Art Stage S'pore 2015: On hecklers and hangings

SINGAPORE — The fifth edition opened its doors today (Jan 21) and Art Stage Singapore's already being heckled — by one of its artists!

We're talking about Zaki Razak's hilarious pseudo-talk show work titled Amusing Ourselves To Death With Yusof Tony.

A mega-afro-ed, all-shades Yusof (played by Shaiful Risan) held court right at the back of the venue, complete with his back-up band.

"I have a slight problem with Art Stage Singapore 2015," began the self-described "cultural critic". He's been studying the "necessity of splurging" because, erm, he's in a six-figure debt with seven banks. He looks around and wonders aloud why nobody has stolen anything yet. Clueless passersby get invited onstage -- for a grilling. Hilarious.

Too bad you won't get to see Yusof Tony in action for the rest of the fair, but the set will still be there. It's part of Eagles Fly, Sheep Flock, the South-east Asia Platform exhibition curated by Singaporean Khim Ong.

It's looking to be yet another interesting fair, with more than 200 galleries from 29 countries. Aside from the SEA showcase, you have special exhibitions on video art, Russia, Malaysia, Korea and modern art. Suzann Victor's chandeliers swing from ceiling, a few Lee Kuan Yews are scattered all over, there seems to be a lot of skulls, and the dynamic Turner Prize duo Gilbert & George were spotted signing autographs in their deadpan, expressionless way.

Elsewhere, you had booths by LASALLE College of the Arts and NAFA, and Latent Spaces are selling potong ice cream for S$2 (they've also got a bunch of fridge magnets by Singaporean artists).

This is also the first year that Art Stage Singapore is holding a student art competition, a pretty cool idea, except for a hiccup that took place today involving the work of young artist Terry Wee — his work was hung wrongly.

The 27-year-old Fine Art student from LASALLE was presenting his mixed media work Reshaping Article No. 2, made from newspaper pulp, as a finalist for one of the categories (the awarding ceremony is on Friday at 2.15pm).

The organisers had apparently not invited the finalist-students to assist in the hanging of their works, and instead relied on emailed images. After finding out last night that his portrait-format piece was hung as a landscape, Wee said he tried to call the organisers but couldn't get in touch with them.

Wee claimed organisers were, to put it mildly, dismissive when he dropped by earlier today and was even ushered out. He did not get any pass for the Vernissage but instead had one for Friday's award ceremony.

"Imagine if I didn't find out and I wasn't here today, and just saw my work in that position (on Friday), it would have been very embarassing for me," he told us this afternoon. "A lot of people are coming in tonight."

He has a point — it's the ultimate night of VIPs, including collectors, and hey, if I'd be freaked out too if my artwork was misrepresented in front of people. And as a humble viewer, I'd probably be upset, too, if I found out I wasn't seeing a work correctly. Would you be cool with an upside down Mona Lisa?

Hmmm, well, actually yeah. But you know what I mean.

Anyway, long story short, it's now already been fixed and organisers have apologised to Wee for the mix-up as well as how the situation was handled.

Kum-Hoong Kong, director of marketing and communications, clarified that they did not mean to disrespect the artwork and admitted they should have checked and assured that next time, the students have a say in how the works will be hung.

In any case, the fair's back. Time to check it out. And keep an eye out for hecklers.

Art Stage Singapore runs until Jan 25 at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre. For more info, visit http://www.artstagesingapore.com.