of creating something with our hands and creating an impact with the simplest medium that’s commonly seen around us. Another thing I love about sand art is its versatility. It can be used in so many things: TV, concerts, storytelling, corporate, illustration, animation and more. Sand art itself can be presented as a film and as a live performance, that’s why it is so versatile and can be presented digitally in this digital age yet can also create an impact as a live performance.
How long have you been doing it as an art form?
For more than 15 years. It started out as a school project experimentation before becoming a curious hobby. Now, I get to do sand art as a profession.
How do you combine sand art with the beauty of music for an unforgettable performance?
Just like any movie or theatre show, sand art must go with the right music. It's a combination of so many different elements into one. The beauty of it is that it's inspired by the music, which brings the visuals out of you. Sand art is a feast of music and visuals all within a performance or film. I need to understand the music, the story behind it if possible and the way it speaks to me.
You’ll be performing at the Sands Theatre for Grains of Glory, what can viewers look forward to?
Many people have never watched sand art in action alongside iconic music from Broadway musicals. So I'm using this as a chance to bring something unique to everyone. The audience can get to see familiar stories being portrayed differently with sand and music live on stage yet it will also be an emotional journey as the sand art takes them on a ride through the music and story.
How are you bringing the musicals to life in your own unique way?
I have loved musicals since I was a kid and was trained in theatre as well. Broadway Musical theatre is one of my inspirations and my passion. You can recall, musical theatre is also a combination of many things into one show. So in order for me to bring them to life with sand art, I have to tell myself to feel for the music, the visuals and the stories instead of just copying something that people have seen before. For example, The Phantom of the Opera is so iconic and recognisable, I have to capture the essence and mood of the story yet give my own unique take with sand art. After all, it’s all about surprises.
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