Patrick Flores, the artistic director for Singapore Biennale 2019, insists that this year’s biennale doesn’t have a theme. The title “Every Step in the Right Direction” is an invitation, an inspiration, he says; not a theme.
“I believe in certain anxieties and they don't have to become themes. Themes tend to capture, instead of release,” he explains.
The new year prompts resolution-making and picking up a new skill is one many are considering. From the recreational to the practical, such as watercolour painting or menswear tailoring, LASALLE offers a range of short courses that enables one to continue learning outside of the classroom without breaking the bank. Two journalists challenge themselves with these newfound experiences and while both found the weeks-long lessons daunting, they each took away important lessons about themselves.
UBS in collaboration with LASALLE College of the Arts (‘LASALLE’) is raising awareness on sustainability with Singapore’s tallest upcycled festive tree. This work of art, made with 6,000 upcycled plastic flowers and standing at 12.8 metres, is certified by the Singapore Book of Records as the nation’s tallest sustainable tree made up of plastic bottles.
Titled ‘A tree reborn’, this work of art was unveiled at a light-up ceremony during UBS’s Appreciation Night on 29 November. It stands on the grounds of Fort Canning Park and will be open for public viewing until January 2020.
The Singapore Biennale (SB) returns for its sixth edition and visitors to cultural institutions, such as LASALLE College of the Arts and Gillman Barracks, can expect a plethora of artworks that will ignite curiosity and thoughtfulness. The six curators of SB2019 recommended some of their favourite highlights to catch and one of which is The Mamitua Saber Project at LASALLE’s Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) Singapore.
At a cheque presentation ceremony with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Mr Heng Swee Keat as guest of honour, The Ngee Ann Kongsi gifted $50 million to LASALLE for the construction of a new building.
Currently, students of LASALLE have to travel to different venues to attend classes and Chairman of LASALLE, Mr Peter Seah, said this was not ideal. By centralising facilities to the College’s current McNally campus, “it encourages cross-disciplinary collaboration and there is great value in this.”
Representatives of The Ngee Ann Kongsi and LASALLE College of the Arts were present to witness and celebrate a landmark donation of $50 million from the Teochew foundation to the Catholic order. The gift will be used to construct a new building that will centralise the school’s facilities, better meet its growing student population needs and cater for more Continuing Education and Training courses.
The 6,000 square metres plot of land right next to Rochor MRT station and LASALLE’s McNally campus will no longer remain empty. Come 2025, a 12-storey building will sit on the site and serve as an extension for the College. This construction was made possible following a landmark gift of $50 million from The Ngee Ann Kongsi to the school.
With a new 12-storey building earmarked to sit on the land adjacent to LASALLE’s current McNally campus and Rochor MRT station, students need no longer travel to different locations to attend classes. They can also enjoy new spaces such as a 300-seater lecture theatre and public-facing galleries. This centralising of facilities and expansion of campus was made possible thanks to The Ngee Ann Kongsi’s gift of $50 million dollars to the College. It is the biggest donation from the Teochew foundation to date and the largest received by LASALLE.
Thirteen international artists and collectives will showcase new and existing works at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) Singapore, LASALLE College of the Arts, as part of the Singapore Biennale 2019 (SB2019).
Themed Every Step in the Right Direction, SB2019 employs the medium of art to examine how change can be made for a more humane world. The four-month long event will be held at 11 venues, including LASALLE’s ICA Singapore from 22 November 2019 to 22 March 2020.
LASALLE College of the Arts invites registered architectural firms with relevant experience to respond to the pre-qualification stage to design an iconic building on a competitive basis.
The scope of works for the project comprises the design of a new block with a gross floor area of approximately 24,000 square metres, to provide for a recital hall, film studio, screening room, lecture theatres, classrooms, galleries, library, flexi space, workshop, studios and other teaching facilities.
